The End of the Beginning

"Mason," the figure says, reaching out his hand, "it's your sixteenth birthday. Come, come. It is time to go to The Tunnel."

"I don't want to go without Sam," Mason pointed under the bed.
"Sam is only 5. We must control the population of Here, so you must go There. Please, Mason. You're 16."

Sam watches as his brother walks down the stairway with the figure. He watches as he loses his brother to a tradition, and, despite not knowing at the time, watches his brother make the last motion Sam would ever see.