THE CEREMONY and THE DISOWNMENT 

I walked to the auditorium with plenty of time to spare. More than half of my classmates hadn't passed, so they would be repeating the year. By the time the ceremony started, there were only fifteen of us passing this year. I heard a man tut, "Every year, fewer and fewer pass."

All of us were seated on the stage, and we answered our role calls. My leg shook up and down nervously, as I scanned the crowd for Caleb's face. My parents were seated in the front row, but Caleb was no where to be seen. 

Where are you, Caleb? I silently thought.

The speeches started. Fifteen at us sat patiently for two hours while the speeches were happening. I zoned out in the middle of the speech, and I began playing with the hem of my dress. I could feel my mother's glare on me, so I stopped and blankly looked at the wall behind her. 

"So, moving ahead, I shall now announce the valedictorian of this batch. Please give a round of applause for Aurora Belle Collins who achieved 100% percentile in all exams!" Ugh. Now I had to spend entire day being annoyed by the press of the society. 

I smiled sweetly, and many people were shocked that I was the valedictorian, or that a 100% percentile was also possible. My mom looked kind of proud, but I couldn't say. She tried to smile at me, but I applauded her efforts, nonetheless. 

Just then, Caleb silently entered the auditorium, and I was the only one who saw him enter. He took a seat in the middle row, and I maintained eye contact with him.

"Next up," the announcer raised his voice, "We have the athletics over-achiever, Aurora Belle Collins?" His voice seemed puzzled. Chatter burst out in the auditorium, because the same person winning both awards was humanely not possible. It had simply not happened. People either had brains or brawn. I, clearly did not have any brawn, but I did have tremendous willpower, stamina, and speed.

"Please remain seated and calm down everybody. This matter shall be resolve within minutes." The announcer said, as he left the auditorium. The other fifteen kids turned to me with glistening eyes.

The announcer went back stage, along with all the teachers, and the fitness coach. He came in five minutes later, and said, "After having a talk with the teachers, they have ensured that this result is not faulty. Please clap your hands for Aurora Belle Collins!"

I didn't know what it was, hearing my full name over and over again, that it made me jittery, and unfocused. I looked at Caleb, and he shot me his million-dollar reassuring smile, and did a thumbs up. I smiled back. 

"Alright folks, lets move on to the choosing. Aaron Smith, please join me up here." Aaron jogged up to the stage, and waved like an athlete. 

He picked the Genius knife, and thrust it down his arm without wincing. I squeezed my eyes shut, because come on, that had to hurt a ton. 

Then he said the oath, "I, Aaron Smith, pledge myself to Erudition, and only death may separate me from my oath."

Aaron walked back to his seat, and the announcer continued, "Now, we have the anticipated, Aurora Belle Collins!" That's why I hated alphabetical order.

I managed to smile, and walked calmly over to the knives. I stared at the knives for a few seconds, then looked over to my parents, and then at Caleb. I was staring at the Genius knife for way too long. It was slender, and blue, and had the platinum sheen to it. It was also still covered in Aaron's blood. 

The Assassin knife on the other hand, seemed more malicious, more cruel. It had a red edge instead of the blue one. I gulped. My hands or legs did not move. 

"Are you okay?" The announcer asked quietly. I nodded, and my eyes locked with Caleb's. It was almost as if I could hear his voice in my head. Walk over to the Assassin knife. My knees were shaking.

Take the knife, and make a cut on your left forearm. I nodded, and I could see Caleb giving me a thumbs up. 

I picked up the knife, and it was heavier than I'd expected. The weight of death is heavier than the weight of knowledge, I guess. I could feel the cool radiating off of it, and I realized why Aaron hadn't felt the knife cut him. It was layered with analgesic solution. 

My mother was glaring at me, and if looks could kill, I would've been far gone. She raised her chin, and took one last angry and disappointed look at me, and stormed out of the room. No one dared to utter a single word, as they stared at me in anticipation. 

I took a deep breath in. I brought the knife to my forearm, but did not pierce my skin yet. Just do it! Caleb's voice in my head commanded. 

I cut open my skin, and made a deep slash on it. I placed the knife back, and said the words, "I, Aurora Belle Collins, pledge myself to Assassin. I-umm." I started stuttering after this. 

The announcer whispered, "And only death may separate me from my oath."

I repeated, "And- umm, only death may separate me, uh, from my oath."

My father also took off after these words, with a really hurt look on his face. Caleb looked proud, and he was grinning. I don't know why, but I felt guilty. I slowly walked over to my seat, and held back tears. I don't know why I was so close to crying, all I knew that I needed to suck it up till the ceremony got over.

None of the other people took as much time as I did. Twelve people chose Genius, and only three, including me, took Assassin. I knew that the number of people who took Assassin reduced year-by-year, but I didn't know the reason behind it. Did I make the wrong choice?

Just as the ceremony ended, I rushed outside, and climbed a large tree nearby, and started crying silently. Trees always calmed me down, somehow, and I also was an excellent tree climber. I could hear someone call out my name in the distance. 

The voice got closer, "Aurora, where are you?!" It sounded panicked, and disturbed. "C-Caleb?" I managed out. 

Caleb turned around, and noticed me. He started his way up the tree, "Aurora, I need to talk to you."

He pulled himself beside me and said, "So, there were a group of old Assassins I was sitting behind, in the ceremony. They were communicating with some sort of broken Morse code. It took me a bit to figure it out, but I did."

"What were they talking about?" I asked. 

"They were talking about the new generation of Assassins. How they're going to pay themselves for the ruthless mindless killers. They are completely brainwashing the new trainees that go to Assassin Academy." He said breathlessly. 

I was too shocked to think clearly, "What?"

"We should leave," Caleb took my hand.

I blinked, "The society? But it's too soon! We were planning to break free after a mission, and we can't just do it now!"

"They'll notice. But I say we make a run for it till we have our sanity intact." Caleb stated.

A single tear drop ran down my tear-stained face. "We can't. I can't" I croaked.

Just then a notification popped up on my phone.

Mother: Don't even bother coming home. EVER.

This made me break down in tears, and Caleb rubbed my back. "It's okay, Aurora..."

"Can I stay with you tonight?" I blurted, "Sorry, I didn't realize how bad that sounded."

Caleb smiled, "Sure you can. We have plenty of empty rooms since my sisters are in Erudition."

"Caleb, promise me, after all this, you'll still take Assassin." I said seriously.

He looked into my eyes, took my hand and said, "I promise."

"Okay, let's go now. I have a long day tomorrow, and I need the rest." I told him.

He gave me a knowing look, "I feel sorry for you that you have to spend a day with the press."

I smirked, "Who said that it was only me? You're coming with me."

"What?! No!" He yelled, and then a few seconds later gave in, "Okay, fine. But only for you."

We climbed down the tree, and walked to his house. Caleb's parents were away on a mission, so I wouldn't have to go through the trouble of sneaking in. What are missions exactly? My curious brain questioned. We had been told missions were extremely important, but we didn't actually know what missions were. Every time I'd asked my parents they'd say, "It's classified."

"D'you know what happens on missions?" I asked him.

He scratched his head, "Well, not exactly. But I know that our parents make money out of them, and that the missions depend on the ranks."

We reached his house, and he told me to stay in any of the bedrooms on the second storey. I thought that it was way too awkward if I stayed in one of his sister's rooms, so I took the guest room. Caleb gave me a quick tour of the house, and I was amazed to see his neat room. His room was painted in colours of navy blue and white, and I'd never seen a more perfect room in my life. 

Caleb left me alone in the guest room, and I lay down on the bed. The dress was kind of uncomfortable to sleep in, but I guess I'd have to manage. Caleb knocked on the door. 

"Come in!" I said, and got up. 

He looked kind of embarrassed, "Well- I figured that you don't have anything to sleep in, and my sisters don't have clothes here, so I got you some of my clothes. I mean, if you want. I'm just going to keep them here."

"Thanks!" I said brightly. I went through the pile of his clothes, there were three T-shirts, one shirt, three pairs of shorts and one pair of sweatpants. His clothes were a bit too big for me, though he was younger than me, because he was taller and more muscular.

I settled on wearing the shirt and a pair of black shorts. The shirt itself reached almost mid thigh, and the shorts extended a bit beyond my knees. 

Realizing that I needed some water, I walked to the kitchen to get some for myself. The kitchen light was already switched on, and I saw Caleb, eating some cereal. When he saw me, his eyes widened, and I could see his pupils dilating. "Wow." He breathed. 

"I-I just need some water." I stammered, and picked up a glass from the rack. I had a drink of water, and was just leaving when Caleb asked if I was comfortable. 

I told him I was, and left for bed, but sleep didn't come easily to me as it usually did.