There have always been 5 sectors under god. There are the Emiteties who value selflessness, the Boundless who prefer bravery, the Nullfull who value knowledge, the Legionests who are dedicated to order, and the Sinless who are and always will be devoted to honesty. At least that’s what my teacher said. I have never been one to trust teachers at the academy. My father says the teachers are never honest. He says that they manipulate people into joining whatever sector that they are in. My mother says that teachers are always unbiased, and do nothing but teach students what they need to learn in order to succeed. This is the only topic that my parents disagree upon, at least that’s what my mother tells me.
Well, time for bed, I have an important day tomorrow. As I stand up to leave the table, my mother grabs my arm. “Sweetie, remember to go feed the birds.” Sigh. It’s really hard to forget that I live in a house made up of loyal Emiteties.
This morning I woke up sweating like I just ran a 10-mile marathon. I dreamt that I was brain controlling the city, and suddenly the people dissolved into thin air. But enough of that, today I get to choose my sector. As I go downstairs, I hear my sister Marline, Mar for a short, cooking breakfast. My mother is setting the table because my dad had to go to work early, or that’s what he said. We all know that he wants to help as many people as he can before his speech.
After my sister and I finish eating, we leave for school. My family are loyal Emiteties so they never use cars because they think other people need it more. I think that we just don’t have enough money to buy one. I’m not like my parents or my sister. I think about myself all the time. My sister, even though I am older, scolds me when I don’t help the elderly across the street. We meet up with our friends at the bus station. As we ride to school, Lynn says, “Hey 4, what sector are you going to join?” I respond, “I don’t know.” Mar hits me lightly on the shoulder. “4, you shouldn’t be grouchy just because you’re nervous.” We all laugh. It feels good to laugh. After all, this could be the last time we may be with each other ever again. I say, “Stop calling me 4, I don’t like that name.” People call me 4 because when I was younger a couple of kids fell off the bus so I called the ambulance. 4 represents the number of kids I saved. “Fine…… jk,” Mar says. We all laugh again, quietly of course. As people like to say, we’re our parents’ children.
As we get off the bus and walk through the huge double doors, we gasp. There are so many people. As we find our seats, people bring out the caskets in which we will drop our blood. When we choose our sector, we cut our hand to finalize our decision.
Everyone else is chatting but me and Mar are silent. I’ve never really thought about what sector I’ve wanted to join. I think Mar is thinking the same thing. Soon Marcus, the head government leader comes out to give his glorious speech. I’m starting to panic. What if I choose the wrong sector? What if I transfer and my parents never talk to me ever again?
Everyone quiets down. Dad says, “Everyone, welcome to the 108th Choosing!” It feels like an eternity until Mar’s name is called. I give her a nod of confidence. Dad hands her the knife. She says, “I chose Sinless.” My parents and their friends gasp, they look betrayed. She takes the knife, cuts a small cut on the back of her hand, and puts it over the basket which holds all the graduates’ blood. The blood slowly but steadily forms into a drop and falls. She walks over to where the Sinless sit all smirking at the Emiteties and congratulating her.
I never thought she would choose the slimy Sinless. She doesn’t return my gaze. My heart is beating so fast. Should I join Mar with the Sinless or stay in my loyal and loving family of Emiteties? Maybe I shouldn’t join either. I am so lost right now. Dad calls my name.
THE END