Chapter One: A VisitA single noise could be heard throughout the dreaded waiting room in a place called the Counseling Corner. Heavy breathing. It was my older brother, Nixon. His narrow face was painted a pale white, the color effecting his cheekbones in a sense that made him look almost undead, while his features such as his little crinkles were popping out. The short brown locks that laid on his head, was neat as always, however. The style with hair on the top of his head with skin showing on the sides, made it difficult for his hair to be messy, no matter how stressed or concerned.
"Nixon..." I said softly, placing a worn down hand on my brother's shoulder. He felt tense, as if his entire body was a ticking bomb ready to go off. "She's fine.. She's been here before... Remember? This isn't her first act of rebellion..." "That's why I'm worried!" He said, his deep voice coated in nervousness struck against my eardrums all too suddenly, startling me a bit. "She doesn't know her place yet... Mom and Dad always warned her of what she'd become if she didn't realize what her place was, and she still hasn't!" I sunk down into my chair, retracting my hand from Nixon's shoulder after he spoke for the second time. I was one who enjoyed arguing, but not with my brother, that'd be a death wish. Seconds went by, and soon evolved into minutes. Each minute was painstakingly long, silence filling it as Nixon's breathing was ended. My own motions in this time were nonexistent. I sat still, my blinking, flaring nostrils and barley moving chest were the only signs that told you I was alive. Ha... If I could persuade people I was dead... Rebelling would so much easier to accomplish.. As more time went by, the silence was killing my, driving me insane, something that always happened. It was pounding against my temples, the silence was going to rip me apart. It'd start with my head and slowly make its way throughout my body. First to my arms and down to my fingertips, making them numb before ripping me apart. Afterwards it'd go to my stomach, a roaring fire of pain from such silence as it tweaked every nerve I had. As it made it's way to my legs and feet, I'd lose feeling if them as well. Soon I'd be succumbed to death, such a sufferer as I became a victim of the white hot silence. "Ugh!" I exclaimed, falling out of my chair and grabbing my head in pain, white flashes attacking my vision. "Stellan? Are you okay?" My nervous brother asked me, watching me roll over as I tried to get over the fire. "F-Fine... Keep talking..." About what?" "I don't c-care! Just d-do i-it!" "Erm... Well, you know the ceremony is next week, don't you? You'll have your children's chip removed and be given a new one... After your job is found out and all... Then you'll finally be part of society..." I groaned as I forced myself off the ground and sat back down in my chair. Sweat rolled down my face, short and heavy breaths escaping my quivering lips. "Brother...." I looked over at Nixon once he had spoke. "Yes?..." "You were thinking about rebelling again, weren't you?" "I was just writhing on the ground, and that's the first thing you ask me?!" "You only do that because of your chip, which is initiated whenever you want to rebel. I'm not an idiot." Right when I was about to retort, a door was swung open and a single word was called out. "Myers?" Nixon sighed and stood up, walking over to the door, which the horrifying man stepped out of. The Counselor. The Counselor was the counselor for the entire city. Whenever someone didn't know their place in the world, or rebelled, they were sent to him. His methods are known to be horrid, painful, frightful, but my sister Isadora has endured him three times now. It's so impressive. He had a pointed chin that matched his narrow face. He was a bald man up top, but had hair in the back. Spectacles rested on his long nose, right below his soulless black eyes. Whenever I looked at him, chills were sent up my body. His face was naturally horrifying, and his glare was something that could give you nightmares. My brother began speaking to The Counselor in a hushed tone so I wouldn't hear him, but when I focused, the whole conversation could be understood with ease. "...how is she?" "I'm afraid she hasn't been broken down fully, there's a possibility she will have to return." Nixon frowned, it was obvious he didn't want to have to return here, and I didn't want my sibling to have to return either. "Alright, when should I bring her back?" "The next time she shows the slightest signs or rebellion, I'll put an end to it once and for all." "Thank you Counselor.." "Now about the payments.." The Counselor led Nixon into the back, and out came my sister. Her usual tan skin had paled significantly, as if she was dead. Her eyes looked lifeless, they'd been blue before, but currently her hues were white as could be. As she stumbled towards me, I could see her pained and weary face so much better. The black hair she bore, which was usually styled in a pixie cut, was messy. Locks sticking up everywhere, as if she hadn't slept in days. "How was it?.." I asked her, taking one of her trembling hands to give her support. "You don't need to speak about it if you don't want to..." "Traumatizing... But boring..." She flashed a weak grin at me, and I knew she was lying. Going to The Counselor wasn't something people enjoyed, it was painful. It hurt people physically and mentally, but of course, Isadora would never show pain or admit to it. "Nixon is paying for the appointment... Come on.. Let's get out of here... I can't stand the silence.." I took my sister's hand and led her outside slowly. The feeling of real air filling me made me sigh in relief. I hadn't felt anything but artificial warmth for the past two hours due to my time in the waiting room. Quietly, my feet walked out to the car, my sibling right behind me. I approached our car, and closed my eyes as the car processed who was there. It scanned the chip in the back of my neck, which beeped and made my neck jolt in pain. Then, the car door swung open. I unlocked all the doors before watching Isadora get in the passenger seat. Then, I walked over to the back and hopped into the car, buckling up. We sat in silence, I knew Isadora needed to relax. She's been through far too much today. My eyes closed and more time ticked by, I was being swallowed by a silence I couldn't defeat, but it wasn't painful this time. The sound of an opening door saved me from my own doom. "Isadora..." My brothers voice rang in my ears, making me open my eyes. Nixon was now sitting down and buckling up, before he began to drive. An irritated look was planted on his face, and I was nervous about what he would say. "You need to knock this insanity off. Now." He growled, looking as if he was holding the wheel much tighter then needed. "Why should I stop it?.. I'm not broken yet, am I?" "Why should you stop?!" "That's what I'm saying.." "Isadora Jenelle Myers, LISTEN TO ME!" The car swerved to the side of the road, making me gasp in surprise. Nixon's face was pure red, every feature was painted that dreadful color. I could feel myself sink in my seat since his anger was filling the whole car. Somehow, my sister was unfazed, she just sat there. "Stellan is turning into a delinquent because of you! You know his thoughts of rebellion are getting worse! And you know why? Because his sister is nearly insane and is trying to leave the safety of the walls!" "Safety! What safety do we have here? The safety of giving the government control over everything we think, say, and do?!" Isadora spat out, her voice cracking. She looked less then sane in a sense.. "She's... She's right..." I mumbled slowly, making my sibling's faces whip around to face me. "None of us are allowed to leave this place, and if you try, you're sentenced to pain... The government is using us like we're their dolls in a little dollhouse..." Nixon looked maniacal, I was surprised he hadn't slapped me after what I said. "Look at what you've turned him into! He's gone delirious!" "No he's hasn't, he's smart! He can tell what's a lie and what isn't!" Nixon was silent for a moment before saying a deadly line of sentences. "Remember what Mom and Dad told you the night before they died? Because I do, they said one thing to each of us, and here's what they told you. 'Quit the rebellion, stop it now, or else you're going to end up hurting more people then you wish.' Remember that Isadora?" My heart stopped, and I could feel Isadora's stop as well. Her paled face had paled even more, if that was even possible. My parents knew they were going to die, and they sat each of us down and told us something. That was what Isadora was told. What was I told? I still remember it very well, Mom cupped my cheeks and pecked my forehead, Dad had an arm around my shoulder, and they spoke. 'Follow your heart.. We live in a corrupt world, but a single person can bring humanity back.' Then they left. Now Isadora looked back at me once again. "I'm going to Aspen's house. Sorry, but you'll have to deal with this prick.." She kicked the car door open, and walked out. The lifeless looking girl who was obviously in pain, continued to walk anyways. Nixon just rubbed his eyes wearily, not caring about his younger sister. At least, he didn't show it. "Stellan.. You know why I had to do that. Right?" I nodded slowly, even though I didn't agree with what my brother had done. "Anyways.. Your chip... It's getting replaced.. Are you ready for the ceremony?" I nodded again, "Yep.. Ready to give up my entire life and dedicate it to the government. I'm looking forward to having it torn away and have all my choices not belong to me anymore." The Chipping Ceremony was where you entered adulthood. You are eligible for the ceremony when you turn seventeen, and it occurs every year. That's where the chip you're given at birth is replaced for good. Your future is chosen due to your chip. It scans your mind and your abilities, then chooses where it wants you to go and work. Basically, you give yourself to our government. "Stellan.. I know it seems bad, but it's so much better then you think. Our protection is guaranteed, everything is good, as long as we stay loyal to our government. I think it's a very good deal." "Of course you do Nixon.. Course you do.."
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