The Taken

Possibilities

"Who do you think he will take tonight?" asked Cassie as she walked behind her sister in the formation line to school.

"I don't know Cassie. Quit talking or you'll get us in trouble," said her sister Sadie. Cassie frowned at her sister from behind. Ever since her sister had turned twelve, Sadie had become so boring. It used to be that they talked everyday as they walked in formation to school, and instead of going to their individual lockers at precisely 7:02, they would visit each other's lockers and talk together about what they were going to do to make that day exciting. They never followed protocol, but now, Sadie did the opposite. Cassie had lost her one friend who didn't care about protocol.

When the lines of marching kids reached the school, they divided into two lines, one of boys, and one of girls. When they had divided, they marched in place for three beats, then halted together and held their hands out in balled fists at a perfect 90-degree angle from their bodies and recited the morning rehearsal.

"We are here to learn more about our Creator, our savior, and our Father. May he forever lay his blessing upon this school so that we might better understand him, and everything he created. All hail to the mighty Dauth Loldûl! Hail! Hail! Hail! May he live forever!"

At the end of the recitation, the kids clapped their arms back against their bodies and stood at attention. The headmaster of the school proceeded to the front of the school and stood at the top of the steps, overlooking the courtyard of kids.

Cassie ignored the headmaster's daily announcements and looked longingly at her sister. Now that her sister was twelve, she had the chance of becoming one of the Taken. Cassie was excited for her, she couldn't wait to turn twelve and become one of the Possibilities. As Cassie was fantasizing her future, she heard the headmaster begin to announce the new Possibilities.

"And now," he said, "we will celebrate the new Possibilities and recognize their new chances at becoming one of the Taken.

If, and when, your name is called, proceed to the second step below me and stand in a line. Allen..." Cassie watched as Chris Allen, who turned twelve two days ago, separated from the ranks of boys and marched up to the second step below the headmaster. One of the teachers standing off to the side walked up to him and drew, with black paint, a dark crescent moon on his forehead. Then the teacher returned to his original spot.

"Agra," the headmaster continued. Cassie watched intently as the procession continued.

"Bones." Cassie soon lost interest again while watching each person solemnly walk up the steps and have the moon painted on their face. She only cared about one person, her sister. On and on the headmaster went, calling name after name, until he reached one.

"Venks." A small slight girl separated from the line of girls. She had only turned twelve the night before. As far as Cassie knew, this girl was not supposed to be here. She could almost hear the inaudible gasp of the surrounding kids as they watched her march up to the steps.

Many rumors surrounded the girl. It was said the girl's parents never took her to the citadel. She was hardly at school and had no friends. She seemed to be made of skin and bones and almost looked like death himself. Worst of all, it was said her family didn't believe in Dauth Loldûl. Yet here she was, on the step standing with all the other twelve-year-old's, and she had the black crescent moon painted on her forehead. She looked nervous standing there with the entire school staring at her with mixed emotions. Cassie was just thankful that no one had decided to start a fight.

Then, the moment ended as soon as the headmaster called, "Wichert." Barely containing her excitement, Cassie watched her sister separate from her line and march up to the steps. The same teacher painted the black moon on her forehead. Sadie's expression never changed from the dull, lifeless, solemn look she had carried all morning.