The Box
A/N: Hey, my name is Moss. This is my first fanfic, I hope you all like it! It won't be very long…I'm mainly just testing to see if anyone likes it.
The Box did not like to be tampered with.
The Box was everything; It knew everything. It saw everything.
The Box was the Answer. There was no questioning the Box.
Those were the Rules we had been taught since birth. When we were infants, our mothers chanted it while we slept. When we were toddlers, our preschool teachers instilled it into our minds with silly songs. In elementary, the Rules were always the first question on our tests. By middle school, a few of us became suspicious of this "Box." It was only a government hoax, an old wife's tale, a historic prank! No box could do anything or know anything, not even The Box. That's when we decided to prove our little town wrong. "The Box was a lie!" We would announce, waiving the old cardboard thing around (at least, that's what we assumed it was. No one but the Elders had ever seen The Box.) Those gullible townsfolk would rejoice at the fear that had been lifted from their shoulders. The Elders would bow their heads in shame, stupefied that a group of young teenagers could have revealed their ancient fraud. The Box would be no more, and we'd be saviors.
I awoke to the sound of old church bells chimed in my room. It was time to pay homage to the Box. I groggily threw my red jumpsuit on, and then rushed down the stairs to eat. "Sora!" My mother scolded. "How late were you planning on keeping us? The Box does not like to wait. Surely you would have learned that by now." "My - ermph- alarm clock didn't –mph- go off." I lied between bites of toast. I was really just sick of waking up early to pay homage to something that doesn't exist. My friends, Kairi and Riku, agreed to do the same. It was Riku's idea, actually. "I don't want to be late. I'm leaving now, and you're just going to have to face the Punishment." "I'm coming!" Jeez, some mother. After brushing my teeth and attempting (and failing) to brush my spiky hair down, I threw on my white and black jacket and rushed out the door.
Thankfully, I made it on time. While paying homage to a box is stupid, it isn't worth it to receive the Punishment. Still panting, I threw myself in a chair beside Kairi. "There you are lazy bum!" She taunted me, using my pet name she gave me. "Hey, you were nearly late too! You're sweating like crazy." I said between breathes. "Dang, you got me." She giggled, wiping her red bangs from her wet forehead. "That was fun though, being a rebel." She added. I gave her my trademark grin, then scanned the crowd. "Have you seen Riku around?" I asked Kairi, who merely shook her head. "Attention!" a voice boomed. A couple hundred heads turned to the large wooden platform just in front of a gleaming white cube with intricate Celtic knots framing the edges. (This is not the actual Box, it is the shrine of the Box the Elders created. Don't worry, it confuses the tourists who come here as well.) "Attention!" The voice boomed again. A small, elderly man with a clean-shaven face and a white toga stood on the stage. "As the Head Elder of Destiny Islands, I shall lead you all in the morning homage. However," he paused. "Not before the Punishment for one late young man." A ripple ran through the crowd as a 15-year old muscular male with silvery white hair walked up the stairs. "Riku!" I shouted as I stood up. "Get down!" hissed a person behind me, pulling me by my jacket into my seat. My heart sunk to my feet and into the hot, scratchy sand below my feet. How did he get caught? Were we supposed to get caught? I thought we were just sleeping in late and half-assing our appearance. "Riku Souru, your Punishment will be held after our homage is given." The Head Elder said piercingly, his expression unreadable. Riku nodded sharply, and then marched down to a chair in front of me. If he caught my questioning gaze, he didn't show it. Why, Riku? Are you really that desperate to rebel? I thought hopelessly. Should I have been that ready to rebel? Maybe I should have been up there with him. My thoughts were interrupted by someone grabbing my arm. "Kairi?" I whispered. "I'm scared for him." She hissed back. I was about to reply, but then the Session of Homage began.
The Session of Homage went by fast, probably because this is the one time I never wanted it to end. I would have been contemplating the irony of this, had my mind not been occupied by the thoughts of Riku's punishment. For some reason, I felt a little guilty. I felt as if I should have been with him. But then again…the Punishment was not something to be taken likely. "Riku Souru, come forth." The Head Elder's voice suddenly boomed. "Riku!" I hissed. "I'll talk to you after this." He replied under his breath. "But we can't talk after this!" I pointed out. "You'll find a way." He winked at me, then held his head high and marched to the platform. "Riku, you were late for the Session of Homage for the Box. This questions the Box's authority, making this a felony. For this heinous crime, you shall be administered the Punishment." He paused to let this sink into the crowd. "The Punishment includes fifty public lashings, as well as solitary confinement. Do you understand?" Riku nodded, and whispers ran through the townsmen. "Then let the lashings begin."
What he left out of this explanation was that one would be considered an abomination by the public, forever to be ostracized. It was considered taboo to speak to one who had to be administered the Punishment. Most people go crazy from never talking to people ever again. I know I would, anyway. I constantly chat with others on a good day. Never – thwack. The sickening thud of a leather whip smacking human flesh brought me out of my thoughts. Kairi gasped beside me, trying to block the horrendous view with her hands.
Thwack. Thwack. Thwack. The seemingly endless rounds of lashes continued. No matter how many times I tried to run up there, the crowd would pull me back in. Resistance was futile. Thwack. Thwack. Thwack. "Stop!" I yelled, but my cries fell on deaf ears. It was almost as if everyone else was in some sort of trance…Thwack. Thwack. Thwack. They kept on going…and going…and going…Thwack. Finally, the awful sound ceased. A group of lesser Elders grabbed Riku and dragged him off the stage. Finally, I got the chance to run to him. "Riku!" I panted. "Why-" the Elders shoved me off, but I managed to catch him mouthing one word: "Tonight."