Teach Me How to Sing

By: AAnnR

A/N: This is a second attempt to write this story...it's based off the music video 'Fantastic Baby' by Big Bang. I hope this will live up to you standards.

Enjoy!

"Think of the repercussions before you make a decision." Everything done has an effect, whether good or bad; and for better or for worse, I live by this revelation. So, to rule out negative impacts I could create, I decided to follow the same road everyone walked.

Chapter 1: The Government Hates Owls (The Sign of Freedom)

"Ha-Neul!"

My burning eyes opened to the grey, concrete wall - an absolute cross between black and white. Deemed to be absolutely perfect by the government for the unsuspecting adolescence of today. Completely acceptable.

My mouth tasted like chalk, as it always did in the mornings. My tongue ran along the roof of my mouth, tasting the reminiscencing taste of copper.

Sitting up, I reached for the collar on my neck; pressing my pad of finger on the flat piece of metal my tag hung off, giving off a vibration before beeping. A metallic voice sounded out: 'conformation for deactivation. Good morning Ha-Neul.' A circle light above my door flipped from a pale green to a obnoxious yellow with a soft click.

I scrambled out of bed, stripping off my black night shirt, fixing my grey bra, and pulling on a newly pressed white shirt. I slipped on a pair of pressed black pants and grabbed one of the twelve grey sweater vests hanging in my closet before exiting my room. The lights turned off automatically behind me, the light above the door turning from yellow to red.

Briskly walking from my room, I buttoned up the shirt as I made my way down the hall towards the kitchen. I managed to throw on my vest and tuck in my shirt as I entered the kitchen. Pausing a moment at the mirror located right inside, I pulled my hair out of my shirt, running my fingers through it, untangling the knots.

Mother was at the table,sitting before one of two identical meals. I sat in the seat across from her and quickly ate the food that was in front of me: toast, an apple, vitamin pills, and a glass of Grey Juice.

"Good morning," I mumbled through bland mouthfuls, hoping to receive some kind of reaction from my mother. No such luck, as usual.

Finishing my meal, I gathered my food on my plate, stood from my seat and threw the plastic circle into the incinerator next to fridge to my right. Without a backwards glance I walked out of the room, grabbed my school bag, I briskly strode out the door, grabbing my shoulder bag from the cubby next to the door.

I slowed my pace a bit once I was on the sidewalk, not needing to hurry anymore. The collar would allow 15 minutes to get to my destination before it started to initiate punishment.

Plenty of time.

Grey cars drove by, brimming full of people, all of whom were heading off to work.

Slinging my shoulder bag over my shoulder, I basked in the sunlight as I strode along. I couldn't wait to be an adult. In two weeks I would be turning 18, legal age for retiring from school and beginning my life within the workforce.

Glancing about me, I noticed other people on the side walking the same direction I was going. From their collar I knew they were students, each of their silver tags glimmered in the sunlight. Amongst them, I felt a sort of unity. Together, we made a mob of cleanly pressed students.

Blending into the crowd, I took a right and the school came to view.

My feet followed along the familiar path, walking to my doom.

"Look girls!" A shrill voice broke through the thin morning air.

Feeling a sense of dread, I picked up my pace. Perhaps they would leave me alone if I could just speed walk out of here.

"It's our old friend Ha-Neul!" Someone laid a hand on my shoulder. Looking over my shoulder, I saw my captor, San-Hu. Behind her stood a gaggle of normal girls, their sliming, proportionate figures, and long, black pulled back hair. They were known for their generosity and humbleness. All four of them were showing their beautiful white teeth with their absolutely stunning smiles.

I was frozen with terror.

"Wow! You look alright Ha-Neul," Fre-La, she was the 'leader' of the group. She set the standard, provided the input, and held the most pure of their souls.

"She's right," Cha-Ku this time. "You look amazingly normal." I kept my gaze on the ground.

Avoid eye contact. I chanted in my head. They'll go away.

Fre-La giggled, "you want to eat lunch with us today? We can share!"

I inwardly groaned and shook my head. "I don't plan on eating."

Cha-Ku sounded concerned, "But have to it's the-"

"Rules?" I interrupted. "I know." Why couldn't they just see how much I hated them? Of course I would be eating. You have to eat. It was required.

Fre-La pouted, "you're just upset about Cha-Gu."

I grip my shoulder bag, my knuckles turning white. "No." I say, no falter. "I'm not upset because of her."

Fre-La's face brightened, "No?"

"Wasn't she your best friend?" Cha-Ku asked from beside me.

"Why would I ever be friends with a traitor?" My voice removed all inflection and emotion.

Fre-La shrugged her shoulders, grinning "True."

They dropped the subject, continuing on to their own conversations...something about boys and matchings. I fell back a bit, allowing the giggling girls to walk in front. How sick was this?

I looked up at the sky, its blustery color a stark contrast to the dismal grey, white, and black of the world it looked upon. I blinked back tears - I couldn't afford to cry. It was weakness, something I couldn't afford. One of many things that were denied.

We came upon the entrance to our destination, a building similar to the office compounds just beside it. Above the door where written Learning Institute for the Unlearned. That's what we where... unlearned. So many things were to be taught, rules that should not be broken, laws that must be obeyed.

As I crossed the threshold of the building my collar on my neck vibrated against my skin. The unlearned in front of me trailed off into their classrooms, near perfect lines leading into the brightness of the doorways. I broke from the group, passing them to head into a doorway farther down the hall.

Girls and boys sat at their desks, their hands clasped together on their black desks, waiting. Above them hung bright white machines, modeled round and slick. They smiled as their eyes watched me walk to my desk and sit down, mimicking their poses, my collar once again vibrated.

I sat, starin at the white wall at the front of the classroom. A bell rang, echoing through the hallways. Following the chim, a loud scream ripped through the hallway then abruptly stopping. Something inside me felt for the person who had screamed. The Punishments seemed to be happening more frequently than before.

A small whirring sound seceded the scream. I knew the machines were lowering and I quickly guided the mechanical object down to sit comfortably on my head. Once satisfied, the machine closed, using my necklace as a seal.

Closing my eyes, I cleared my head. A mechanical voice appeared in my head. What's wrong Cha-Ku? It spoke, it's voice like honey. You seem more distraught than usual, dear. The conversation from early replayed in my head. Oh my child. It's alright. It's okay to miss friends. Even traitors. I felt doubtful. Of course traitors are manipulators, only pretending to be your friend. You know that, don't you? I felt a bit guilty. Don't worry about it, child. Just forget about her. How about we start your lesson, alright?

Mantras began to play, plugging information into my head. Some were old, a repetition from previous lessons - such as, "Be kind to others." "Eat your food." "Watch the Program." "Listen to your Guardians." Others were new: "Do not make eye contact with the opposite gender."

The newer ones were attached with a lesson, a reason or explanation on why I should listen to the automated voice speak rules to me. I listened, forcing myself to remember the material. Something inside me refused to get over Cha-Ku.