After about 10 minutes, all the initiates are in the library.
"My puzzle was a word scramble" Zander said. "What was yours?"
"A crossword puzzle" I replied. Just as I finished my sentence, Jude walked in with the lady who asked me my name. I assume she is the other instructor.
"You all know my name, but this is your other instructor Sandra. Erudite borns come with me, transfers go with her," Jude said, gesturing to Sandra.
"We will start with a tour of the compound" said Sandra. Sandra seemed so different from the others. Whenever she spoke, her voice never seemed as if she knew everything, like most Erudite. Every word that came out of her mouth was said with a smile. She didn't look much older than me, 17 or 18 at the most. She is the only person I've ever seen with green eyes.
"Now that you've all seen the library, we will be heading towards the computer lab. The center of life, here in erudite."
It was huge. A few of the other initiates mouths hung open. There were endless rows of computers, all with people quickly typing on them.
"About 53% of the jobs in Erudite are done here," stated Sandra. We made our way to an office with glass windows at the end of the room. Jeanine Matthews was inside.
"This is Jeanine Matthews, leader of Erudite's office," Sandra introduced. We came to a stop in front of the sliding doors.
"Hello initiates. As most of you know I am Jeanine Matthews leader of Erudite. I wish all of you could become full fledged members of our society as Erudite, but unfortunately, a few people will be cut at the end of each stage of initiation. I'm sure Sandra will explain more later. She ranked first in her initiate class last year, and she is my secretary when she isn't training initiates," said Jeanine.
"Well enough about me, we have to finish our tour. It was nice seeing you Jeanine," Sandra cut in.
"You as well," Jeanine replied.
Just as I began walking away, I felt a hand on my shoulder. "We'll if it isn't Caleb Prior. I never took you for a transfer, let alone a transfer to Erudite. I couldn't even begin to imagine your father's reaction was to your decision," Jeanine said.
"Well I didn't stay long enough to witness his reaction," I replied.
"I wish you luck in initiation Caleb," She simply replied. And with that, she walked away. I was a few feet behind the tour so I had to jog to catch up. Everyone was crowded around a polished wooden door.
"These will be your living quarters as you go through initiation," Sandra announced as she opened the door. The crowd began to walk through the room with 14 beds.
"Boys or girls?" asks Zander.
"Both" replied Sandra.
"During initiation, the transfers and erudite-born separate, but like all the other factions you will be ranked in comparison with the erudite born initiates. No one will be cut in the first stage of initiation, but in the second and third stages, there will be cuts." Sandra said without a smile.
"I will let you get settled in, and I will be back to lead you to the dining hall," Sandra said. We watched her walk out the door and walk to the the end of the hall and disappear into nothingness.
"I call the top bunk," Zander yelled in my ear and jumped into the one above mine.
