"Good morning, sunshine!" Lila teased in a sing-song voice. "Time to get up for choosing day!"
Amber groaned and rolled over in bed. "Please, just 5 more minutes!"
"Wakey, wakey, eggs and bakey!" Lila jumped up and down on her bed.
Staring at her little sister with the fire of a thousand suns, Amber reluctantly pulled herself out of the covers and started pulling her socks on.
Amber quickly dressed in the most practical attire her fashion would allow, having already decided where she belonged. She wanted to be prepared for her journey, so she opted for far less white in her wardrobe than usual, the only hallmark of her first two decades of life being the stark white blazer she adorned over her jet black shirt and slacks.
Opting for a pair of sensible loafers, she kissed her little sister on the cheek and held her chin in her hand, the golden eyes which were her namesake staring into her sister's icy blue ones. "I hope you know, no matter what, Lila, how much I love you," she said with a solemnity that the 7 year old was incapable of understanding.
Lila's nose scrunched up as she replied "Of course I know you love me, silly, you say it all the time! We're Candor after all!"
"Yeah," Amber replied with a sad smile, trying not to think about how she might not ever see that adorable face again. "Now, c'mon kid, let's go find Mom and Dad and get going."
"Okay!" Lila replied with her wide-toothed smile, before racing out the door with an energy Amber could only help but envy.
Amber and her family traveled together in an uncanny silence for members of the loudmouth faction. Upon reaching the location of the Ceremony, her mother and father pulled Amber aside and hugged her so tight she could hardly breathe.
"As much as we'd love for you to stay with us, we want you to know that no matter what you choose, we're proud of you," Amber's mother whispered, her eyes shining with unshed tears.
Amber tensed her jaw and blinked rapidly, trying to prevent her own. Be brave, she told herself as she thanked them with a watery smile.
The gong sounded five times, one for each of the factions. It was time.
Amber and her family assembled their places within the rows of Candor, her foot shaking up and down with the nerves she tried valiantly to fight.
Amber could hardly pay attention to the announcer or the students that came before her, the blood rushing through her ears and the adrenaline through her nerves. Finally, she froze in her seat when a voice called, "Watson, Amber".
Numbly, as if she was no longer in control of her own body, Amber found herself walking confidently up to the stage, her mind a million miles away.
Amber hissed as the knife cut her hand, careful where she was placing her hand, watching the drops of blood falling to the floor one by one. Drip. Drip. Drip.
After what felt like an eternity, Amber realized she had to choose. She knew where she wanted to be, and now was her chance to show she was brave enough to do it. Closing her eyes and taking a deep breath, she swung her hand out over the bowl full of flaming hot coals and stared in rapt fascination as her sanguine fluid seemed to satiate the flames roiling within the iron pot.
A loud outcry of cheers emerged from the raucous crowd in black.
It was done.