You look down at Britney, "You're retarded and you need to think for yourself." Britney seems confused, and then angry, "W-what? What the hell kind of statement is that?" "You're still the same little robot girl, just following different programming. I understand you want to help purge the school of corruption but doing something like this?" Britney yells, "You don't get it! I'm trying to save people! I'm the only one who can! Everyone else is just out for themselves! I have to! I have to believe that the world I envisioned as a child is how things should be. Or else what else is there!?" Rose speaks, "Sorry Brit, but the real world just isn't like that. But if you wanna make the difference on your own. I can respect that." Britney seems confused. Rose sighs, "Thorn you ruined another opportunity that I set up perfectly for you. You could have gotten sucked off right here but you just had to be a hero didn't you?" You place your hand on your head and groan, "You really don't need to do shit like this for us. You tried this same thing with 803 and I wasn't interested then either." Rose seems disappointed, "I don't get you. I give you these opportunities on a golden platter. We both know you're not some golden boy. So why pretend at all? I'm giving you permission. Your sweet Monitor girlfriend is lining up girls to suck you off and you can't even just do the typical guy thing and take it." You walk closer and kiss Rose. Wrapping her in your arms and making out with her in front of Britney. You feel her warm tongue press against yours. She returns your embrace as you feel her hand slip around the back of your head. Her mouth tastes like strawberry. Maybe she was chewing some strawberry gum or something. "Rose, it's because I only have eyes for you. Other girls just don't interest me." Rose sighs, "You're so cheesy you know that?" Silence lingers in the room for a bit before she continues, "But you're sweet. Brit, I guess we're clear for now. You've proven you're willing to do what it takes. I trust you won't betray me when push comes to shove." Britney stands up and takes a courteous bow before Rose. "Thank you. I won't let you down." ----- It's later that night. You got permission from Rose to attend the owls meeting. And so after texting Cabella you meet up later that night at the school. You're led inside the school inside the secret chambers. It's her and you alongside a few others walking through the dank stone corridors. Everyone is dressed in brown robes except for Cabella dressed in her usual white. Cabella seems thrilled, "I'm so honored you could join us tonight Thorn!" The stone tunnels down here seem so old.. "Yeah, same I guess." "Finally, you've given up your chains, you're finally seeing that freedom is worth fighting for!" You respond, "Well you see about that.." You're led into a room where all the other brown cloaked Washout students are sitting around a wood table eating and having fun. There's some light music playing in the background. The scene is lit with candles and flashlights. "Ah, Miss Coda, you've returned to us!" "I only stepped out to let in our newest member." The Washout girl with the hat from before stands up, "Wait, ain't that the pet of that one Monitor chick?" "Yeah, I think I've seen him with Z12!" Cabella raises her hand with a calm expression, "At ease, Thorn here has given up his chains. He too wants to be free. Thorn here has greatly helped me in the past. We owe him a great debt." The girl seems skeptical but doesn't say anything and simply shrugs. Cabella seems happy, "No worries Thorn, you are ALWAYS welcome here." "Y-yeah.." It is sort of nice to see the more calm side of the revolutionaries. Down here you can really see the friendship. The color that was missing from the school. Cabella walks over to a podium, the others turn their attention to her. "Tonight, we have gained yet another new member.. Tonight Thorn joins us. See to it that he feels welcome here. We are not like the brutish Monitors above, we do not abuse the newcomers do we?" The others nod, some of them stand up and offer you a seat. You sit down. Cabella speaks, "The order of the Owls shall now commence! By Candlelight hour the Owls rule the night, devouring rats as the cruel lose their might. By the cold shade of Moon we take to the skies, and take villains who plot their misdeeds by surprise. The talons of justice will rake the cruel tyrants, and sharp beak to rend and render them silent. Together we fly to liberate the oppressed, and give hope to those victims under duress." Cabella continues, "This is the Candlelight Owls creed. A rhyme to remind us of our purpose. Let us begin the initiation." ------------ You're led to a ceremonial chamber within the halls. All the owls in their brown robes begin chanting in what you assume to be latin. Their heads facing down wearing Owl Masks and carrying candles. The room is also filled with mist from some dry ice. You walk down a long pathway, passing the brown cloaked chanting people holding their candles through the mist. It's a very strange feeling. Cabella is standing at the end of the path wearing a large decorated owl mask with feathers. You pass the other owls eventually reaching her. "Thorn Prick. You have come before us a fledgling. A lost soul wandering in the cold cruel world. In this darkness we offer you light. Will you join us and bring liberation to the oppressed? Will you oppose tyranny wherever it stands? Will you forsake the teachings of those who preach order, and adopt a new mindset of freedom?" "Yes, I will." "Then become free, and give freedom to others." Cabella leads you further back where a cheap plastic pool about waist high has been filled with ice water. "Dive into the pool of rebirth, and be reborn as the Owl you were meant to be!" You sigh lightly. You climb up into the pool and submerge yourself in it. It's absolutely freezing! When you emerge you suck in a refreshing breath of air. You leave the pool shortly thereafter and Cabella hands you a towel. "Welcome to the Owls brother Thorn." You chuckle. What madness have you gotten yourself into? ---------------------- It is the next day during your first period class. Snidely is writing on the board. "Today we'll be talking about your college experience. At least, this should be relevant if you've concluded that being a Way-Outer isn't the way to go. Which as my lessons should have illustrated, is a poor idea to say the least. Taking the way out will lead to poverty, possibly crime and then jail shortly thereafter." He continues scrawling on the board, "College might be what you call a.. Step up from the high school experience. It's a lot more intensive. From the moment you choose to reject the way out.. That is.. When you graduate from high school and decide to take a free education as any upstanding citizen should.. You'll be immediately transported to a facility. A college facility. Its a dorm living situation. And your entire life for the next however many years will be spent on this campus." He walks over to his desk and takes a sip of water before continuing. "For the first few weeks you'll be weighed, examined, and searched by staff. They will document your statistics for research purposes. Then you'll proceed to get dressed and get ready for your classes. Uniforms are required for all students as they are here, save for the higher ones." He takes a deep breath and then proceeds with his lecture, "After the first few weeks you'll be scouted out by several Fraternities, or Sororities. From there you'll join their ranks and live in their quarters. Meaning you absolutely must live by their codes. They will be your brothers and or sisters that will help you succeed. Each Fraternity or Sorority competes against the others for supplies, rewards and other goodies in a series of weekly events. This will not only teach you the value of teamwork, but again obedience. Your brothers or sisters may help you survive, so it's a good idea to get along with them." You raise your hand, Snidely calls on you, "What about ranks?" "There are none. But within each house there is a hierarchy. Generally there will be a President, and then a Vice President, a treasurer, and so on. All tasked with dealing with individual issues when running the group. A "big brother" or "big sister" may watch over you and you'll learn the ropes from them." You're not sure what to make of all of this. But not being able to go home sounds like a real drag. ------------------ Its after your first period class, upon emerging you see the walls have been plastered with horrifying images. Images of Rose sucking dick and getting fucked. Everywhere, in full color. The students walking out are seeing the pictures and are giggling. --- 1) Write-In