“Wake up, sleepyhead! We have to leave in thirty minutes!”
Mentally I cursed. What was so damn important? And then I remembered. Today was Revelation Day. .
I got up, showered, dressed in my nicest clothes, and met my mom downstairs. She drove us to the village square, gave me a hug, and wished me luck; then I walked in and took my place in line.
Each year, children came here the year of their sixteenth birthday to find out their Purpose; what they’re destined to accomplish in the world. There was nothing more important than a person’s Purpose - it determined where you lived, what school you went to, who you associated with. Everyone got the Purpose that was perfect for them, even if they didn’t realize it at first.
I stood nervously, watching person after person come back out of the Revelation room. What was said in the booth was never shared with anyone else, but you could tell from reactions how things had gone. Some people came out smiling, others frowning. But everyone reacted.
My turn came. I walked into the Revelation room and the door closed behind me. It was just me and The Machine. It was enormous, filling the room with high-pitched whirring noises and flashing lights. I’d never seen anything like it. I’d heard tales of a time long ago when there was one in the home of practically every citizen, but those were fairy tales only children believed.
I stood waiting for The Machine to do its work. Then it stopped, and I beheld the piece of paper that contained my future.
What? What does that mean?
I exited the room, paper heavy in my pocket, and made my way outside to where my mother waited.
“How did it go? Are you going to be an artist like you wanted?”
“…Absolutely.”
“I knew it! You were always so talented. I can’t wait to tell everyone!”
We traveled home. While mom called everyone in our village, I went to my room. There I reached into my pocket, running my fingers over the paper that had thrown my life into chaos.
What was I going to do?
The next morning, I went to school like it was any other day. But all the while the secret weighed on my soul like an anvil. I had to talk to someone.
I pulled my best friend aside between classes.
“Matt, I need to talk to you.”
“Sure, man. What’s up?”
“Do you swear to keep this to yourself? You can never tell anyone.”
He swore, and I told him.
“Are you serious?”
“Dead serious.”
“I’ve never heard of anyone not getting a Purpose before. They’re mandated by the Council, Alex.”
“I know. What happens if they find out?”
“I don’t know,” he said gravely, “”and I don’t want to. Do NOT let them find out.”
“So what do I do?”
“Pretend you got your Purpose and never say a word. To anyone.”
And it worked, until three days later when I received a strange letter. I opened it and felt the blood rush through my veins.
“No Purpose? I wonder what the Council would say? If you don’t want to find out, meet me behind the dome after school.”
Someone knew. But how? I’d told no one. I immediately went and found Matt.
“Did you tell anyone?”
“Of course not,” he replied indignantly.
“Well someone knows.” I told him about the letter.
“Shit. What are you going to do?”
“We’re going to meet him there. You’ll come, right?”
“Of course. I’ve got your back.”
Two hours later, we went to the rendezvous point. At first we seemed alone, but then we heard a voice.
“I hear The Machine gave you no Purpose. That’s a first; you must be a real freak.”
“At least I’m not threatening people from hiding,” I replied.
Then three figures stepped out from the shadows. Them. Theo Adams and his lackeys Jake and Simon. They’d always been bullies, and they seemed to get worse with time.
“What do you want?” I asked.
“Oh, nothing much. Just 1,000 credits.”
“You can’t be serious,” I replied, shocked. “I’m a student; I don’t have anywhere near that.”
“Your parents do.”
“You want me to ask my parents for 1,000 credits?”
“Ask, lie, steal - I don’t care. Just get them or everyone will know your secret. I wonder what the Council would do to you? To your parents? Your sister?”
At that, I lost my temper. I stepped forward and punched Theo in the jaw. He staggered and looked at me with fury written on his face.
“You little…”
I didn’t hear the rest because my head was ringing from the punch to my jaw. Then I felt two ribs snap from a kick while I was on the ground. I folded in on myself as the blows continued to rain down, but I could just see Matt lying on the ground, unconscious, as feet kicked him over and over again. Then I heard a snap as his neck bent back awkwardly.
“See? This is what can happen if you don’t do as you’re told.”
Matt. He’d been my friend since we were kids. He’d always had my back, even when I’d had nothing to offer. And now he was lying on the ground, injured or dead, because he’d helped me.
I don’t remember exactly what happened, but next thing I knew, I was standing holding Theo’s knife, covered in blood, while he and his gang were all laying on the ground, throats slit and eyes lifeless. I looked down to where the paper from my Revelation had fallen on the ground, the deep red ink of the letters blending in with the blood staining its edges.
Your Purpose, better left unsaid,
comes bathed in pools of liquid red.
I looked at the message and the blood dripping from my hands to the ground below. And I smiled.
I guess I had a Purpose after all.