Laren allowed herself to be led into the hall and through the maze of corridors she hadn’t had time to explore the night before. Other people wearing the same jumpsuit passed by frequently in the crowded passageways. “When am I going to have a chance to look around?” she asked.
“Never,” came the reply.
“Never?”
Ashlyn stopped and sighed. “Look, I know you just came in from the outside, but you’ve got to learn something fast. This is a dark place. And I don’t mean the lights are dim.” She paused and looked around. “Although, I guess that’s true too. But what I mean is that there isn’t any real studies. Just tests. Tests done on us. We follow the rules and we don’t get hurt. Or so they tell us.”
Laren was suddenly frightened. She couldn’t believe what she was hearing. “Isn’t the Institute where we prepare to work for the government?”
Ashlyn looked her dead in the eyes. “How long has the Institute been around, Laren?”
“Fifteen, twenty years maybe.”
“Have you ever met a ‘graduate’ of the Institute?”
“I... I don’t remember...”
“No, you haven’t. Because there aren’t any. I’ve been here six years. You think I wouldn’t have graduated by now? Look, we’ve got to get to Rule Call, I’ll try to explain more as I can. For now, just follow the rules and do what you’re told. We’ll try to make things easier as we can.”
“We? And what are the rules? You never told me!” Laren complained.
“The gang,” Ashlyn explained as she dragged Laren by the hand. “Hadrian and Ridley and me. We’ll be tight don’t worry. The biggest rules you need to worry about are no food in the rooms, Always obey anyone with a higher rank -- for now that’s anyone with any kind of stripe on their jumpsuit.” Laren noticed that Ashlyn had a yellow stripe on her sleeve. “I’ll explain ranks later. The most important thing you need to remember is to never speak unless you’re told to, and never ever talk back to anyone higher ranks or question their orders. Now, get in there and find a seat in the front of that center set of bleachers.”
They had arrived at a door that led into a massive assembly hall, full of people in gray jump suits, with more people swarming in. “But...”
“No talking back, remember?” Ashlyn winked. “I can’t sit with you, I’m a yellow-stripe and you’re a no-stripe. They’d get angry.” She paused again. “You’ll do all right, kid, I’ll try to drop in and make sure you’re fine.” She turned to move to another set of bleachers. “I’ll see ya later, Laren.