Free Rite of Rejection (Acceptance Book 1) by Sarah Negovetich Page A

Elizabeth holding hands in front of their white picket fence. Then again, I can’t really picture me and Eric either. The image of Daniel holding my hand earlier this morning flashes in my eyes, but I quickly shake it away. My brain is more muddled than ever and being here is sucking away what’s left of my dreams for the future.
    But Eric is kind and attentive. Not to mention incredibly handsome with his clear, sky-blue eyes. If I can get over how nervous he makes me, we might actually have a future together. Whatever that looks like.
    We finish the walk to the dining hall in silence. There aren’t many other people outside. A rancid smell in the air alerts the few of us out in the streets to something burning in the dining hall. I take the lead and head in the direction of where I slept last night. When we get to the rotting door, all my insecurities about my pending future come tumbling out.
    “When will I see you again? How will I know the test is ready?” I took Eric’s presence for granted on our walk, but now that he’s about to leave I’m terrified.
    “Deep breaths, Becca. We can probably eat meals together, but you’ll need to sleep here. I’m sure it won’t be long before the test is ready. I’ll find you in the dining hall or here in your bunk.” He raises our linked hands and gives the top of mine a light kiss before leaning in close to my ear. “Try to stay out of trouble until then.”
    His warm breath tickles my ear and I lean into him. He’s the stability I need right now. “Do you have to go?”
    Eric rests his chin on my shoulder. Maybe he’ll stay and I won’t have to face the lonely bunkhouse by myself. The thought doesn’t last long. “Elizabeth will be looking for me. I promise I’ll be back before you know it. As long as I don’t get lost on my way back to the others.”
    He gives my hand a quick squeeze and then he’s gone, disappearing in a swirl of people moving toward the dining hall.
     

 
    Six
     
    Long shadows cover the rocky courtyard outside the open doors of the dining hall. Other than a few older men dozing on the filthy tabletops, I’m the only person lingering after a disgusting dinner of rotten-carrot broth. Despite his promise that we could still eat together, I haven’t seen Eric or any of the others all day.
    I’m tempted to mimic the men and sleep here, but I have to go back to my bunk. Eric might come to get me for the test tonight. I’d hoped he would come for me during one of the meals. No such luck.
    A piercing scream stabs through the doors of the dining hall. I cover my ears, but my hands aren’t enough to block out the sound. Some of the older men wake up, their bleary gazes searching the room. Most of them lay their heads back down as soon as they realize the danger isn’t inside.
    One of them stands, stretches and ambles down the hall toward my table. He sits down and I take my hands away from my ears, though the shriek still pulses outside.
    “It used to be worse, ya know.”
    I stare into his tan face, lined with decades of hard living. How could it possibly be worse than this?
    “Ya don’t believe me. It’s cause you were livin’ soft till ya got here. Never seen what a bad seed can do when it’s given time to plant and grow.”
    Another scream punctuates his statement, but it’s farther away than last time. “This whole place is full of bad seeds.”
    “Nah. Not like it used ta be.” He shakes his head. There’s a deep sadness behind his eyes. “When I got here, complete chaos. Sure, they cleared the streets outside of all the gangs and militants. Put ‘em all right here is what they did. Chaos.”
    “You were here when they opened the PIT?”
    “A few years later. Got picked up before my Acceptance. Can’t remember now what I did.”
    His eyes glaze over and he stares somewhere behind me. I’m losing him, but I need to keep the conversation going. He’s been here forever, probably longer than anyone else. He has answers I