Awaken (The Awaken Series Book 1) Read Free Page A

presented, the internal forces that needed me to find him and get the truth were not letting up, and I almost didn’t want them to.
    ~~~~~
    “Jenna would like you to call her,” Father announced. At the verge of sleep, I jolted up at the sudden burst of noise.
    “Okay,” I responded after letting out a loud yawn. After a few more moments of resting, I groggily struggled out from beneath my cozy blankets and shuffled to the upstairs phone.
    The hallway was surprisingly dark for that early in the day. I battled with the multitude of switches on the wall until I found the right one. I squinted as the entire hallway was illuminated with a blinding light. I groaned as I continued down the hall, stopping to notice the time on the grandfather clock.
    It was 10:40 PM. That explained my growling stomach and quiet home. I must have fallen back asleep after Father came in. I retreated back down the hall, and then paused when I heard strained, frantic voices from my parent’s room. I knew better than to eavesdrop, but something about the tone of Mother’s voice made me freeze in my tracks.
    “I just didn’t know what to do, or how to handle it! I know you talked with him and he confirmed everything we already knew, but…oh, I don’t know, David! It just seemed different, so concerning…what if—”
    “Jennifer. You know that’s impossible.” My father’s insistent voice made me cringe from the other side of the door. Whatever they were discussing was private, and I was definitely intruding. I scurried back to my room, wondering for the fifth time today what was wrong with my common sense.
    Everything felt different as I lay in the warmth of my bed. My mind fully alert, all I could do was absently trace my fingers over the intricate patterns woven into my comforter. Even in the dark, I envisioned the familiar floral designs etched into the fabric: the patterns that had been consistent since I could barely talk. It was nice to have something, even something as insignificant as a piece of fabric, that didn’t change.  
    I had always been afraid of change. It haunted me, tested me, and made me question things I had never thought to question before. Maybe the reason it had always frightened me was because change was full of the unknown. I never knew how things were going to change, I just knew that they would, and that scared me more than anything else in the world.
    I knew that change was necessary in order to evolve, but in Oportet, too much was frowned upon. There were standards that had to be met, standards that made Oportet what it was. Oportet gave lives meaning. Change screwed me over when I went from being a model citizen, never questioning authority and always doing as I was told, to a disobedient nightmare. Change almost ruined my life .
    As I continued to trace my comforter and stare at the moon through my open curtains, the thought of change seemed nothing short of appalling. Change was dangerous, a pathway that only led to destruction.

Chapter Four

    “It’s Luna’s turn to wash the dishes,” Megan announced as she stood from the table.
    “And where are you going, young lady?” Father asked. Megan pointed to her textbooks lying idly on the coffee table and sighed. Father nodded in approval. “Sounds like a great idea. If I get any negative emails about your grades again, you’ll be forbidden from seeing your friends for the rest of the school year.”
    “What? Dad! It’s the second week of school.” Megan threw her arms up in protest. Mother and I exchanged glances as we watched this father-daughter scene unfold.
    “Megan, you had a major problem last year, and I don’t want it repeating. What is Rule Fifty-Seven?” This was one of Father’s favorites when dealing with Megan.
    “Students will put forth the utmost effort in anything pertaining to his or her education; nothing short of academic excellence…” Megan faded out, deciding she’d said enough. Father nodded and let her stalk off to