Ascension, Chapter 4

Somehow, the threat of impending assessment has actually hindered me in doing any work whatsoever. Not just on the novel, but in absolutely everything. Perhaps I'm just developing one massive mental block? The good news is that I've finally got round to editing the University's Creative Writing Anthology, which will hopefully be with us in time for Christmas (we were originally hoping for the Christmas fair, but that's on December 5th, so we'd be increadibly lucky to get everything done by then).
 Anywho, here's the next chapter of Ascension:

Chapter 5

‘Are you nervous?’ Mari whispered, as they were lead along the corridor. The other teenagers pressed against them, and Mari was struggling to keep alongside Shan as they walked.

 ‘Why would I be nervous?’ Shan asked, glancing down at Mari. They had left their parents and Set when they entered the palace grounds.

 ‘What if something goes wrong?’ Mari said. A boy a little taller than her pushed between them, the toe of his boot crushing her ankle in the process. Mari bit her lip, and fought the urge to reach out for Shan’s hand.

 ‘What could go wrong?’ Shan asked, as Mari drew level with her again ‘It’s Assension. Everybody does it.’

 ‘Yes, but what if we Ascend and turn into giant slugs. Or grow a hundred eyes. Or something.’

 ‘Oh, that won’t happen.’ Shan shrugged.

 ‘But how-’

 ‘Oh, I just do Mari,’ Shan snapped, glaring at her cousin ‘Stop being such a little baby and grow up, for Mother’s sake.’

 They were led into the courtyard. The upper levels of the pyramid rose above them to one side. Mari could see where a large section of wall had been removed about ten feet up, allowing the nobles inside the building to look down over the heads of the crowd below. She could see them in their finery, milling about in the cool shade of the building.

 A crowd had gathered around the edges of the square, leaving a large area clear around the statue that stood at the centre. Mari wondered briefly who the statue was meant to represent. Some member of the royal family, probably. Perhaps a former Lord of Death?

 Mari spotted her father and Set, as well as her aunt. The two men smiled and waved when they aw her, while her aunt remained completely expressionless, except for an air of disdain directed at the rest of the audience around her.

 Mari and the other teenagers- about a hundred in all- were guided to the centre of the courtyard. They were then redirected, positioned into rows so that each boy and girl was a little over arm’s length from the people either side or in front of them.

 They stood in silence for a moment, before a heavy metal gong sounded somewhere in the cavernous depths of the palace. Almost as one, the assembled crowds in the courtyard turned their attention to the open wall of the hall above their heads.