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Greg’s eyes moved to me.
I looked at him for a moment longer.
“Hesitation will get you killed,” I said.
The sentence settled into the room and stayed there.
John stepped closer to Greg. “Richard is correct.”
Colin’s jaw tightened when John used my warning to reinforce his authority, but he said nothing.
John continued, “A personal rule is only useful if it does not interfere with the work. If it interferes, it becomes a liability. You may keep it if you can afford the cost.”
Greg looked at John and then me and said, “Noted.”
John removed his mask. His face returned to the version of him people trusted in public.
“You are in now,” John told Greg. “That makes you one of us. It means you’ve crossed the first threshold.”
A masked man approached Greg with a shallow black bowl. Inside sat a ring, marked on the inner band with the faceless horned symbol.
John picked it up and held it out.
Greg stared at it then took the ring.
“You will wear it when required,” John said. “You will remove it when required. You will not show it to Marie, your friends, your family, or any man who has not earned the right to understand it.”
Greg’s eyes lifted at Marie’s name.
John’s tone did not change. “Your life outside this room continues because we allow it to continue. Do not bring this room into it.”
Greg nodded reluctantly. John stepped closer until he was standing directly in front of Greg.
“Repeat after me.”
Greg stared at him for a long moment before giving a single nod.
“I belong to the Collective.”
Greg swallowed. “I belong to the Collective.”
“I obey without question.”
His jaw tightened, but he forced the words out. “I obey without question.”
“I will never betray the Collective.”
Greg closed his eyes briefly before opening them again. “…I will never betray the Collective.”
John held his gaze.
“If I betray the Collective, I accept whatever judgment follows.”
Greg’s eyes flicked toward me, then Colin, before settling back on John.
“…If I betray the Collective, I accept whatever judgment follows.”
John nodded once.
