Premortality

She was of the third.

When M. Sonefeth began speaking, she listened and stood beside a friend.

"Everyone is assured of whatever benefit," Sonefeth said—he spoke with such an eloquence, but not as much as the next guy, she perceived. 

She cringed as her friend whom she was with raised his chin in wonder and awe. The Boss then asked Mesibiah to speak next. She always assumed that the Boss liked Mesibiah, as if the Boss had a surefire need for him to succeed him.

"Everyone is assured of benefits from the Boss," Mesibiah said.

"That's what I said!" Sonefeth remarked.

"Silence! Let him speak," the Boss ordered. Sonefeth frowned and bowed his head in distraught. Mesibiah continued,

"Everyone is assured, yes. However, you are to work for these benefits. Your benefits and the degree of these benefits will depend on your performance. And... like I said: everyone is assured of them," she marvelled at the way Mesibiah presented his scheme-of-things.

"Get a load of this guy," her friend told her.

"He's alright, Brutus," she asserted softly.

"Whatever," everyone was talking out and about. Perhaps they clamoured about the contrast between the two speakers, or their claims at least.

"Permission to speak, Boss," Sonefeth requested.

"Granted," the Boss permitted. Everyone settled down.

"People, people, don't you want absolute assurance? Don't you want that?" no one dared yet to speak. Sonefeth continued in the stead of silence,

"You shall all be free from any liability; there is no more obligation to prove oneself. It is my guarantee—that the benefits will come as sure as the wind. I will personally hand it over to you ergo you shall all comply to me." 

Billions of voices sparked their sudden keen interest. She looked at the Boss and noticed that he didn't seem satisfied with Sonefeth's proposition.

"What do you think, Delilah?" Brutus asked her, grinning. A personage was felt that made her delay her response and it was his whose voice began to speak,

"Do you all wish to live lives such as that which he promises? Have you no sense?" Mesibiah argued. One who was not Sonefeth among the convention stood fast,

"Permission to speak, Boss,"

"Granted,"

"I am Golarinæth—I believe that Mesibiah's argument is an ad hominem. He maligns us for the persons-of-lesser-positions we are to him then wishes to put us in occupations of hardship and trial. Sonefeth's reasonable proposition will suit our needs better,"

A ruckus built up. Most of the clamor comprised of the portion that agreed with Golarinæth. Even Brutus joined the cheering. They cheered for their doom, Delilah speculated; she became wary.

"No that is not even what I said, Golarinæth. I fear for you," Mesibiah then turned to everyone, "hear me!" 

Delilah looked at Golarinæth who stood quite tall among the crowd. She saw him bowing his head albeit his expression not being clear. 

"You say that I will send you all to occupations of hardship, but isn't hardship what makes one strong? Sonefeth—he proposes that you all shall comply to him instead of the Boss. This will cause you to be deprived of your privilege. Do you want that? I, too, will promise assurances, but you will be free to claim the benefit, or otherwise."

One among them asked him, "We are to claim it only, just as easy as that?"

"Yes, but as you have abided in the protocol which we have here, you are to abide in the same protocol when you are dispatched," Delilah's eyes glimmered. He continued,

"A life of vain service shall not befall any of you but it is my guarantee that your benefit will not be for naught—nothing will be in vain,"

"False!" Sonefeth shouted.

"Silence!" the Boss reprimanded.

Delilah couldn't hear any more. The clamouring was hurting her ears; she wanted to exit the convention. She was about to pace away when Brutus held her arm,

"Where are you going?"

"I can't have this," she said; then, a voice thundered,

"Sonefeth, you are one of my first and finest employees... and you have disappointed me. You insisted, Sonefeth, and I have no other choice but to fulfill where you are to lead to and to have you discharged," the Boss told him.The clamouring rang louder.

Another man stood and spoke up, "You'll have to kick us out, too!" Billions of voices joined the man's. The Boss frowned prior to saying, 

"Very well,"

"Mesibiah's claims are not of my wants, Delilah. I'm going with the Third. Let's go," she felt a glare on her. It wasn't Brutus. It was him who spoke, but she feels that another certain pair of eyes looks on her.

"Delilah, let's go," Brutus nudged. Escorts were opening the doors of the convention hall for those who are discharged with Sonefeth. She walked with him, but she could still feel the particular glare.

"This is the right choice, Delilah. It's... it's for the best," Brutus's eagerness almost got her. Almost. She did what Brutus had feared she'd do—she looked back.

It was Mesibiah's eyes—he owned the glares. The moment she looked back, their eyes interlocked and it was then on that she decided that she had to return.

"What are you doing, Delilah?" Brutus asked her; his face made it clear—he was annoyed.

"Making the right choice."

She was of the third.