The time was coming soon. She couldn't even bear to think about it. Nothing but stress, worry, and fear are in the air for everyone around this time. Dahlia sat up slowly from her spot beside her husband in bed. Praying he wouldn't hear her she crept from beneath the blankets and tiptoed out the bedroom. Across the hall, she turned the doorknob to her daughter's room and peeked inside at the sleeping girl. With a soft sniffle, she stared at her face for a moment. And just for a moment, all her worries had washed away. Just for a moment.

“What are you doing?”. Dahlia gasps sharply and flips around, meeting her husband's sharp gaze “My God, Louis” she whispers. “What are you doing?” He asks again. She blinked and sighed, that look in his eye always killed her “…Just checking on her” Dahlia replied softly “Dahlia, I told you about this-” “I know I know” she shook her head “ I just can't help but worry”.

Louis stared down at her fragile form “They won't pick our house… they won’t pick our daughter”. His large hand rested on her cheek rubbing with his thumb. Dahlia nods “… They won’t…”.

When the sun woke so did Dahlia. It was her routine. She woke up before her family so she could make breakfast, lunch boxes, and iron uniforms. A natural caretaker is what she had always been called. As she tapped seasoning onto the scrambled eggs in the pot before her a soft smile made its way onto her lips. “RAWR!” Dahlia screams and whips around finding her daughter laughing loudly. “Rosy!” “Sorry, Mom” she giggles, her smile bright and charming.

Dahlia couldn't even be upset. She simply chuckles and rolls her eyes “Sit down so you can eat, please” “What’d you make today? Eggs with no shells? Finally!”. Dahlia laughs and so does Rose “That was one time!” “I choked on it!”. The pair share their hearty laughter before a knock on the front door interrupts the moment. Dahlia fans herself as she approaches the door. Upon opening the front door her smile immediately drops at the sight of 2 tall men dressed in black suits.

“Dahlia Delver?” one of them spoke, tone flat and emotionless. Dahlia gulps before nodding “This household has been chosen for The Final Destination. The youngest member of the household must come with us for execution, you may join them if you’d like”

Her eyes went wide as she stared up at them. The youngest member of the household? Her 10-year-old baby girl has been picked for death… No.

Dahlia’s eyes water before she reaches into the pocket of her apron and pulls out a large kitchen knife. Quickly, she forces it into the first man's neck and flinches as blood oozes out of his neck. “Mom!?”. The last thing Dahlia saw was that terrified look on her baby's face as the shot was fired and pierced through Dahlia’s chest.

As soon as the mandate was released, I knew it would be me. I was the obvious choice after all. At 14 I was now the oldest. My mother had NEVER loved me. She didn’t beat me. But she dug her fingernails into my legs it left tiny specks of blood. She openly admitted that me just walking into a room made her angry. She constantly accus ed me of doing drugs for literally years before I had even tried pot until finally it reached a boiling pot. If I’m going to be getting in trouble for it anyway I might as well see what it’s all about. She kept me up every school night having screaming matches about anything and everything. My hair my clothes why I couldn’t be like my sister. How I was so bad that she had to be good. When she got her first few grey hairs she spent a full week screaming about how she was too young and it was my fault and mine alone for causing her so much stress. Now I’m not a saint. In fact as I got older I became the kind of kid your parents would rightly tell you to stay away from. But this was all many years later.

myname is lila snd mi writng skilz arenent thaht godd im treeand im wasin tha living rom eith my famly wen wegot tha newz. “They say we have to sacrifice one of our family members and if we don’t the whole family gets killed. We have until sunset to kill somebody in this room.” Thatz wat my momma sad then my hole famely loked at me. I ran to the kicen and I grabed a nife then I mayormay nothav kiled my momma.

Bold, black words rolled across the bottom of the screen and I blocked out the voice of the president. The words read:

𝘼 𝙣𝙚𝙬 𝙢𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙖𝙩𝙚 𝙝𝙖𝙨 𝙗𝙚𝙚𝙣 𝙞𝙨𝙨𝙪𝙚𝙙: 𝙙𝙪𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙥𝙤𝙥𝙪𝙡𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣, 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙨𝙚𝙝𝙤𝙡𝙙 𝙢𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙨𝙖𝙘𝙧𝙞𝙛𝙞𝙘𝙚 𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙢𝙚𝙢𝙗𝙚𝙧 𝙩𝙤 𝙗𝙚 𝙨𝙖𝙘𝙧𝙞𝙛𝙞𝙘𝙚𝙙. 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙢𝙚m𝙗𝙚𝙧 𝙨𝙚𝙡𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙗𝙚 𝙪𝙨𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙝𝙚𝙡𝙥 𝙨𝙘𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙨 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙣𝙚𝙬 𝙫𝙖𝙘𝙘𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙙𝙪𝙘𝙩𝙨. 𝙉𝙤 𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙧𝙫𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣, 𝙨𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙨𝙛𝙖𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙖𝙡𝙡. 𝘽𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙝𝙤𝙨𝙚𝙣 𝙢𝙚𝙢𝙚𝙗𝙚𝙧 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙖𝙥𝙞𝙩𝙤𝙡 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙙𝙖𝙮 𝙣𝙚𝙭𝙩 𝙬𝙚𝙚𝙠.

"You have gotta be kidding me! I raise these kids just to let one of them be killed for experiments and 'satisfaction for all'?!" My mother howls picking up the nearest vase to throw it at the television.

"Alyssa," my father yells, plucking the vase from my mother's hands, "that was a decision made by the king and all the other men in our goverment. It was a hard decision and it is surely not a decision for a woman to criticize!"

Her eyes narrowed, digging into my father's skin like knives.

"I suposse I should finish cleaning up the table." Alyssa spoke firmly, raising her chin to my father. She gave him on of her iconic "I'm super [Insert word] at you" stares. Alyssa made her way to the doorway then froze.

"But I guess I'm not allowed to decide that becasue I'm just a woman?" she snapped, her words soaked with venom. She waited a minute then left and with her absence my father mummbled a rude comment mixed with a variety of curses.

My brothers were staring at me like I was some sort of animal in a zoo. Like they were watching- waiting for me to move.

"I'm going to go help mom." my quiet voice broke through the silence. I watched my father giving a nod of aproval and rose from my cushiony seat.

I left the room and found Alyssa cleaning our dinner plates in the sink, a lose tear running down her cheek. Slowly, I snuck aroung the table to the sink and gave her a hug. She hugged me back splashing water and dish soap on my purple, floral dress.

"You okay, Alyssa?" I said softly.

"Mom." she replied quickly.

"What?"

"Just because I'm your step mom doesn't mean you can't call me mom. If you uncomfortable with calling me mom it's alright, I know it's hard." she whispered in my ear, still keeping me in a warm embrace.

My biological mom died when I was 3. I was the youngest of her kids. It was hard to let go of. Then, my father died and me and Jake were adopted by my uncle or current father.

I want to stay quiet and act normal, but I muster up the courage to speak, "It's me."

Alyssa spulls away. She purses her trembling lips together, trying not to fall apart into a complete sob. Her hands shake and she looks down into the sink.

It's true. They can't get rid of the mother of the house, all but one of the boys are my fathers, I'm unneeded, and, well, boys outrule the girls.

My own legs start to shake and I become overwhelmed with fear and disbelief.

I'm being sacrificed by my family's choosing.

I start sobbing, bawling my eyes out to the point where everything is a blurr. I start shaking so much that Alyssa lead me to my room where I curled into a ball on my soft, velvety bed and cried myself to sleep.

                                                         *         *         *

I shiver and pull my covers over me. I want to stay here and hibernate. Pretend the sacrifice thing was a joke and move on. I'm not happy here, but it's better than being on the streets.

Or dead.

The past few days have been a mess for me. I try not to think, "this could be my last time..." and just enjoy the moments. My brothers treat it no differently then a normal day.

Well, everyone accept Jake.

I can tell he's cried. After all, he is my older brother and only actual sibling of his. He tries to do things I like to do. He offered to paint with me or look at my plants.

I told him he could look at my plants plenty when I was gone and added something like, "I'll make sure to add 'Jake gets my lovely plant collection when I'm gone'".

I should've been nicer. I'm walking to my funeral tomorrow.

This whole mandate to sacrifice your family, your blood line is bullcrap. There are plenty of alternatives.

Alyssa cooked my favorite dinner, my last dinner, calzones with beans and rice. For once no one complained and ate while giving me pitiful glares, like I'm a pet about to be put down.

You know, maybe I won't miss this place so much.

                                       *                        *                     *

We wait in a line out cars, our dingy, black old van standing out among the other white cars.

I tremble at the thought of dying. At least I get to see my parents.

We stop and it's my turn to get out. The line is terribley slow, everyone getting in there last goodbyes. I make mine memorable.

I go through the boys, giving them eat a hug and something I liked about them. Jake gets a hug and a whole speech. Saying goodbye to him is the worst, the first punch in the gut.

I get to my father who has a sympathetic look covering his "get it over with, I want you gone" attitude.

I take a long, dreadful look into his eyes and spit everything I've ever wanted to say right into his face.

"I met grandma and I bet you're an embaressment to her. She was so kind and you are the opossite. My father was a hundred times nicer than you. You treat her," I point to mom agressivley, "like crap. All I ask of you is to respect her when I'm gone. GO TO H****!"

I smirk while everyone else in the car is frozen in shock.

Tears brim his eyes, fume steaming from his nose. Satisfied, I turn to Alyssa.

"Mom," I hold back the whine in my throat, "I love you and-"

The door behind me is thrown open and I'm dragged backwards. I grip the center console, not wanting to leave without saying my final goodbye to Alyssa.

"Mom!" I shriek, sobbing my heart out.

"David let go of her!" she whines.

"YOU BRAT," he booms, "LET GO NOW! YOU HAVE THE AUDACITY TO SPEAK TO ME THAT WAY, YOU WON"T SPEAK TO ANYONE IN MY FAMILY EVER AGAIN! LET GO YOU ORPHAN!"

He gives one final tug, throwing me out of the car. I sit lay sore on the ground from the force. David rushes into the other side of the car. All the doors close. I hear a slap, then a gasp before they drive away. I lay still in the grass and I see my mother sobbing, waving goodbye to me.

Everything goes blurry and then I fall asleep.

                                                *                    *                    *

I wake up, surrounded by crying mothers, fathers, newborns, and children. People of all ages listen to a booming loudspeaker. I woke up to the end of a speech, still enraged at my goodbye fiasco.

"The goverment trusts us. Little do they know, you're not here for experiments. Were here to train you to fight. The king believed our lies. Were here to take down the monarchy. We're here to become a strong rebel force. If you are working with the goverment, you will suffer. Welcome to the rebelion."

I'm confused. We're rebels, here to destory the goverment? If so, Im in.

And we're gonna burn the monarchy from the inside out and they won't see it coming.

“We must, for the sake of our family.” I stumbled past the bathroom and shot a curious glance at tom and jenna. They shot straight and locked their eyes on me. “whats goin’ on?” A small thump in my chest set about the creeping cold in my spine. “um-“ “tally, do you want some breakfast?” Jenna smiled ear to ear and rushed to my side. i shook my head in response and pulled away from her arms. “i promised I’d meet with Laila today.” I sighed. “Her parents keep acting weird and she’s worri-“ my mind snapped awake. I shot them a horrified glare and as my heart roared blood through my ears i backed against the wall. “tally?” Tom cocked his head. “your not gonna…” my lungs filled with bricks. “Your no-“ my stomach churned. “tally…tally you have to understand…we, we have Kalen and sam to look after and..and-“ “thanks jenna, i really appreciate your kindness.” I growled, gritting my teeth in order to keep from throwing up. I turned and thudded down the hall and into my room. I shoved the sickening bile down my throat with a swallow and snatched a bag from my closet. “tally-“ my hand shot up. “you don’t even need to apologize, i get it.” I snapped slamming more clothes and my locket into the bag. “tally, please let me explain.” Jens soothing voice almost drew tears from my burning eyes. “you don’t have to, I’m going.” I gasped back a breath and winced at the burn on my tongue. “what do you mean?” Toms rough voice pushed adrenaline through my veins. I grabbed a pillow and a small throw blanket and stomped it in before tightening the drawstrings and slinging it over my back. “I’m going, todays the day and I’m sure Laila’s going through the same thing.” The snide comment came out in quick snap as i shoved my way past him. ‘My sister isn’t going to get killed, if I’m going, ill go for both of us.’ They shared a glance and as i snatched the doorknob a hand griped my shoulder. A rough hand that made it ache. “I’m not letting my kids get killed, ill take you.” Fire burned down my body. “I’m not letting my sister get killed! If your taking me your taking Laila here.” His nose wrinkled pulling up his lips in twisted fury. “if it’s there choice to sacrifice your sister, then ill take you both. You can go together.” He tried to hold his shaky voice steady but it only rumbled deep. “your not taking her.” I growled back shooting a quick glare to jenna. Kalen and sam stood tucked behind her, both of them with tears in their eyes. I drew a breath and bolted out the door. “tally!” Tom snapped, his claws missing me by mere inches. “Tally!” His heavy footsteps pounded behind me pushing adrenaline through my muscles and forcing them to keep moving.

Authors note: this story continues in my other writing titled Traitors

The cereal balanced precariously in one hand, orange juice in the other, both threatening to splash over the rim spilling on the carpet.

As I sit down on the couch, I reach for the remote, turning it on. I scroll through Netflix, browsing for a new show, a slight ping of irritation running through me as my phone goes off in my back pocket.

After some struggle I grab my phone from my Jean pocket, and scroll through my notifications.

I get the same text from almost everyone, worded a hundred different ways, but all with the same message, Turn on channel 35, now.

Pushing a spoonful of Lucky Charms into my mouth I watch as the news reporter fill the screen.

“Welcome back to Channel 35, I’m Emily Henderson.”

The male reporter next to the blonde nodded and spoke, “And I’m Jackson Walters back with government Order 79. Back to you Emily.”

“Thank you Jackson.” Straightening a stack of papers in-front of her she smiles at the camera, “Government officials, as we speak, are currently taking in the Selected.”

Jackson turns to Emily, “Say Emily, some people are against the government here, what side are you on?”

“Great Question Jackson. Personally, I support this order. There are to many people out there, half of them, addicts and other-well, scum. With this order we can get the world back on track. Over population has plagued us for far to long, I say it’s high time we fix that. Killing off one member of each family might finally be the solution.”

A flash of horror flashes across Jackson’s face but quickly fades, “Indeed. It just might be you that’s Selected. Check your phone. Any text from the number 322, is real and means you are Selected. You will be picked up soon, and if this is you; do not resist. The US borders have already closed.”

“This is Channel 35 signing off.”

I bit my lip as the commercial flashed across the screen. I had no family. My father died from cancer when I was three, my mother died while giving birth. I had been placed in a foster program, but never got adopted. I’d moved out of the program and into an apartment five months ago, on my eighteenth birthday.

So, I wasn’t exactly shocked as I as I received the 322 text, but I was afraid. And that fear didn’t exactly go away when a knock sounded through my apartment.

——

I had answer the door in my pajamas, that was a mistake. They didn’t give me a minute to change, that had yanked me into the hallway.

“You have one chance to walk into the limo with dignity, or we can do this with force.” They had said.

I had walked into the limo, there was no point in resisting, but I couldn’t push back the feeling that we were being paraded to our death.

——

I don’t believe I had fell asleep, not when I was as anxious as I was. But I have no memory of the ride there.

They called it the meeting room. A good hundred people sat in chairs all across the room, waiting for their untimely death.

The echo of his footsteps could be heard all around the room as the general climbing the steps onto the stage.

“Welcome. You are about the being the next stage in your life. You are this world’s last hope.”

Confusion was etched across each and every person faces as he added, “No. This is not some cruel joke before you die. We have been watching each of you closely and you have been selected to help the world become great again.”

—

Author’s Note: I wasn’t sure if I was going to post this are not. Just because I’m not that comfortable writing sci-fi. But I felt like I should get out of my comfort zone! So feedback on this means a lot to me!

TV came on a world mandate is released due to over population every household must choose one member to be sacrificed. All over the world people stared at each other and glued to the billboards and to screens. One minute ago we were sitting in the house around a family dinner having a chat and now… lights went out power cut. I the only son maybe there is another way like the dog is part of or household we could kill the dog and we could all live. Father house hold means human population problem is human not dog so snoopy is safe Father. Men should die and women should live because they have children so I should sacrifice Mother. No if all men die where do the children coming from. Children are young life and have along life ahead of you so adults should Die and let the children live Me. If the adults die who’s going to look after the children and who’s going to make breakfast for me in the morning Father. Well I guess its grandpa cos hes got Alzheimer’s and is going to die any way. Me. The problem is dad they want us to kill someone’s now not some one who is going to die in a few years its not fair. Father. You are a genius people who have diseases should die and that’s grandpa we will remember him for his sacrifice Me. Well dad you’ve been smoking not great health early stage lung cancer you follow your logic next time it will be you and I am going to the gym to Stay in good health keep away from your smoking and go vegan etc.

RIP Grandpa

Brandon eased his car into the driveway and sat for a few minutes. It had been another long day of filing other peoples' taxes, repeating numbers that, to him, were as simple as 1-2-3. He took a deep breath, happy to give his brain a break.

Brandon opened the car door and walked onto his porch. As he fumbled with his keys he heard an unfamiliar sound coming from inside the house. It sounded like a shrill wailing, causing Brandon's adrenaline to pump. He quickly unlocked the door to find his wife of four years crumpled on the floor in front of the stairwell.

Her face was scarlet red as tears stained her baby-blue dress right on the waist. Her stomach was so large that it caught every drop from her eyes.

On the floor was no place to be for a pregnant woman.

"Nicole, are you ok?" Brandon asked as he lifted his wife up and into a nearby chair. Nicole was still desperately trying to calm herself down when she finally gave the devastating news:

"The government wants us to kill ourselves!"

"What are you talking about?" Brandon asked, unbelieving.

"There!" Nicole pointed to the television in the living room. A team of news reporters sat around a brightly-lit table in discussion.

"I, for one, am totally on board with the WPC." A black woman with short hair said. "It's about time that humans take responsibility for the damage they've done to the earth. If everyone complies, at least a fourth of the population will be erased."

"I agree with you, Meg," an older white man responded. "Imagine, some billions of households with one less mouth to feed! This will only help our economy. Less demand, more supply, heck, even job positions will be opened up! The future is sure to look brighter than ever!"

The reporters at the table were all smiling widely as the mandate scrolled across the screen:

"Every Household Must Terminate At Least One Member. Those Who Do Not Comply Will Have The Whole Family Terminated."

Brandon grabbed the remote and shut the television off. His breath became shallow. He knew the government wasn't the best, but this? How were they going to resolve this?

He turned back to his distraught wife. She was silently holding her belly.

"I want this baby," she said through gritted teeth. "We tried so hard, and now what? I'm supposed to give it up? I can't do that, Brandon!"

Brandon sighed. "There are only the three of us here, and I'm not about to send you to have an abortion. I want my child to live just as much as you do."

He was silent for a moment, before saying "I'll go."

Nicole grabbed his shirt. "You can't!"

He pushed her away. "What else can we do? I'm not giving up either of you to this human sacrifice nonsense!"

Nicole began to sob again. "But I need you too!"

"Hon, listen to me," Brandon said calmly, "I need to prepare. I need to go think." And with that, he fled to his office, leaving his wife to wail.

Brandon sank into his chair, defeated. Was this really going to be his last week on earth? There were so many things he wanted to do with his life, and now, he wouldn't do any of it.

In the late night hours, Brandon felt every bitter emotion flow through him. Why was he created? What was his purpose? Was it simply to die, right here, at this very moment? How was that fair?

"It's not fair, neither is it right."

Brandon's heart shivered at the sound of the voice.

"W-who's there?" he quivered.

"Turn around."

Brandon obeyed and saw what he could only describe as an angel. He had no wings, but was glowing brightly.

"Brandon, there is another option that you must take to save your family."

"Who are you? How do know me?"

"There's no time. Hurry, pack your things and take your wife and child away from this place."

Brandon stood. "Where do I go? How will I know the way?"

"You'll see me again soon. Hurry, they are coming for you."

The angel disappeared, leaving Brandon stunned. With no better idea in mind, he began packing.

"Nicole!" he shouted down the stairs, "Pack up food and water! We're getting the hell out of here!"

I wanted to disappear, I wasn’t sure what to do. He seemed scared witless, but so was I. I had to stay focused though, if I was detracted the slightest bit this woman might die if I dropped her. Dr.Hudson moved his finger closer to the trigger, I thought he was about to shoot, but before he did the gun flew out of his hand. I looked up to Avery holding a gun that she had fired to knock the gun out of Dr.Hudson’s hand. She winked at me. “Let the girl go!” She yelled at him. “Oh, but you know I can’t do that Avery.” “Oh…but you can, and you will,” I lowered her to the ground. She stood with her feet firmly on the ground and the gun pointing to the man. “I don’t take commands from 16 year olds, you are bright I will give you that. But there is no way I let you take control,” he seemed mad. “Well…” Avery cocked the gun. I turned my head back over to the door, I could still hear them bickering in the background. There was a boy standing in the doorway. He was wearing manky clothes. I turned back to Avery and Dr.Hudson. He was reaching into his pocket but she hadn’t noticed. I looked back over to the boy, he was pointing at Dr.Hudson. The made a gun with his had and pointed towards me and then towards him. I was scared stiff. I looked to the doorway again, but the boy wasn’t there. He vanished. But…I heard him whisper in my ear. “Run…” I whipped round and grabbed his arm and bolted. I’ve not seen Avery since but I heard her yell after us… “Keep running and don’t stop until you’re safe, I’ll hold them off!” I was wondering how a 16 year old would hold all of them off, but I had faith in her. A few guards chased after us but stopped after a while. This boy didn’t talk much, he had dark hair and eyes, a couple of freckles, a few scars as well; small ones but still. His eyes looked tired. I kept looking back at him while we were running and he didn’t really seem scared, out of breath or in general, have much emotion in his face. After a while we stopped and I doubled over in heavy breathing. He was still standing straight, looking at me. I sat down on a log and told him to sit down. He came over quietly and awkwardly sat down. “So… what’s your deal?” I asked him. He didn’t say anything. “Oh! It’s okay if you don’t want to say!” He still sat in silence. We both sat in silence for at least 20 minutes. Then he asked me. “Why were you in there?” I was shocked, I didn’t think he would speak to me. “Em… I was there to be killed.” I looked at the floor. He didn’t say anything. “Why… where you there?” I wondered. “Bad.” “Bad?” He nodded “bad, bad people.” “Did your family sell you out too,” He shook his head. “Well what then?” “Blue… liquid.” He was injected too with that strange blue liquid. “Ex…ex…per…iments.” He stuttered “Experiments?” I asked him. “Yes…” he mumbled “What kind of experiments?” “Bad!” He didn’t speak very well, (that’s probably why he didn’t speak much) I thought. “What’s your name?” I asked him. “Rory” “I’m Alya.” I stuck out my hand and he stared confused. So I pulled his hand towards me to give a handshake. I stood up and told him “we have to find away out of here, out of this town.” He nodded in agreement. “But I think for tonight we should stay here.” “Sure.” “Good! Let’s gather sticks.”

This was written on my phone. Words with * on either side are italicized.

Also, I did not go back through and edit so I'm sorry if there are misspelling and things.

My feet drag across the floor my head hanging low. I don't need to watch where I'm going. The brick-like shackles binding our feet together have built in hover technology. It's not like it's light enough to see, anyway.

My hands are bound, though not with the high tech shackles on my feet. Several layers of rope cut into my wrists instead. Probably to save on energy. The skin is red and raw from three days ago when I refused to accept my fate. I've learned my lesson.

When my mother volunteered me to be killed I wasn't surprised. When my siblings agreed, I wasn't surprised. When my father looked at me with regretting eyes, turning to my quivering form, and latching the Death Collar around my throat, willingly, marking me for death, I was surprised.

My father and I were close, or as close as was safe for him. In a house of enemies, he was my greatest ally. When my mother refused to put me in the fancy private school my siblings attended, my father was able to put me in a local public school. When my mother "forgot" to feed me and sent me to bed, my father brought up a plate. My entire life has been one of neglect, he made me feel special. And the looks that we shared, like we both held a secret we would take to the grave, those looks were what pushed me forward. The knowledge that my mother was being defied and that I was surviving, despite her best attempts.

Only now? I really would take our secret to the grave. Now? She got her wish.

All my life I've been shunned. Pushed to the side. It's because of my defect. My eyes. While the rest of the colony has eyes of green and brown, mine are silver. A shining silver that reflect the light. As a child I used to love my eyes. I soon grew ashamed of them.

Teachers always blamed me for things that weren't even close to my fault. My peers ignored me, gave me dirty looks, and threatened to fix me by cutting out my eyes. Doctors were at a loss, telling my parents there was no hope. Even thought colored contacts my silver shinned through.

I was abnormal. A mistake. A defect. I was a problem.

Which is why, when the Capital announced that the population was too high, and one person from every household must choose one member to be killed, my family immediately chose me.

My father fought for me, of course. But if he continued to fight for me, he would be chosen instead. He wasn't a main provider. Mom made most of our money. And with one shared look, I told him to stop. To let me be chosen. I told him that this was better. To me, it was better to die a quick death than live a life without my only sheild. That didn't make the look in his eyes any less heartbreaking, nor the fact that he went along with it any less surprising.

And now I'm here. Walking single file in a line of people just like me. Marked for death.

Before we entered the labyrinth of underground halls leading to the arena, I noticed others. Some were children. The babies had to be carried by the scouts that accompanied us. A few adults as well. Some stood tall, as if they had chosen to be here. Probably sacrificed themself for their family. But others looked more like me. Scared. Cowering. Finally coming to terms with the fact that we had been chosen, and we were going to die.

I noticed a few other Sils (that's what we call those with silver eyes) in the crowd of marked people. The fact that we were all born with the same defect was slightly shocking, but the fact that we were all chosen was not.

I recognized all of them. Five in total, not including me. The closest to the front was Arcus. He was 19. He'd been living with his parents all his life. In the Colony, you were expected to move out at 18 and become a successful member of society. But with his defect, and his overall low IQ in general, he didn't get far. His parents let him stay, but the drain in supplies has to affect them greatly. They weren't exactly a wealthy family. Even without the defect, it's no surprise Arcus was chosen.

Milligan was right after him. He was a nervous kid. Around my age. With glasses and freckles. He was sort of a loner like me. But he was at least smart. It feels like Milligan took most of Arcus's braincells. If he wasn't marked down simply because of his defect, Milligan would have had the highest grades in the school. He also had the backbone of a jellyfish. Constant bullying made him squeemish and scared. I could only imagine what he was going through now.

Next was Kayston. He had made it to adulthood. Was a successful member of society, all things considering. There's only so much you can do when you have silver eyes. He found a woman who didn't care of the restraints, and he married her. They have two kids. Fest and Kade. Cute children. Neither of them inherited the defect, luckily. It wouldn't surprise me to learn that Kayston had sacrificed himself for his family.

A little farther behind me was Quill. About a year older than me. Quill lived his life best he could, and became the Colony miscreant in the process. He left home at a young age and proceeded to live somewhere in the woods surrounding us, stealing food and money whenever he could. He often vandelized certain areas as well. Yet no scout ever caught him. When his family heard the news, they hunted him down and collared him. While he and I were never friends, Quill and I share a mutual respect. I once caught him stealing from a (breif) friend and berated him for it, taking the item back. But when I found out that she had only been my friend because of a dare, I returned it to him. He and I both have a healthy love of revenge.

At the very back of the line was Maya. My best friend. We'd only been friends for a short while. Her parents homeschooled her to keep her away from other kids. She was a sheltered kid. Kind. And when her parents decided they couldn't be around her anymore and put her in public schools we became fast friends. We bonded over our mutual defect. And now I'll never see her again. Well, I might, in the afterlife I haven't decided if I believe in yet.

Finally, there's me. Chloe Wolfe. You already know about me. Loved by my father, hated by my family, ousted by society. The society that was killing to maintain a stable population.

We suddenly stopped and my eyes were met with the burn of sunlight in a dark room. A garage door was opening. It almost touched the high ceiling. When my eyes adjusted, I saw the dirt floor of the arena, including the new edition. A stage with a particularly menacing man standing stop it, holding a very large axe.

The hover technology keeps us in lines and brings us to stand in line, awaiting our deaths by decapitation. I hear the whine of feedback and look up at the mayor's box. Mayor Willenham stands with a microphone in his hand, his face projected on a giant screen. "Ladies and gentlemen!" He starts out with a charasmstic smile. His thinning grey hair is combed over and his green eyes shine with glee. "Welcome to the first ever Thinning! Cutting down the population, so to speak," he jokes.

The crowd laughs out of obligation. I'm sure most people in the stands are excited to witness this, actually. They may turn their heads when someone they recognize approaches the chopping block, but otherwise they are all feuled by the same sadistic excitement.

"Now I won't bore you with a boring speech. I know you only came here for one thing. Blood," he grins.

The crowd cheers and whoops. People in line are finally starting to realize just how desperate their situation is. Finally starting to realize they are scheduled to die. They start struggling, pulling against their ropes and kicking their legs. It's hopeless. I just stsnd still.

I know it's no use trying to find my father in this crowd, but that doesn't stop me from trying. I fail. I can't find anyone I recognize in this crowd of faces.

"Now let us begin. Wallack!" The mayor says.

The man in the black cloak looks up at him. Mayor Willenham gives an evil grin for all to see on the screen. "Begin the killing."

The first scream echos out not a minute later.

Wallack doesn't even let the first woman get to the block. She walks up the stairs and her head flies off with a quick swing of the blade. Men in hazmat suits come to throw the body and the head into a pile together. They don't bother cleaning the blood.

As the people walk up one by one, more voices rise from the rest of the line. Shouting, pleading, bargaining. The desperation is thick in the air. I don't bother. I know it makes no difference.

Finally Arcus is brought up to the block. He looks around nervously, his elbows and back hunched as his hover takes him. Wallack pushes him to his knees and arranges his head to rest on the block. "look, man, can you just make it quick? Cause I don't want you hacking away and-"

He's cut off by the clunk of metal on metal. His head rolls clean off and his prices are out with the others.

The first silver is dead.

They'll finally be rid of us soon.

Next is Milligan, who was right behind Arcus. He struggles against the scouts escorting him. He cries and begs. His glasses fall to the floor and one of the scouts step on them. When he finally gets the the block, he is thrown on his knees he struggles as Wallack tries to push his head down, actually managing to push against him.

Suddenly, with one ear splitting scream, a black of golden light shoots from him in all directions.

The screen shuts off. The shackles on our ankles fall, and we fall with them. Wallack and the scouts are so shocked that the forget about Milligan and he scampers off, where to I have no idea. My eyes land in the movement in the body pile as Arcus's head reattaches itself and he sits up, dizzy and disoriented. A loud scream erupts from the crowd of people watching us. Scouts storm the arena to handle the escaped prisoners. I stand and look around frantically for Maya. I can't find her anywhere. My eyes catch on Quill as he somehow disappears into thin air. And right near him, I see Kayston looking around frantically as his body starts to fade, looking like a grainy screen. His eyes are scanning the crowd, probably trying to find his family before whatever this is happens. His eyes are helpless. He tries to run. Suddenly, what's left of him is sucked into a nearby shadow cast by the stage.

I'm the only Sil left. Unless Maya is here somewhere. Scouts have their spears ready, poking at the prisoners and trying to get them all back in their shackles. Some have escaped through the way we came through. There aren't any Scouts guarding it. All of them are trying to restrict the chaos.

The crowd is getting restless. Many families are trying to hoist their chosen family member up into the stands to save them. I don't expect my family to do that. Even if my dad wanted to, my mother wouldn't let him. I'm on my own.

So far the Scouts have been ignoring me. Or not noticing me. While others around me are scrambling, trying to find an escape, I am frozen. What is happening? What was it that came from Milligan? Where did Quill and Kayston disappear to? How did Arcus's head reattach itself? And where is Maya?

I shake my head. I can't think about that. I have to live if I ever want to find out, and I'm not going to do that by standing here and being an easy target.

Most of our hands are still bound. I guess this is why they use two different bindings. In case one of the prisoners suddenly have a burst of electricity expelled from them, disabling the feet bindings. Oddly specific, but let's go with it.

I figure my best bet is the open entrance. There aren't many guards surrounding it, and I'm small. I could probably slip past them.

I make my way towards the entrance, running as fast as I can while also watching to make sure that I don't trip.

Suddenly, I hear, "Chloe!" From behind me.

Whip around just in time to see Wallack raising his blade to me, wild desperation consuming his eyes. A scream erupts from my throat, and suddenly, I feel a tightness in my chest. You know when you tye dye a shirt and you lay it out, and then pinch the center and twist? That's what it felt like. My vision went black for a split second, when I regained it, I was several feet away from Wallack who was still in mid swing. I met eyes with a girl across the arena from me. Maya. I tried to run to her, but I felt my arm grabbed.

The person spun me around to face them. Wallack was looking at me with a hunger. A hunger for death. I never understood why the Mayor kept him. He was obviously deranged, and once he got a taste of killing? It was hard to make him stop.

I felt the twisting again, and I scrunched up my eyes to try to push away the feeling. Only this time when I opened them, I was surrounded by trees. When I turned around, I saw the edge of the forrest. I saw the arena. I heard the screams. I knew Maya was back there..I knew the other prisoners were back there. But I couldn't go back. I had to trust that whatever happened to the other Sils, happened to Maya as well. But for now? I had to get to safety. I turned back around and my eyes were met with the darkness of the forest.

I took a deep breath, and started walking.