My palms sweat and I was fidgeting with my hands. I stood in the dimly lit ballroom while people danced and showed little to no concern about the events happening later tonight. The clock still ticked down though, 11:25, 11:26, 11:27 but still no one showed any fear. But it could be any of them.

Aaron found me in the crowd and hurried over. “Ava, this isn’t good. I can’t lose you. You’re my best friend.” He sounded panicked. As he should be. Every year at midnight in the kingdom of Thornhaven one person who is at the mandatory ball is chosen to be killed in order to keep the spirits at bay. It was awful.

“Don’t worry it won’t me be. Or you for that matter. It hasn’t been for the 17 years we’ve been living here.” I replied calmly, though inside I was worried. Something wasn’t right.

Time got the best of me. I lost sight of the clock until I heard it. It rang three times. Midnight. Oh god… it was time for the king to choose. It was always at random but the chance was always there for it to be someone I loved and cared for. Aaron took my hand, “If it’s you, then I will convince the king to take me instead. I promise you I won’t let you die.”

The king cleared his throat and spoke up so everyone could hear, “The person who has had the great honor for being chosen for the sacrifice is…” he paused for suspense, “Ava Hilton!” My heart sank. He had said my name. My heartbeat quickened and I started to hyperventilate. I tried to escape from the crowd but somehow I had gotten separated from Aaron and I had made my way to where the king was waiting.

I heard Aaron call my name but it was drowned out by the words of the king, and my panicking heart. “No need to struggle. It’s best to just get it over with.” He said with an evil grin on his face.

As everyone made their way outside to the execution area I was already crying trying to pry my way out of the grasp of the king. But he had already handcuffed me to the stone wall where there were already splatters of old dried blood.

“NO!” I screamed the words over and over again before it became hysterical. My mother was crying and Aaron was staring at me with tears in his eyes while being held back by a guard. But then he had spoken up, “No please! Take me instead! It doesn’t matter right? It’s just chosen at random, what difference does it make if it’s me?” Aaron had yelled to the king.

He scowled and said, “Very well. Seems like it’s your lucky day Ava.” He replaced me with Aaron and pushed me back into the crowd. I was sobbing and on my knees. I tried to stop him but he wouldn’t let me.

The shadows grew intense around us and the king announced that it was time. He brought up the knife and then stabbed Aaron three times in the chest and it made a sickening squelching sound. I screamed hysterically but it didn’t matter. Aaron met my eyes one more time and I couldn’t hear him but I saw what he said, three simple words I’ve been waiting my whole life to hear,

“I love you.”

Only this time, I couldn’t say it back.