Crystals float around her and Amaris’s skin sparkled in the harsh, cruel moonlight. I could see the diamond tears covering her cheeks; she knew as well as I did that we wouldn’t survive this. The refractions hadn’t been in our favour this time.

                                                                       Two Weeks Earlier

“What if we are chosen?”

Amaris speculates as she lays in the grass, staring up at the cloudy sky.

“For ten years, we have not been chosen. This is our last year that we can be chosen.”

Amaris sighs and rolls over to face me.

“I know but I feel like this time will be different.”

I clasp her hand in mine and tilt her head up to look me in the eye.

“Listen. If you keep your secret, then you’ll be fine.”

“But Carter…”

“No buts, Am! Just trust me. We will be fine.”

She nods in resignation and I help her to her feet. Her caramel hair falls to her waist in gentle waves. Her blue eyes are caring with fear showing deep inside. Her skin is honey coloured and her cheeks and lips a light pink.

“We do need to go, that way we aren’t late.”

Amaris glances slyly at me then races down the hill. I laugh and race after me. We fall silent once we make into town.

“Ladies and gentleman, thank you for being here. Every year we chose two lucky people from each village to go to Diamond City. This time we will only be choosing out of the 20 year olds here. I trust you will have the good sense to not run.”

Amaris glances at me and I clasp her hand. She was right. Something is different and we’re the ones who will be chosen because for some reason the refractions weren’t in our favor.