The Selection: One of the Selected

4: The Announcement

The sun was setting, an orange being painted across the sky.

'What time did you say the Report is on again?' I called downstairs from my room.

'Eight o'clock. Ten minutes, so get downstairs soon!' mother shouted back.

My heart was pounding faster than it ever had before, and I was feeling rather light-headed. But it was mainly the anticipation of seeing the candidates for the next queen, as the chances of me ever being picked were so slim.

But there was a chance, all the same.

I came down to the smell of buttered popcorn being prepared on the stove, and I could hear the gentle hum of the television. Poppy eagerly tugged my arm.

'Oh my goodness, oh my goodness, what if you get picked, Quinn? I bet you will. I bet you looked great in your picture. Eeee!'

I had to stop myself from laughing when she said I must have looked amazing in my photo. Let's hope the Prince found squinting in a bright light attractive. 

Mother bustled past us, her arms loaded with bowls of popcorn.

' 'scuse me girls, popcorn delivery coming through! Can someone get the coffee table nearer to the door so I can put these down?'

Aziel pushed the table closer, and the snacks were spread across it. Mother and Aziel then put it back to its original position, father put his paper down and Poppy called dibs on the biggest bowl. 

I stood, watching the chaos, until everyone was seated in the same place as the last time a Report was on. I took the last available bowl of popcorn and slumped to the floor just as the anthem started to play. 

The king was practically giddy as Gavril was introduced, unlike Maxon who was tapping his foot against the floor and visibly hiding his nerves from his face. 

The king answered a brief question, likewise for the queen, but it was clear the production team wanted to get to the announcement as soon as they could. 

'And with that, let us reveal the thirty-five young ladies chosen for the Selection. Ladies and gentlemen, please join my in congratulating the following daughters of Illéa!' When Gavril had finished, the screen cut to a large picture of the national emblem.

In the top right hand corner was a small box for Maxon's face, so the public could see his reactions. I could barely swallow my popcorn with the suspense filling the room, and I put it down with shaking hands. 

Gavril was shown in the background, clutching the cards, ready to read out those competing.

'Miss Elayna Stoles of Hansport, Three.' Her image filled the screen. 

'Miss Tuesday Keeper of Waverly, Four.' Another girl was projected onto the screen.

'Miss Fiona Castley of Paloma, Three.'

'Miss America Singer of California, Five.'

I beamed at seeing the red-head's face. 

'Hey, mother, that's the family we were talking to at the Services Office!' I pointed out, and mother's face lit up.

'So it is! Well, we'll certainly be cheering her on-'

'Miss Quinn Appleton of Hatfield, Three-' 

I didn't even get to hear the rest of what Gavril was saying because of Poppy and mother's screaming. Aziel was doing a sort of strange whooping sound, and father just looked satisfied. I noticed my picture wasn't shown, and it instead flashed a picture of the Illéa emblem. 

My mouth was just dropped open, and I was frozen to the spot.

Then, the small phone we had started aggressively ringing, and it didn't stop for days.

                                                                                     ~ * ~

Officials were bouncing in and out of our house, announced or not, to check information and brief me all week.

There was someone who went over security measures, another to inspect our house, someone else to confirm all the information I put on my sheet. (This last one resulted in me having to perform my best tricks in the middle of the dining table.)

Someone came to measure me for bespoke clothes I would wear, which made it all seem so real all at once. 

The last visitor we had was an extremely skinny man, and was carrying a block of papers.

'I'm just going to need to sign these forms to confirm you are going to take care of your body from here until the Selection begins. You are Illéa's property now.' He said, his voice a drawl but smart at the same time.

'Sign here, here, and here...don't forget here, you won't be allowed in otherwise...THERE...NOT THERE, SILLY GIRL, THERE...' this man was nearly screaming by the end, as I accidentally nearly signed one millimetre off for the last time. 

'Alright, and here are the final rules necessary to follow. You can't leave the palace by yourself. You can only get a dismissal from the prince, no other royal. The Selection can take as long as it needs, so days or even years. NO questions, please.' He dragged on, about how I couldn't fight another contestant, or seek out Prince Maxon myself. No other relationships with anyone other than Maxon, on fear of death, which seemed quite extreme to me, but I let it slide. I was told I would be filmed going about my daily life, which I was quite taken aback by, but the man seemed unfazed. Mother just looked excited.

'Okay, so that is all. Please show me the way out.'

I lead the man to the door, and just as I was about to shut it, he turned back.

'Oh yes, and don't turn the Prince down. For anything. I'm sure you know what I mean...' and with a final wink, he walked away, while I stood dumbstruck. 

'What did he say just then, Quinn?' mother inquired, bumbling through to the door.

'Oh...nothing. He thought he...dropped a paper.'

'Oh, alright. Well, princesses still need to go to sleep, so off you go!' 

Mother had started talking to me as if I was a five year old dressing up, but it was most likely the excitement of a large sum of money coming home. 

When I was upstairs, I found my suitcase open on my floor, empty. We would be leaving tomorrow for the palace, and I still hadn't got a single item ready. But what would I need? Surely the palace would supply most items? I settled on a few photos, my nicest clothes for if (when) I was kicked out, and a necklace Poppy gave me for my birthday a few years ago. 

It was a metal dragonfly, with black string instead of a chain. Slipping it on, I gave one last look around my room for anything I had forgotten. Nothing. 

I fell asleep on the floor beside my case.