Star-Crossed

Part 5

"Next up we have: Niko Mendes. Mr. Mendes, please take the stage," croons Zayn.

My heart beats with excitement and residual jealousy. I can't believe the only person I feel even remotely connected to on this planet is about to leave me forever. Alone to rot and eventually die, with absolutely nothing to show for my life.

Before Niko reaches the stage, I suddenly wish he'll turn around and look at me. It might be the last time I am ever able to hold his gaze with my own, to witness that stupid grin of his.

He reaches the stage and hesitates for a split-second, and I am sure he's about to turn around and give me one last wink. But then, he just hops up and onto the stage, making his way to the Occulizer. My heart sinks. He didn't even look back.

Niko puts on the device. It takes longer than usual to give an answer. The crowd settles into a sort of silence.

We all silently wonder the same thing. Niko has always been such a calm, well-adjusted guy. What could his Greatest Attachment be?

Then the word flashes across the goggles. I nearly faint.

KARINA!

The crowd gasps.

Only once before in the history of Recruitment Day on Dard has the Occulizer named an actual person. People don't get attached to other people on this planet. At least they're not supposed to. Slaves aren't allowed to have relationships.

"Well, this is interesting," smirks Zayn. "Karina - darling, wherever you are - you must come onto the stage, immediately."

I catch myself from fainting and walk slowly toward the stage. I can feel every single person's eyes piercing me with looks of awe and fear and horror as I walk past them.

Slowly, I climb the steps onto the stage. I brush past Zayn - my heart skips a beat - and straight toward Niko. I give him a huge hug. He kisses me hard on the lips.

"Well, well," says Zayn. "Looks like the golden O nailed this one on the head, ladies and gents." Zayn grins, and the crowd laughs, a bit uncomfortably.

A small black gun appears in Niko's hand. I remain weaponless. He looks at me, tears welling-up in his eyes. "Oh Kishmish," he whispers. "I am so sorry. I love you so much. More than I have ever loved anyone. More than I will ever love anyone. Please always remember that - always."

Is he really going to do this?

I stand there in shock as he loads the gun and puts his finger on the trigger, aiming straight for the middle of my forehead.

I fall to my knees. This was what I wanted, wasn't it? To die?

I close my eyes.

One. Two. Three.

The gun explodes. But I feel absolutely nothing.

My forehead is wet with blood. But it is not mine. I open my eyes and see Niko writhing on the floor beside me.

"Noooo!" I scream in horror. "Niko - how could you?!"

I scoop him into my arms, a jerking mass of skin and hair and muscle. And then he stops moving. His body relaxes. His eyes glaze over.

The crowd is completely silent. I remain on stage with Niko in my arms, sobbing.

A man draped in a long, black cloak heads toward the stage, and when he arrives, he signals to Zayn to turn off his microphone. They chat for a minute or so. The man in the cloak looks directly at me with his piercing blue eyes. I shudder. Then he gives Zayn a pat on the back and swiftly exits the stage from behind and disappears.