The Selection of Prince Creed

CASEY

"Casey," a harsh whisper echoes throughout my room. It reminds me of the times mom would wake me up when I was late for school. She wouldn't shout or even flip my light continuously. Instead, she'd stand in my doorway and just say one word; my name.

I sit up straight, confused as I look around. For a couple of seconds I'm expecting to see my childhood bedroom complete with the Power Rangers sheets. Instead a heavy comforter blankets me and marble surrounds me. I glance around, getting my bearings and notice there's not even a streak of morning light coming in through the curtains yet.

"What time is it?" I ask, my voice still hoarse with sleep. "What's going on?"

Danielle steps forward and pulls the overlarge comforter from my lap. I shiver as a chill floods my skin. I look up, confused but Danielle only purses her lips and pulls me from the bed. "Hurry, you don't have much time," she says sternly and hands me a set of sweats (much nicer sweats than I have ever touched before, mind you). When I only look at her blankly she sighs and shakes out the folded clothes, "Casey. Come on, hurry."

"Danielle, come on. What is happening?" I ask desperately. Fear grips my heart. Did something happen to Creed? To someone else? Am I heading home?

Instead of answers, Danielle only shakes her head and holds out a small bag. "I wasn't given any details. Only to escort you down to the garage."

The walk to the garage was quiet and cold. The chill had reached my bones by the time I slid into an already running car. When the door shut behind me, I breathed a sigh of relief. I look beside me to see Stevie sitting there with her own small bag and still half asleep.

We don't say anything the entire drive to airport. Glancing at the dash I'm able to figure out it's just after four in the morning. It is way too early to talk. Or be awake, especially without coffee. Maybe the castle life has made me more spoiled than I'd realized.

We don't even go through the main terminals. We exit the cars on the tarmac and head straight onto the small plane waiting for us. I practically sigh in relief when I see Beatrice and Isaac waiting for us. Until now there was a small voice in my head saying that we still could have been going home. We take no time at all getting settled into seats and all I want at this point is coffee. I would probably kill for some coffee at this point.

"Ladies," Beatrice addresses us as we all settle into seats. There's something different in her tone. Normally she's pretty upbeat while still being business casual. Today she seems more subdue and warning bells sound off in my head. I try to straighten and listen harder, though we're all in such a small space it probably doesn't make a difference anyway. "I'm sorry to say there has been a recent attack. It was on a small town in Carolina called Meyer. Now, everything has calmed down, but the town and the people need help getting back on their feet. That's where you all come in. To be a great queen, a princess, a citizen even, you must know the country, the people. It's so important to understand the struggles that are plaguing the country. It's so important to give back any little bit of yourself you can. So in light of all that and family matters that are occurring, Prince Creed has chosen to cancel the second dates and send you all to Meyer to help with the relief."

Beatrice and Isaac go on, talking about the devastation and what to expect, but I stop listening at some point. It feels like I've been punched in the gut. After last night, I really had thought I was going home. I'd made a complete fool of myself. I was so worried. A second punch lands when I start thinking about Meyer and those that are living their worst nightmares, and I had been so concerned with a dinner. I'm such a joke.

"It's scary, huh?" Mia whispers and for the first time I realize everyone else has fallen silent, either dozing or lost in thought during the flight. "I mean, imagine being home, somewhere you think is so safe, and then all of a sudden all of that security is pulled out from under you like a rug."