The Unnamed | The Unnamed Duology Book 1

28: the Elite

28: the Elite

About than an hour after he's woken, from a hospital bed no less, Daniel finds himself being escorted to the Elite Building. It's the biggest mansion of them all, and the color of every symbol for the Categories are painted on it, one by one each in a single stripe. Blaise is being dragged more than escorted as every Elite marches to the building.

Daniel looks back at the former Elite, and he glares back, muscles tense, veins poking out, mouth covered, and fire in his eyes. The Runner's heart speeds up as he turns back around. Blaise isn't leaving without a fight.

They walk up the front steps and through the massive double doors. The room they walk into is large and round, and there are chairs placed behind half walls a story up. Below each chair is a single door, each a different color. Daniel guesses it's for the Categories. He spots a blue one and looks at the chair above it. It matches.

"Welcome, Elite Runner Daniel," the Elite Leader says as he strides to the center of the cylindrical room, the dome roof stretching high above him. "To the Elite."

The Elites around him cheer, covering the angry muffled cries of Blaise.

"This is where you will spend your time every Friday, when you aren't training or training your Servants. You will get to choose them tomorrow, when everything is settled down."

The Elite Leader nods to the group, who disperses and each person goes through a specific door. Daniel was right. The only two doors not gone through by the time everyone has left are the blue and red. The Runner and Leader Categories.

"This is the Judgment Room," the Elite Leader says as the other Elites of various ages take their places. "And it is where you will make your first judgment. Through your door, Daniel."

Daniel walks to the blue door and steps through, a room to his left and a winding staircase in front of him. He makes his way up and stands atop the steps, looking down onto the wooden floor, Blaise tied up and gagged in the middle. The Elite Leader is straight across from him, and tells him to sit.

"You have beaten the Former Elite Runner, Blaise. Daniel, you have two choices."

"What are they?" Daniel asks from across the room. He thought all of the Elites just died after being beaten, if they didn't die first. What is the other option?

"Your first choice would be immediate execution, one that has been favorable over the years due to the Former Elites being hysterical and blood-thirsty like Blaise here."

With one word, Daniel could send Blaise off to his death. But would he have the guts to do it?

"And the second one?" He gulps, unable to take his eyes from the squirming man down below.

"Exile out into Earth, far away where he will never be seen again."

"Exile? Where would he go? How would he survive?"

The Elite Leader shrugs, the other Elites watching Daniel closely. He feels as if he's the one being judged, not Blaise.

"He wouldn't, from what we've gathered. But he might. You can give him the chance to survive."

Daniel continues to stare at Blaise, who fumes, unmoving. His eyes seem to burn holes into Daniel.

No matter how much Daniel wants to be away from Blaise, he can't send him off to his death. But he can't say the word to send him off to his death, whether it's immediate or stretched out.

"Is there a third option?" He asks, and chuckles circle around them as the Elites shake their heads.

The Elite Leader smirks and leans back in his chair. "There is one other option," he says. "And you're the first to ask."