The Victorian Wasteland

Chapter 1 - The Council

The Victorian Capital, October 29th 

In today's society, girls are placed on a stepping stone and are asked a series of questions, each different from the person before, in front of a large room filled to the brim with men whos eyes are filled with lust and desire. Once all questions are asked, the Council will decide whether the girl lives or dies. If she is granted life, she will be placed into a class with the possibility of work. If she is granted death, she is taken to a holding cell where the Wives of Council decide which path to death the young women will take. 

This 'ceremony' as the Council calls it, takes places on October 30th of each year. No one can remember why we hold this ceremony or why girls are the only ones sacrificing their lives.  Due to the Council having strict laws, any information on the ceremony or the Council itself is locked up beneath the grounds of The Victorian Capital. 

My mother, Marissa, used to tell me old stories of the days when women had the same rights as men and weren't forced to live or die based on their answers of very few, vague questions. I always asked her the same question, "Why?" "Why is it only us that must perform in the ceremony?" With her cherry brown eyes, she looked at me with sadness and said, "Not I or anyone else can answer that question for. I'm not sure why we must perform, but I believe its because this is what we are destined to do." As the last word leaves her mouth, she take a deep breath and smiles sheepishly at me. "Everyone has there on destiny, pumpkin. Some just finish early.." She says, as she begins to brush her long auburn colored hair.

"I hope your destiny is set out far in the future." My mother says calmly. I know she is worried about me, tomorrow is the day of the ceremony and the Knights of Council will come early to bring me to the ceremonial site. My mother reaches her soft pale hand towards me to caress my cheek. 

The next day, we were awoken by a loud knock. As my mother cracked the door open to see who it was, a tall man with piercing blue eyes called out "We are here to collect Abigail Rose Seer, please have her come down with one bag packed for the ceremony tonight. We will be waiting here for her, she has 5 minutes." Marissa, without breaking eye contact with the man, yelled out to me to ready in 5 minutes and to get my bag packed. I wish they gave a time for when they're supposed to be here, maybe then I would be ready on time. 

Before heading down stairs, I prayed silently hoping that someone would hear my prayers and come save me from whatever the future held. From the stories my mother told, I did not wish either life. To die or to life just to die anyways. I always dreamed of a different life whether I was completely in charge of my own destiny. 

I pray that this wont be the last I see of the world, once I get to the capital it's only a matter of time.