When the World Ends

1; Daye

'Of all the people in this city, why did it have to be me?' I think to myself. Today is the day of my coronation as Elector-Primo and I am nowhere near ready for this. A seventeen year old boy in charge of a whole nation? A recipe for disaster, more like it. You'd think I'd have more faith in myself, but after my mother took my younger siblings and abandoned me, my father died and left me with this mess of a country to clean up (Cliche, I know)... you'd be overwhelmed too.

My uniform had been laid out before me, by the common slaves employed at the academy. I'm not sure why father insisted on slaves instead of doing his own dirty work. 'They're people too, you know?' I'd often ask him, always conjuring the same response. "People, Daye, are superfluous. Their lives are in our hands. They could be grateful they're given employment instead of cast out to brothels and the sorts."

Just once I would have liked to scream, "If you believe that they're people then why don't you act like it! Their lives matter, just as mine does!" But I knew fathers response. He'd sacrifice me in an instant if it meant keeping his place as Elector. It's almost too bad that his drinking caught up with him. I'd feel bad, but that would require compassion for him; something I'd lost a long time ago.

I have to be to the main square of the academy by ten. Normally I'm early for such events held by the academy, but seeing as I'm being sealed into a future of laws, torment and cruelty, I think I'll relish my time. This is my last free day, after all.

I rise from the edge of the bed and trudge across the room to the desk where the slave girl is piddling with my shoes, hurrying to polish them.

"Slave girl," I call to her.

She freezes, turning to me as slowly as possible. "Y-yes, Elector?"

Just by me calling out to her, she's trembling in fear.

Curse my father for this. These poor girls enslaved at five, and forced to work to stay alive. Some slaves had tried to escape and every one of them was flogged to death. No mercy. That's our motto here at Ravenwood Academy. No mercy, not even to mothers who have their children ripped away and enrolled in the most violent school in the country. No mercy and no exceptions.

I clear my throat, pointing to my shoes. "You can take your time, if you'd like. I'm in no rush to be sealed into this hellhole."

I can tell she doesn't know what to say, so I tack on "I'm not going to hurt you. What's your name?"

"I-i don't have one," she mutters, trembling. "And respectfully, Elector, I don't believe you. Everyone hurts everyone here."

I frown, tilting my head. "I said I'm not going to hurt you. You've been my slave since I was 10 and I've not once laid a finger on you the way other men here have. Actually, I don't think I've touched you...ever. I promise, you have my word. It might be a foolish statement but-" I pause, considering if I should even say these words.

I let a heavy breath out through my nose, crossing my arms. "Let's just leave it at 'I won't hurt you', okay? I know trust is something you've never known."

She nods, dropping my heavy, iron-clad boot onto the floor. I step towards her, anger rising like bile in my throat when she flinches. I would never hit a woman for fun, much less a slave. She might be barely older than me, but she's still a lady. I'd like to leave her with what dignity she has left.

Reaching down to grab my boot, I stop on the way back up, leveling my mouth with her ear. "I promise I will not hurt you. I'm not like my father and soon many things will change."

I straighten and offer her a smile when I see that she's relaxed enough to stop trembling.

"Now please, will you tell me your name?" I ask again, gingerly taking the rag and polish from her hands. "I know you have one, even if everyone does call you 'slave girl'.