Dreamed This Up (Dreams, Book 1)

Chapter 1: Race Day

1. A summer afternoon

A dusty oval track. Surrounded by a fence. In the seats behind it are the spectators. In the center of the track a kind of open pavilion, with a half dozen gray clad figures sitting inside.

A loud BONG and a gate in the wall opens. A crowd of young women dashes out of it. All are brightly and lightly dressed. After a few seconds another crowd, this time male, pours out of the gate, in hot pursuit of the first. All wear numbered small placards, presumably to distinguish them for the judges in the shade. Around and around the track, girls in front, boys behind, they race barefoot. Another loud BOOM, and over the loudspeaker, "Pairs!" is heard. The girls slow slightly, or the boys speed up, but either way the groups merge, still racing around the track. Pairs begin to form, some tumbling into the dusty track and others pulling off to the barrier wall. Green clad figures trot over to each pair, take note of their numbers and report to the judges. A few are then forcibly separated and pushed back on to the track to resume running and make a different pair.

Note one female figure as she continues running, a particular male in pursuit. He finally tackles her, she fights him off and runs again, only to be pinned against the wall. Her cry attracts the attention of one of the green referees, and distracts the boy long enough for her to get loose again. But he appears to have been at least partly successful, considering her torn clothing and the blood ... By now the judges who had approved or disapproved the other pairs have left their tent and are moving about the periphery, observing the couples and occasionally calling to the referees to pull this or that runner out altogether. The girl darts away, leaps the small barrier and nearly knocks over one of the gray clad figures. "Help me!" 

Impassively, the figure's pale hands hold her at arm's length, and she is appraised, "Why?" 

She draws in another ragged breath and answers. "That one is after me. I do not choose him. Your people always take some of us out during the race. Please take me."

Something must have reached him, because the judge's stony face softens slightly, and those opaque gold eyes blinked once. "Very well. You know what that means? I must finish what he started." The girl merely nods. 

"Wait!" the pursuer in turn leaps the barrier. " I drew first blood! She's mine!" He angrily reaches for the girl's arm, but is stopped. 

"One moment." A short silver rod is produced and waved over first the boy then the girl. It flashes red and emits a short, sharp beep. "No. There was no transfer, she removed herself in time." She seems to sag with relief at that, "Go find another, I claim this one." A whistle, and one of the referees effortlessly tosses the boy back into the fray.

Behind them, a few of the other judges have approached. "Well, you finally picked one out for yourself, Rofin," chuckles one of them. "Let me note the number and I'll mark her down for you. What do they call you, harac?" 

The girl faces the new speaker, and answers softly, "Sophyaniya. Of the Namusa" 

"Oh, I remember you. You sang for us last year. Sophie. Didn't realize you'd matured this year. Well, well, behave yourself and Rof here will take care of you." With a wink and a slap on the girl's rear he walks off. "Hurry up, you two! The next pack will be run through soon, and we need your help judging the pairs before they're shipped out. Can't have you busy." With a chuckle he returns to the pavilion.

Left relatively alone, Rofin asks again, "You understand this is binding?" She nods again and steps closer, cautiously. "More," he says, and pulls her in, "it shouldn't hurt much, I'll try and move quickly." Without further warning a thin tail whips out from under the robes and jerks her tightly against him.