The Worthy

Chapter One

CHAPTER ONE
Jillian
THE SUN'S BRIGHT SUN RAYS hit my face, I groaned, another day, another dollar.

I got out of my comfy hay bed, which I proudly assembled and went off to the public bathroom of our bloc.

Nobody was there. GREAT!

I checked the watch my great grandmother passed on to me on my last birthday. 5:34am, about half an hour left until work.

I did my usual routine, I wore a loose dark, faded blue shirt and darker blue ankle length skirt. The color of my parcel, the group that I was born to, forever, the Extra Leaves (but usually called the Extras).

I was lucky enough to be in this group, it was two steps away from the lowest.

There are seven major groupings, the lowest is the Rotten Plants (usually known as Rottens). They have no use to the main tree, no means to anyone, can't do anything. They are the ones who are banished from the main tree.

Next is the Waters, serves the main tree to their needs, only to serve, and is invisible to others because, just like water being poured a plant into the roots, unseen.

Then us, the Extras, barely even seen, is given the support to stay at the tree, but if not useful, it will drop you and become one of the Rottens. So in short, do something useful or be banished. Its duties is to do entertainment, dancing, singing, instrumental plays and all aspects of part-time jobs.

The Greens, the true leaves of the tree, they are the regular citizens of the main tree. Works of being an accountant, teacher and a nurse.

Then the Branches, if you are in this group, you are already one of the best. Engineers, architects, doctors and lawyers. You are known for your talent of being smart.

Here comes the Trunks, the strongest of all of us. They will always protect us, but they are the same level of the Branches. They are ruthless, cold, mean and half of them are heartless, the scariest people on earth, if you ask me.

Then the top, the Roots, the entire tree can't live without them. They are actually the royal family.

Back to my life as an Extra... I was lucky to be in this group, because one more step down I would be a servant right now in some wealthy person's home.

As I waited for my best friends Cass and Max, I saw a car passed by with two couples inside. By the looks of what they are wearing, they are doctors.

When it was out of view, I wondered, what would it be like to have all your needs at the palm of your hands. Having to buy all the food you ever wanted. Sleeping and waking up to beautiful and well furnished homes. Having your own bathroom.

I almost laughed out loud for thinking about the last part.

Just then Cass and Max came to my view.

I started waving like crazy then ran to them, they started running too. And we crashed into a rough and tight but comforting hug.

You must be wondering why. Well, the extras need to work all week, and you need to sleep in work where it is provided. We work 14 hours and sleep 8 hours a day. And then the next, and the next. The only time we can go back home is every weekend after two weeks.

Today is Saturday, but they canceled my break due to the lack of employees.

"Why does the world need to be so cruel?" Max exaggerated, but I was with her in that opinion and so was Cass.

"I will be back on Saturday!" was my only reply.

"Yeah, next, next Saturday!" Cass said trying to hold back tears and a sob.

"Hey don't worry, the next time I come home I will be receiving my payment for the entire year!" I said with full blast of excitement.

The Extras get their payments every year. The rule is one dollar every day and they-the management-will decide if you will get a bonus or not. In conclusion, the harder you work, the more you have a chance of getting the bonus.

"I know, now don't spend it all in one place!" Cass said to me with full seriousness. She was always the responsible and smartest one of all three of us.

I chuckled. "I don't think that is possible," I pause. "I need that for all our needs this year!"

Cass smiled. "I know you won't."

Max, the one playful one even through hard times, said "Take care of your self, and tell me any updates we should know when you get back."

I knew what she was talking about, it's the competition that has been played for generations. It tests your survival skills, your knowledge, strength and talent. It was constructed by the King Gabe Poniente Sherlock in order for no such disaster like what happened to Princess Barbra Sherlock would ever happen again.

She was a princess that was not capable of being the next Queen. One night, rebels got into the palace by surprise, and ended the life of the dear princess.

The King named it The Worthy.

The Worthy is a competition that already preps you up for being the next Queen in the Sherlock Tree.

Every year the challenges are made by the come to be King, but there are three prince's this year.
So I don't know how they will handle that.

"Of course!" I could see the enthusiasm in their eyes.

They asked me this favor because: for one; I was they only one of all of us that works in a diner that has a television.

Cass works as a photographer. She has been in the palace for several times and Max and I would always ask her what it was like to set foot unto the palace floors and to picture everything as luxurious. She even shoots some photos for almost every interview or broadcasting news in the city.

All extras will be lucky enough to be in her position.

Max works as an event organiser in local festivals and parties. Very lucky she is if she gets to work in the palace. You know how their (the Roots') celebrations are-tea parties, masquerade balls, black-and-white parties and such. But I undeniably hope she gets that opportunity, to get a high salary and be able to sustain her family.

And two; because we've been secretly preparing for this. Because this was only hope of being free from the life of an extra.

Not that we found the Prince's appearances appealing.

We stayed like that, hugging each other until the bus came. The bus still had to honk in order to get my attention. As I parted from them, I tended to keep that favor of Max's. I waved one last goodbye to them, they replied by doing the same action.

And I was off to another 4 hour ride into the town.

Instead of looking at the rice fields, I went straight to sleep.