dusk until dawn (the selection)

the first episode and picking Macy up at the lost and found

The girls cheered for each other every time a featurette was presented to them. Jilles introduced several selected through scans of their forms and little television fragments.

The group laughed when the television showed Isa animatedly telling a story at dinner. Isa jokingly nudged the girl next to her on the couch when she imitated her dramatic personality. Dawn admired how she was so confident in expressing herself. The realisation of being recorded at all times was a very strange experience for sure.

The group gasped when they showed Lina's makeover. She went from dark hair to a beautiful light brown colour. She wore her new haircut so royally. Dawn paused her meal to look for her in the room. Lina sat at one of the tables, hiding the blush on her face while her friend shook her shoulder. Everybody knew Lina was one of the prettiest girls in the group. She was very popular among the Illéan public was well. On the television she looked so beautiful and princess-ey... magical.

The interviews got a small segment but as it had its own broadcast Dawn understood they didn't show the full thing. Just a few highlights and outfits. Like Macy's and Bella's. No questions and definitely no mention of Dawn's insane anti caste answer. It seemed like the royal family was trying to cover up the entire incident—successfully so.

There were little moments between selected and the royals— like a girl with glasses bumping into the king somewhere. It was mostly fun little moments during the day to get to know the selected. This was only episode one after all. And as Dawn remembered, the cameras turned off around dinnertime. All was well. All was positive. No one got mistreated on screen and there was no drama to be told. Not on tv nor in the common room. The girls finished their foods as the episode ended with the group picture they took when they just got here.

A few girls clapped happily and celebrated their television debuts. They hugged their friends and went to put their dishes away. Dawn looked around, hoping to see if Macy came in yet. But no, no Macy.

After Dawn told Pigtails — eh, Hadley — she was going to retreat back to her room and left, she figured Macy was probably in her room as well. And she must not have had dinner.
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Dawn changed course, and now walked back towards the dining hall like a gentle blue cloud floating around empty halls. Not a single selected passed her on the way there. It looked like the maids and servers hadn't cleared out the buffet yet so Dawn got a tray ready to take some bread and delicious smelling mushroom soup. She'd seen Macy eat it before. Maybe she should try it one day, she trusted her friend's judgment.

She felt optimistic as she walked out of the dining room. She missed Macy, she must be in her room. The selected sleeping quarters were just up the stairs.. However, as soon as Dawn tried to turn left, towards the grand staircase, something gently pulled her towards the right.

Dawn almost dropped the silver platter she held and gasped at the sudden touch of an arm around her free wrist — and then her waist. It pushed her kindly towards the wall. Dawn yelped.

She'd barely registered prince Helios in front of her when she concluded her kidnapper was really good at what he was doing. He'd let go of her and he was still very much looking down at her, ever so smug. No soup was spilled. He was a careful criminal.

"She's not in her room, Dreamie." He had trouble hiding the huge grin that played around his lips.

Was he following her around? Where did he even come from? How did he know she was heading for Macy?

Dawn leaned back against the wall and immediately steadied the platter with food with both her hands, between them. He called her Dreamie again. And he read her intentions like she was an open book. "Prince Helios." she nodded in acknowledgement, avoiding his eyes.