UNGIFTED

CHAPTER 16

A deep sigh fell from her lips as she tried to process the fact that the time had finally come. A pair of brown tired eyes stared back at her from the other side of the glass. Her hair already braided to perfection according to protocol. Glancing at the reflection on her bedroom’s full-length mirror, Ameria fixed the black uniform she had been given for the millionth time. And fidgeting the silver bracelet around her wrist, she sighed once more.

A sudden knock on her door made her breath stop and get caught in her throat. Her heart skipping a beat before it began pumping a hundred times per minute. Stealing one last glance at the mirror, she filled her lungs with air. And with sweaty palms reached for the doorknob.

Without even waiting for Ameria to finish opening the door, Rowan charged at her. Wrapping her arms tightly around her, wrinkling the uniform Ameria had been trying to fix for the past half hour. It took her a minute to fully comprehend what was happening but, as soon as she did, she returned the much-needed hug. Suddenly it did not matter anymore if her uniform was wrinkled, all that mattered was that her friend was there for her.

“You’ve got this, ok?” Rowan told her best friend, cupping her face with both hands and looking into her eyes. Ameria nodded, not really trusting herself to say a word without breaking down.

“Let’s go.” Ameria said softly. Waiting around did nothing but increase her anxiety.

***

Two of the guards that stood by the door separated them the moment they arrived. And while Rowan was sent up with the rest of the audience, Ameria was held in one of the side rooms. Its thin walls letting the loud noise from people chatting above her slip through and reach her ears. The arena was already packed; And it was mainly because if there was one thing people hated to miss, that was a chance to witness from the front row as drama developed.

Which is why it did not surprise Ameria when all eyes fixed on her as she stepped into the arena and walked straight to her spot marked right at the center. Her head still held high even though she felt like a circus’ freak. It was only a matter time before their peanut shells got thrown at her.

But she was not alone in the arena. To her right a woman and a man stood on their own spots. The woman seemed the most nervous. Ameria remembered having seen her once or twice before, but she could not recall what her name was. She was the shortest out of all of them; with innocent features, she looked as fragile as a porcelain doll. Her small frame filled with anxiety could not stand still and her fingers uncontrollably wiggled at her sides. The man was the complete opposite of her. Tall and bulky, his whole self exuded confidence and strength. He seemed to be too mentally focused on what was about to happen to even look at anything but what stood before him. Only giving Ameria one short side-eyed glance the moment she stood beside him as if he were sizing up his opponents. 

To her left, another guy stood nervously waiting. Of average height and body size, he only stood out because of his green colored hair. Sweating under the warm light that shown upon him, he used the rhythm of his breath to calm himself down. Or at least he tried to.

Directly in front of their marks, at about ten meters of distance, up and behind a safety glass, stood tall the Elders Bench. Five fine empty seats waiting to be filled.

“Please rise.” The ringmaster stated. The lion-tamer-like costume he wore proof enough that the event was but a show. “The Court of Donumdell is now in session. Our Honorable Elders: Savon, Ethios, Minerva, Atlas and Nikea presiding.” He named each in the order as they walked in.