Requiem Run

Chapter 3

I awoke to the banging of my door opening, and several women ushering me out of bed. Most of the women's faces were covered in scarves, but one of them wasn't, a pale women with pointed ears and dark red hair.

"Good morning, ma'am." the woman said as she and the others started ushering me towards the bathroom, just barely giving me enough time to grab my jacket before it was out of reach, "We've been sent to prepare you for your meeting with your first Runner."

"My what with my what now?" I asked, still trying to fully wake up.

"It is tradition for each Maiden to meet with a Runner in the days leading up to the Requiem Run," said the woman, "That way each can pick their own favorite."

"Ok, wow." I said, "I'm guessing I don't have a choice in the matter."

"No, no you do not." the woman said, almost like she was sighing. The women pushed a table into the room, like the kind that was used for medical examinations. I was put on it by the women, and my nightgown was pushed up to reveal my legs.

"What are you do-AUGHHHHHH!"

I was interrupted when two of the women held me down, one placed a wax paper on my right leg, then ripped it off. I hadn't bothered to shave my legs during my first semester of college, so there was a lot of hair that had to go. I screamed and thrashed, but the women in headscarves held me tight while the pointy-eared woman oversaw the whole thing. Every time they took hair off my leg, they also cleaned my legs with sponges.

I was making plans on how to kill every single person in the room all at once in the most painful ways possible by the time they had finished, leaving me plucked like a fresh chicken. It took all my reserve to not start throwing punches when the women let me go and presented what I guessed I was supposed to wear; a light blue calf-length dress with matching ballet flats.

"You may style your hair how you please," said the pointy-eared woman as she motioned to a tray on the sink with a glass, bowl and spoon on it, "I will be waiting to take the nightgown and transfer you to a guard. Your breakfast is over there on the table."

She started going for the door.

"Hey, hold on!" I said. The woman stopped, but didn't turn back to me.

"I didn't get your name."

"My name is Tarja," said the woman, "But since we will only know each other for the next four days, it is okay if you don't remember it."

"Wow, thanks." I said grumbly, but the woman made no indication that she had heard me as she closed the door, leaving me alone in the bathroom. It still kind of stung to move, but I managed to get the dress and shoes on, combed my hair, and put on my dad's jacket. I liked how the form-fitting dress shape on me was completely ruined by the jacket, which was slightly too large for me and unshapely leather.

When I stepped over to check what was in the bowl, I nearly gagged at the oatmeal-like substance inside. I was never a fan of oatmeal, but this stuff smelled worse than any oatmeal I'd ever smelled before. I resolved not to eat it, but I did down the glass of water that had come with it.

Before I left the bathroom, I took the necklace out of my pocket and put it around my neck, tucking the jewel into the dress. It matched the dress, and just felt right. With that, I stepped out of the bathroom, where Tarja was waiting.

"Are you ready?" Tarja asked. Her mildly unpleasant stare at my leather jacket just made me want to smile, but I settled for an amused, "Lead the way."

"I won't be bringing you to your first Runner," said Tarja, "A guard will be doing that. I just need to make sure you are prepared."