𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐚𝐫𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭

Chapter One

The day of the Harvest for District Silver Woods began with a chaotic calmness. Parents dressed their children in neat attire reflecting the colors of the district. Eight-year-old Victoria Meadowbrook sat staring at her mother in the mirror, who was braiding her hair. Victoria had her mother's green eyes and plump lips, but her father's walnut brown hair instead of her mother's caramel blonde locks.

"There, all done," her mother smiled, stepping back to admire the braid. Victoria stood and walked to the full-length mirror. She wore a knee-length green dress with frills, grey tights, and matching shoes, her hair adorned with two braids tied with small green ribbons.

With teary eyes, she glanced at her mother, her lip beginning to quiver. "Do you think I'll be chosen, mommy?" Her mother, Elane, hugged her tight, whispering, "Everything will go well, my sweet," wiping away her tears with a reassuring smile.

"I'm sure daddy and your siblings are waiting for us, come now we must hurry," Elane ushered, taking Victoria's hand and leading her through the house to where her father and siblings awaited.

They walked to the Silver Woods Examination Center. The guards were already ushering children aged eight to ten inside. A few minutes passed until Victoria's name was called.

"Meadowbrook, Victoria!" the guard announced.

Her mother's hands trembled as she led Victoria to the front. A lady sat next to the guard with a white table and a gentle smile. "Hello, Victoria , may I have your finger, please?" Victoria complied, feeling a slight prick as the lady pressed a needle to her finger and dabbed blood onto a paper strip.

She was then directed to the examination hall. Glancing back at her parents one last time, she then let a guard lead her further inside.

The examination hall was unlike anything Victoria expected, filled with screens displaying names and photos of the children. A girl of similar age sat nervously beside her in the row, fidgeting with her fingers, the hall was not what Vitoria was expecting at all, all sorts of screens with names and the photos were on them. The guard then let her to hers, where all her information was on the screen.

Surname: Meadowbrook

Name: Victoria, Lillibet, Bryn-lynn

Date of birth: 16/02/04

Place of birth: Silver Woods Central
James Woods Hospital

Mother: Elane Meadowbrook (35yrs)

Father : Victor Meadowbrook (36yrs)

Siblings: Ella Meadowbrook (7), Nathaniel Meadowbrook (6), Thomas Meadowbrook (4), Gracelyn Meadowbrook (2)

She had no idea how they could have gotten all of that information or her photo, but she began to look around her, a girl by the looks of the same age, also looking at her information on the screen.

A loud crack drew Victoria's attention to the front of the hall, where a woman with light blonde hair and a neat bun stood in a white blazer and matching pants.

"Good morning, children," she greeted with solemnity. "I am Doctor Reed, and I presume you all know why you're here today." A chorus of 'yes ma'am' answered her. A faint smile touched her lips. "Today, we will test your intelligence, bravery, and talents."