The Sucessors (Pt 1)

Age

I'm not old enough. I'm not freaking eighteen to go to this stupid successor thing. I'm 17! Not 3, 12 but 17! I knocked over some sneering adult's liqior. I rolled my eyes but kept my mind freshly fixed on the unfairness of the situation.

I, Anise Greenward, 17 WHOLE FREAKING YEARS! And I still can't convince the officials to agree. Another year of eating bugs, grass, and tree bark will not suffice for my 5 year old little sister. I need to make this work. 

"Sorry m'little sweeethart- no underage sussesor buisness" The official who I'm guessing is a 30 year old woman, who is wobbling from the wine, snapped her impatient eyes at me for a moment. Only a moment, as she fell onto the counter/podium thing, she shakes it, nearly crashing both her counter and herself onto me. 

I clenched my fists and jumped out of the way. The woman, whose name I heard was Hariot, took a glance at me and grunted for me to follow. No more of the annoyance or mockery in her tone when she started getting some facts straight. 

"Listen 'here gurl. Sussesor buisness is no joc'ke. I needh ou to be read'ie in you'reo hunting stuff tommorow. You ar hunting me tommorow. Wee'll disuss tactics after." Hariot lacked grammar and vowels as well as language use. But here in the place where people are starved, forgotten and becoming slaves, language was never a priority to remember about.

I take my usual route. Cutting in between corners and taking quick, sharp turns here an there. I meet my friend Terrence and Syds. (Terrence Goldfrost, Sydney Quoi) I bump fists with Terrence and hand my heavy duffel to Syds. She pinches me but I make no complaints. 

"Ani, I'm thinking of opening this shop." Terrence broke the silence, "I need you and Syd's help. I'm opening a pharmacy." I hold on to the thought of a powerful pharmacy, this idea is kind of in my Successor's path. I need to train tomorrow, but from what  Terrence is suggesting, it's not possible to do both.

I turn to Syd and ask for my duffel back. She gives it but Terrence doesn't seem in a good mood. "Ani, I'm only asking because I trust you." Terrence's face hardens as he realizes Sydney teamed with me.

"I know Terrence, but it has been Anise's dream and future goal to become a Successor! We are the ones who should support her, not argue with her!" Sydney reasoned. I dipped my head in acknowledgement. Terrence was only angered further at this.

"FINE! No one wants YOU anyway!" Terrence threw these words and spirited away. I stared at the startled birds around us. I never even noticed them here. Sydney looked upset, but once she started realizing what happened around us, she ran. 

Terrified, yes, but I was still surprised. Sydney was teased as a scardy-cat. But I never saw what came next. The birds swoop down on me, and I had little time to react. They dragged me out of the alley, and started flying up. 

Rapidly ascending, I screeched for help. A little child was calling after me. I squinted my eyes, despite the fear for myself, I fear for my family more. But it wasn't my sister I saw. It was Kyle. The neighboring boy who plays with my sister often. Oh, if only I could thank him. I can't and I fear that I will no longer be in Domain 5. 

The birds seem to read my mind, as they drop me off in this close by cave. I trace the route in my mind. I seemed to be trapped. I try climbing out, no use. I gnaw on my tongue. Nevermind, not a good idea. 

I hear some noises. I hide in the shadows. I see this figure whispering around, looking for something. After a while I hear him, yes him, whisper.

"She's gone. I told you she would be." 

"How would I know!? I dug a 10 meter hole and expected it to fail?!"

"Well I can't find her."

"We'll find her the old fashioned way then. . ."

Anise shivered at the thought, of two successors hunting her, before the trial to eliminate competition. I need to get back to town before them. thought Anise.

But she didn't. She was trapped in this hole for multiple hours, Anise knew time was running out. Someone would find out, or those two people would come back. Either one isn't a solution for her. 

It's time that Anise started hunting.