Executed

Chapter 1

            I sit at the edge of the seat in the metro. This would be my last time in the drawing. A memory of Librae’s name being drawn from the glass bowl still haunts me. Phox sits next to me as he runs his hand up and down my back. He can tell I’m thinking of her. It’s been five years since Librae died.

            The stone walls fly past us as the metro begins its journey to the kingdom drawing area. There are TV’s everywhere you go in this world.  I remember mother and father telling me about how their great-great grandparents had been in a world without violence. Their world is much different than ours. Our world is built upon violence. We kill our kind almost every day. No one lives past the age of sixty.

            Phox disturbs my thinking with a look that only a father could love. I laugh as he flares and scrunches up his nose. Glaring eyes from the people around us put us into silence. Mother slumps in her seat while father sits tall with his chin high.

            “Hey, just calm down sis, you’ll be fine. It’s not like they’re going to choose you,” Phox whispers to me. I nod and take a shaky breath. My brother and I have always been close. Remembering back to the history books, I think of how Mrs. Lawenson had told us of a time when you could live as you whished and there were no royals, no wealthy people, and no less fortunate people.  If only we lived back then. Now we have to choose from our own people who is going to die.

            After several moments of silence, I cuddle up to Phox. His leather jacket reminds me of Librae and how she always wore her special black jacket while the rest of the girls wore white leather and lace. Slowly, I drift to sleep.

            I find myself in a barren landscape that I recognize, the drawing landscape. I’m sitting in the bare dirt while I cry into my hands.  Someone is coming towards me in the distance. When I look up, I find the princess looking at me. Her glittering green eyes stare at me with fascination. She holds out her hand to help me up. I take it willingly.

            “I’m sorry about your friend. I heard you in the crowd. Let me assure you though, she’s in a much better place now,” the princess says. My small arms fall limp to my side. Estella smirks at me.

            “Why? Why are you talking to me Estella?” I ask in frustration. My expression hardens as I glare at her. Fists form in my hands as I get more and more tense.

            “You and I, we’re more alike than you think Arabella,” she tells me.

            “I don’t like killing people off,” I say harshly. A piece of soft black hair is in my face. It’s mine, but I don’t care who’s it is, I yank at Estella’s arm. “Why did you do this to my friend Estella? Why?”

            “I-I didn’t! I don’t want to! I promise! Please! I’m sorry! I’m sorry! Please just, listen to me!” Her eyes shed tears of pain. I look at my grip and let go. Her wrist turned purple from my hold.

            “I’m sorry. I don’t like, I don’t want, I’m sorry.” I begin to run off but Estella grabs my shoulder and holds me back.

            “Even though you pretty much broke my wrist,” she says rubbing her wrist. “I know what it’s like to lose someone. You’ll see Librae again someday, I promise.”

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

            I wake up to Phox shaking my shoulder. I stretch out my arms and look over at him. His eyes are full of excitement. The question is, why is he excited? Why isn’t he lurking in terror? Is he excited that this is his final drawing?

            His face turns serious. Phox turns away and I look over at mother who was shook away by my father. We had arrived at the station and the doors slowly opened. The crowds of people file out in groups. Phox stands in front of me as we watch the royals walk onto the stage. The princess, Princess Estella, is just younger than me as she is almost nineteen.

            King Afton walked up to the microphone. He nodded towards his wife, Queen Anastasia, and faced the crowd. “Hello, and welcome to this month’s drawing. To all of you who are new this month, here is how this works. My beautiful daughter Estella shall walk up to the two glass bowls. She will choose three names, two from the less fortunate bowl and one from the wealthy. And so, with that, I give you, Princess Estella!”

            The crowd roars. With so many people in one area, you couldn’t hear one, single person. Estella waves and curtsies for the crowd. Everyone loves Estella. When they took Librae, she was the one who was always there. We became close friends throughout the years. Now, this would be the last time I would see her take out a name.

            “Thank you, thank you,” she coons. The loud shouts stop and Estella walks over to the less fortunate bowl and draws two names. I watch as a young girl and a boy walk up to the stage. Now, it’s time for the wealthy citizens. Estella’s heels echo against the wood of the stage. I watch her play with her fingers as she walks over.

            The wide glass bowl has millions of names in it. Her hand is buried into the papers. She searches around for the name to be chosen. All is silent except for the rustling papers. Finally, our agony is put to rest. A name is pulled and my eyes our wide.

            For a split second, Estella’s look is scared. She quickly strengthens herself and clears her throat. She sweeps her hair out of her face and stretches out the name. “From the wealthy citizens we have… Arabella Thornbrush.”

            My bones freeze. This can’t be happening. My name was called by Estella the princess of Calinest. Someone from behind my pushes my back. “Arabella, please come up quickly.”

            I walk slowly towards the stage. Everything is still. My steps are slow and control. I know that if I take one step out of line, I will be killed right there. After almost five minutes, I’m just past half way. Everyone is impatient, including the king. He whispers something to the knights and they start to walk towards me. My head is starting to spin.

            One knight holds me under the arms while the other one sweeps up my feet. My bones are shaking. I’ve never been so terrified in my life. When I reach the stage, the knights put me down. Everything is turning around my. There are people taunting as my legs collapse beneath me and I hit my head on the hard wood. Everything goes dark.