The Giving

The Giving -- Chapter 1

It was that time. The time where everyone panics. The time where children become scared. The time where every 6 months, each immediate family sacrifices

something. No. It could not be technically "something". To sum it up, it had to be living. Most people, like the rich, buy a type of animal to sell. Usually it was cows or horses. Although, the poor people have to sacrifice our own kind --- humans. They would most likely sacrifice parents (since they lived a long life) or if their parents are already dead, they sacrifice children. They sacrifice humans because they do not have any money to buy animals. Let's just say, you want to be born in at least a middle class family. Even better, a rich family.

My family , well . . . We are very poor. But, I help them survive. I balance four jobs. Yeah I know. It seems like it would pay a lot, but no. One paycheck from all four jobs pays about $20. Which isn't that much to raise a 3 member family. I have to spend it on rent, food, and clothes.

We live in a country called Vellano. The poor people live near the border. That is because when people invade, they won't get to the rich people first. It actually is a pretty good deal because we hardly get any invaders. That is where my family lives. As you go to the center, it gets grander. That is where the middle class or rich people live. Of course, we have a capital. The center of Vellano. We call it "The Bustle". Bustle is another word for busy, and it's pretty damn busy in The Bustle. That is where we . . . sacrifice something.

Let's go back. Why do we sacrifice something? Well, it started in the 14th or 15th century when a group of people secretly found Vellano. To be honest, I don't know their name. It was like the Az-- something. I usually have graveyard shifts so I sleep during school. But anyways, they would sacrifice something to their gods. Aha. We don't sacrifice our "something" to any god though. The government makes us give goods to them. Mostly the president. But, they got the idea from the group of people.

"Skylar, are you daydreaming again?" Jeremy questioned. His hazel eyes shined in the sunlight. His fair skin glistened underneath his black v-neck and jeans. I snickered. I always daydream and Jeremy knows that. Well, he IS my best friend. He knows pretty much everything about me.

"Not really 'daydreaming'. Just thinking. I have barely have any money now. What am I going to sacrifice? I don't know." I was on the verge of tears, but I didn't want to show it. I ran my fingers through my hair as I brushed it back out of my face.

"Oh Skylar . . ." He held me in his arms. I could feel the warmth of his chest and I gingerly put my fingers on his stomach. I wiped the tears off my face before he could see me like this. I had 336 hours to figure out what to sacrifice. 2 weeks to be exact.

I loosened my grip to let him know that i'm done hugging and sat down. From the border of Vellano, you can see the orange yellowish sunset over the ocean. There's no other word to explain it except - beautiful. I put my knees to my chest with my chin in between. I brushed my black bangs behind my ears to make sure it doesn't get in the way. I love concluding the day like this - with the sunset.

"I love that." Jeremy stated. "That sparkle in your eye while you watch the sunset. It's very . . . enchanting, I guess." I chuckled. Jeremy always has random compliments about me. His eyes are just plain gorgeous though. They are hazel with a touch of a grayish-green. I was contemplating whether I should compliment him too or keep my trap shut.

Once the sky transitioned to purple, I said goodbye to Jeremy and went inside my house. There was some kind of aroma, that made my stomach growl. I guess I'm hungry. I entered the kitchen and I found my father cooking.