Time Trials

Chapter One

    Chapter one
    He told me to run. He told me to run and never look back, because if i did, even for a second, they would catch me, and if they catch me I'm dead.
~
    My name is Eva Livenska, and I was born and raised in the kingdom of Aruid. It is a small kingdom, but scary powerful. They take control over us, and we don't even know it. Somehow, most of us are completely unaware of how unfair our systems are.
    I have been living in fear ever since I turned thirteen when a tattoo of a clock appeared on the inside of my wrist. The pitting feeling I received at the time is impossible to forget. I knew from that moment, that I was going to be in the Time Trials.
The Time trials is a game that the king and Queen put on every five years. There are twenty-four recruits who receive the same tattoo as I did. Every time it is different, and there are different rewards, sometimes it just being your life. You have to do twelve 'time trials' which are in a sense tasks that you must complete within the certain amount of time. The winner comes out alive. The losers? Well nobody really knows what happens to them. There have been rumors that people go in and don't come out They die. Innocent people die for some unknown reason against their will, and I'm next.
"Are you okay Eva?" William asked, bringing me out of my meditative state and back into reality.
I took in a shaking breath. "I'm alright." I looked towards him slowly, taking in the view of the creek as I turn my head. "Nerves you know? They always want to tag along with me."
He let out a small, half-hearted laugh. "Trust me I know."
Right now in my life, Will seems to be the only person I can completely relate too. He, like me, received a tattoo of a clock on his right wrist. Tomorrow we will be going to the castle to be put into the trials, and we are both terrified, but at least we are going through it together, and not alone.  
"Remember the first time we came here?" I asked him softly, trying to get our minds off things. "When we were young, and didn't have to worry so much?"
A smile crept across his face as he nodded. "Yeah, I remember." He put out his arms to brace himself as he sat back. "You asked me what my favorite thing in the whole world was," He let his head fall to the side and paused shortly, trying to remember every detail. "and I said,"
"Anything with you." We answered simultaneously.
    We stared into each others eyes to the point where I was beginning to feel uncomfortable and had to break the connection. I glanced out over the little bridge we were sitting on and saw the changing trees, just like the ones we saw that autumn morning when we first came here. This had been our favorite place to talk ever since. We came here whenever we needed each other, or just wanted to get away from all the chaos happening in the kingdom. It was the imperfect kind of perfect. The trees were old and crooked, and the creek was murky, but it was ours.
    "Can I tell you something?" He looked down and then back at me. "I think I need to tell you now incase we get separated tomorrow."
    I nodded my head yes, curious about what he had to tell me. We weren't really friends who hid secrets from each other, so I didn't know what he was hiding. "You can always tell me anything Will. You don't have to ask."  I said, pushing him along in his thoughts, for he seemed to be paused.
    "Um, well, it's just that, oh nevermind." He nervously ran his fingers through his shiny dark hair. "I guess it's not that important.''
    I turned my body to face him and put my hand on his shoulder to comfort him. "Anything you say is important to me. I'm serious."
    He shook his head. "Nah, i'm going to wait. I don't think this is a good time," He stood up slowly and brushed some dirt of his pants. "but when the time is right, I'll tell you."
    I stood up with him and brushed off some dirt that had gotten on my jeans from the ground. "Promise?" I asked him, looking up into his brown eyes, searching for sincerity.
    He pulled me into a tight embrace. "I Promise."
    We stayed there in each other's arms for what seemed like an eternity. Sometimes a hug from a friend is the best medicine  when you are filled with anxiety. We pulled in tighter, as if we were afraid if we let go, we would vanish. "Please never leave me" Will told me. "That's what I want you to promise me."
    "I'll never leave you," I whispered. "That's not what friends do."
    I finally left his embrace and looked over at the trees casting a shadow over the little creek. It is scary to think that today might be the last day we ever come here. That reminded me that it might be the last day we ever step foot on our home lands. I know that this whole thing is just as hard if not harder on my parents and my little brother, Kyle. My family and I are very close, and leaving them tomorrow is going to be incredibly hard. Kyle and I are basically best friends. He is only ten, but he is incredibly smart. There is no doubt in my mind he will do amazing things.
    "We should get home to our families." Will said with a monotone  voice, as if he could read my mind.
    I nodded silently and headed over to my horse, Starlight. She was a beautiful black horse with a white stripe going down the center of her nose, and her mane was so incredibly soft.
    "You can hop on." I told Will after I had gotten on. I had given him a ride here so his horse wasn't here.
    After he got on, Starlight began to gallop at a fast speed. She definitely really liked to run fast; she always enjoyed going anywhere with me.
    As we were passing different streets I was trying to soak up all of the scenery I could take in. We passed streets of houses, and little rivers. There were also some cute little shops. As we passed a little bakery, Will told me to stop the horse.
    "Let's go in there." He told me. His eyes seemed disconnected from the rest of his body.
    "I don't know." I sighed, slightly annoyed that he wanted to stop, because I  wanted to get home. "Maybe we should just go home. Our parents are probably worried sick."
    Will hopped off Starlight, and held up his hand for me to grab, gesturing that he wanted me down. I rolled my eyes at him, and grabbed his hand. The minute I made it to the ground, he took off at a faced paced walk towards this small little bakery. It was funny seeing him get so excited for a pastry.
    We went to the front of the bakery where they had all of the sweet pastries. My mouth started to water just looking at them.
"Oh Will these look delicious!"
He smiled and nodded in agreement. "This is my favorite bakery. I used to come with my mom before she passed away." At the end of the sentence his voice cracked a little.
I stepped back a little. "Will are you sure you want to be here? Won't it remind you of your mom?"
"It does, but some of my best memories are here," He grabbed my hand. "And I wanted to make at least one more."
I smiled at the thought, but became quickly uncomfortable with the way he was holding my hand. Thankfully, a man who looked like he must be the baker appeared, so I just used that as a distraction to let go of his hand.
"Welcome to Joe's Delicious Goods!" He said in a jolly voice. He was a big, strong, man but seemed to be really friendly. "I'm Joe. How can I help you two today?"
"Oh, we were just here to pick up a pastry. Which ones would you recommend?" Will asked in a friendly voice.
"Hmm," The Joe replied, rubbing his stubble on his chin. "I personally love them all, but our French macarons are a classic favorite."
    "Alright!" I smiled, "I'll take one for the both of us please!"
    Joe nodded and placed two macaroons in a little silver box. "That will be four dollars today Madam."
    I reached down into my jacket pocket, searching for the money. My family has never had much money, and it has gotten worse since this year of crops didn't turn out.
    I felt Will's hand grab mine. He looked up into my eyes. "No, it's on me. I want to make this special for you."
    "Well, thank you Will! What a wonderful surprise."
    I grabbed the box that held the macaroons from Joe, and when I did he froze in his steps.
    "Are you okay?" I asked, confused by why he stopped all of a sudden.
"Let me see your wrist." He commanded, completely ignoring my question. He ran out from behind the counter and came and stood by Will and I. I held out my right wrist and he immediately pulled up my sleeve. His eyes widened in shock when he saw the clock tattoo.
    "Is this what I think it is?" He rubbed his fingers over it gently. "Is this, well, you know,"
    "Yes." I swallowed. "It appeared when I was thirteen. I don't know how or why," I pointed over to Will. "but he has one too."
    Joe just stood there in shock, staring at the clock on my wrist. "So you're going to be in the Time Trials? That so called game that the king and queen put on every five years?"
"Um, yeah." Will replied. We exchanged quick glances, both feeling weirded out by this whole situation. The baker had gone from being all energetic to total seriousness in a matter of seconds.
"Well let me give you my advice."
~
    "He told me to run. He told me to run as fast as I can and never look back because if I did, even for a second, they would catch me, and if they catch me I'm dead."
    "That's it? That's all he said?" My mom sat there with a puzzled look in her face, soaking in everything as I told her about the baker.
    "Yeah. I mean it was really weird. Will and I were confused by the whole thing. Joe seemed to know what he was talking about, or at least he came off as if he did. I don't know why he seemed so freaked out."
    "Well I don't know sweetie, but I'm just glad that you're home right now." she leaned over on the couch and hugged me. "Oh I'm going to miss you so much. Please try to stay alive no matter what happens."
    "This isn't goodbye mom." I said to her reassuringly. "I'll be back. I promise."
I was still trying to convince myself that this was true, but it wouldn't hurt reassuring her that I will be okay. I knew that if she started freaking out that kyle would too, and I couldn't bear to watch that.
Kyle was already off sleeping along with my father. I had gotten home late with Will, so they just decided to doze off. I'll say goodbye to them in the morning before Will and I head off into the castle. Waking them right now just didn't seem right, and quite frankly, I wanted to get to bed myself.
After brushing my teeth, I layed down on my bed and thought to myself. At this point I am actually not too worried about tomorrow. I feel like somehow, someway, I will be okay. What is the worst the kingdom can do? I can do this.