His Choice (The Selection)

Chapter Thirty One

Within a week of Giselle's death, we were informed of the next portion of the elimination. Of course, Abigail and I already knew that it was going to be a test over Illéa's history, so we had been hitting the books as often as we could sneak away.

Savannah had been told that she was being transferred to the other incomplete group, due to the departure of her teammates and the death of theirs.

The night they announced that we were going to take a test the next day, the three of us were sprawled on the floor in Abigail's room, quizzing each other over the more difficult parts of our country's history.

"It's impossible," Savannah moaned, rolling onto her back and throwing her limbs out to the side. "I can never remember all of these names and dates. I'm going to fail this test."

"I agree," Abigail sighed, slumping back against the chair. "Ember, you're my best chance for remaining in the Selection because we both know that Bexley isn't in her room studying."

"They sure seem to be in a hurry to finish this Selection all of a sudden," I remarked. "Threatening to eliminate the team that scores the lowest proves that."

Savannah shifted a book out of her way before flopping onto her stomach to stare at me. "All the country can talk about is Celia's pregnancy and Giselle's death. This Selection has been washed down the drain in light of those events."

I shut the book I was holding, standing up and stretching. "It's getting late. I'll see you both bright and early for our test, right?"

They both nodded, seeming to droop back into misery at the thought of the impending test. Abigail stared miserably at the pile of thick books scattered around her room.

"If I didn't need to stay so badly, I'd be running as fast as I could," she said mournfully. "This test is going to murder me."

Savannah snorted. "At least you have a chance with Ember in your group. If I had the other Carmen on my team instead of 'I'm Carmen Berry from Allens', I would have a fighting chance. I swear with Bexley's little posse gone, she's becoming the replacement."

Shaking my head, I left the room. Carmen Berry got on my nerves as well, but I had found the Dominican Carmen pleasant. She was one of the few Selected that had rallied around me in support, knowing that I was the only one who had seen Giselle die.

§§§

Maybra was brushing out my hair when a knock came at the door the next morning. Her eyes met mine in the mirror, and I nodded slightly.

"Connor, can you let whoever is out there in?" She asked before continuing to sweep the brush in gentle strokes.

Connor, who had just gotten her cast off and was only wearing a supportive brace, opened the door to admit a bouncing Princess Ash.

"Ember, guess what today is," she said, trying unsuccessfully to hide something behind her back. "Come on. It's no fun if you don't guess."

I studied Maybra in the mirror again, asking her with my eyes to give me the answer. She only gave a slight shake of her head before setting down the brush and coiling my hair.

Left to my own devices, I search my mind desperately. What was today that would so important to a little girl?

"Oh," I drew out the word, realizing what it had to be, "it must be your dad's birthday."

"No," Ash cried, her joyful expression slacking a bit, "it's not my dad's birthday!"

I stood up from my chair once Maybra had secured my French twist and tapped my foot on the floor. "Well, it has to be someone's birthday from the way you're acting, but I can't seem to remember who was born today."