The Parables

Aliss - Precinct One

Aliss - Precinct One

My eyes snap open. Light floods into my room through a crack in the doorway. Yawning, I try to sit up but discover my body cocooned tightly in the duvet. Dragging the duvet off me, I sit up and sigh happily. That had to have been one of the most comfortable night's sleep I've had in a long time. Being suspended off the floor meant I was unable to feel the vibration from the train rattling over the tracks at its incredibly fast speed. And to add to that, there was no nightmare about The Parables. A feeling of relaxation has replaced the trepidation and anxiety that has been burdening me ever since I was chosen as a Martyr. My body no longer trembles, my skin no longer pales and my thoughts are no longer at war with one another. I feel calm. Ready, almost. Ready to take on the world.

Swinging my legs over the side of the bed, I spring onto the floor and stretch my arms out. My body is loosely covered with a red satin gown that I'd discovered in a drawer of night clothes I was rummaging through last night. My Retraction outfit is hanging neatly on a rack of clothes inside the wardrobe. It really needs washing, but I'll guess it'll have to do for today. Opening the wardrobe, I take it off the hanger and lay it on my bed. Just then, there is a loud knock at the door.

"Yeah?"

"Aliss, it's Ria. Are you decent?"

"Yeah, come in."

The door opens and Ria walks in, clothed in a tight, black dress that finishes just above her knees. Her chestnut brown hair is pinned up into a messy bun and her face is heavily powdered with makeup. She smiles at me and leans against the wardrobe door.

"Did you have a good night?" she asks me.

I nod. "It was great, thanks. The bed is so much more comfortable than my one at home."

Ria smiles at me. "Anyway, I came here to tell you we'll be arriving at The Commune in around an hour," she says. "Make sure you're wearing something red. All Martyrs are to wear their Precinct's colour."

"The Precincts have a colour?" I frown.

Ria nods. "Each Precinct has its own colour that the Martyrs wear when they compete in The Parables. Very few people know about it and even less care about it, mainly because it's only used in clothing for The Parables, so we can identify the different Martyrs."

"So our colour is red?"

Ria nods. "I should think you'll find a nice red dress you like," she remarks with a grin on her face. She winks at me then leaves the room.

"Red," I murmur to myself. "Why'd it have to be red? Why couldn't it have been green? I like green. Red's too...angry."

Sighing, I reopen the wardrobe and start to sift through the clothes, all whilst muttering to myself about how I dislike the colour red. It represents a number of distressing things. Blood. War. Anger. Danger. I shake my head and carry on searching through the clothes. Most of them are red anyway, which makes my decision even harder. After a couple of minutes, I finally find something I quite like. I take a scarlet red halter dress off its hanger and hold it up against myself. It looks alright, but I have no fashion sense so it'll have to be a gamble. Besides, who cares what I'm wearing? I certainly don't.

Quickly, I slip into the red dress, pulling the skirt as far down as it goes so I don't feel uncomfortable walking off the train in something that'll make me seem desirable and...seductive. Adjusting the halter around my neck, I grab the hairbrush that I'd tossed onto the floor last night and start to brush all the knots out of my hair. Carefully, I divide my hair up and plait each part, tying it off with an elastic band. Looping the braids around the top of my hair, I slide a couple of hair grips in and create a milkmaid braid. Heading into the wardrobe, I glance in the mirror and smile. I look nicer than I thought I'd look. Satisfied with my appearance, I leave the wardrobe and head out of my sleeping quarters.