The Descendant

The Question

"You're kidding." I said it harshly, we were going through our rehearsal for the news report. We hadn't always rehearsed, it started when I was old enough to talk. I'm not us dumb as my father thinks though. These rehearsals were useless, practicing what I was going to say before hand wouldn't stop me from voicing my opinions, and I would get the same punishment either way. " Say it like... Like he's telling you a good thing." Jillian raised his eyebrows. " He's telling me the recent crimes."
" That have dropped 2%" Killian chuckled, " Woohooo" he said sarcastically. His instructor glared at him, " Fine, you want to be diplomatic, why don't you say how the news of the selection has affected crime?" She asked me warily. " Yeah, Hi guys, because so many of you sold yourself out for a monthly payment and superficial competition, about 2% of you and your accomplices didn't have time to work crime into the schedule." His Instructor sighed, " Say whatever B.S. you want too and see how your father takes if. " My face soured and I tried again. " With the new Selection coming up the community is celebrating, coming soon is the parade where you will see all of the chosen for the selection, and as if in preparation our crime rate has gone down by 2% this month!" I smiled widely... and fakely , my instructor nodded and left the room.

I was sitting across from the T.V. my head resting on the back of the couch, My mom sat next to me braiding my hair. I love my mom, she was my best friend... Well you know in a mom way. "Hey Mom, What would you think If I went to the Selection?" I avoided eye contact. "I would miss you" She said and I smiled, "Your boyfriend probably would too." My smile slipped, Serves him right, he'll see what if feels like. "He'd probably be too busy to notice." I said stiffly, my voice laced with hate. He had joined the military early. Willingly too, his father was a war hero and he wanted to follow in his footsteps. "Jacob would live, we hardy see each other anymore anyway." My mom gave me a look, asking me with her eyes of something was wrong, I shifted my eyebrows into a small frown and shrugged, telling her nothing new. " Would you... Would you be mad if I entered without you knowing?" She tilted her head in thought. " Yes.. I think you not trusting me would hurt the most... It would be hard to forgive." I looked at her, suddenly scared, "Oh." I said, she looked at me seriously, " Anything you want to tell me?" I tilted my head in thought, and saw a shadowed figure in the corner... Jacob. "I think I'd notice Edith..."

" The News report is tonight." My sister said when I woke up, I nodded warily. "Do you?" My brother said, he was sitting on top of the bunk bed across from mine. "Know?" My second sister said. Her twin brother and only slightly younger sister had become best friends as soon as possible. They demonstrated their friendship by finishing their sentences in a very intimidating way. People always thought the twins became friends, but after sharing every bring win each other, her brother decided friendship was a stretch, but he didn't mind being the source for an uncanny amount of guilt. Her youngest sister, Anne, hugged her harshly, holding her still so she would pay attention, "Be ready." She said with a face of stone and walked out of the room. Anne had become fixated with climbing castes although she was only 5. Anne was the one that scared her the most.

Carabelle header to the diner to see Alis, her best friend, with a different request. Alis handed her the milk, and Carabelle held it sadly in her hands, it was a week later, she had taken her picture. Her dad had not figured out, but he had suspected, and that was enough. "Can I come home with you" Alis' eyes softened as Carabelle spoke, "If I get in, Just If, I can't be in the house with him" she shivered, Alis nodded and took back the milk, Alis was a low caste and this must have been hard to get, only so many favors could be given. Carabelle hugged Alis . "If you get in, and I don't, Be Happy." Carrabelle smiled at her, she knew it would be hard for Alis to overcome guilt if such thing happened. Alis smiled back, and tilted her head down in a half nod, "To the best of my ability" She said rather seriously, "You have the ability to be happy" Carabelle mused, then put a hand on Alis' shoulder and gave her a thoughtful look. "And I have the ability to keep myself safe"