The State of Cause

Chapter 3

3

Through the window, I see that it is nearly Dawn. Riya’s head is on my lap, and I still haven’t answered her question.

“Are we going to die?” Is what she said.

I’ve been saying since we found out we were going to be competitors that we were, so why couldn’t I say yes to her? Maybe it’s because she’s so young, but I know it’s because I couldn’t.

She turns but doesn’t wake. We still have a few more hours until the transportation vehicle arrives to take us to the show. There is no telling how far we will travel until we depart. If we have to catch a train, then I know we will be in for a long journey. I attempt to close my eyes and get some sleep, yet to no avail. Continuing with my activity on ways to kill Nico, I get to twenty five until I give up.

 Braiding my sister’s hair over and over cures some of my boredom, but not all of it. Eventually, by carefully lifting her head from my lap, with her braid still intact, I move from my previous location by placing her head where my body once was.

The sun is rising and by its position, it is around six thirty. No one is awake yet, so I relish in some alone time. Cleaning the kitchen floor, even though it is spotless. Wiping the surfaces, even though they are reflective. None of this matters, because I continue with these certain irrelevant chores while thinking of how to answer the question. Is it my brain that thinks we will die, or my heart?

What if the public like us? We could even win if we get enough votes. But could my family winning overcome the guilt I would feel knowing that forty five other families died because of it?

Distractions, that’s what I need. There will be a time to deliberate these things, and it isn’t now. Trying my hardest to remain quiet, I go around the kitchen, collecting the milk, cereal and a bowl on the way.

‘Chew, Chew, Chew, Swallow’ I mentally instruct myself. ‘Chew, chew, chew, swallow,’ this echo around my brain until the bowl is empty.

There is nothing left to do, so I sit and wait until everyone is awake. A crowd of maybe ten or so people has already gathered outside of my house, which is what you expect in these circumstances. The final send off.

 Kentucky has never once won the show. It’s more of a ‘political voting’ system more than anything. The Cause headquarters amass a large percentage of the votes, and they tend to choose the States that are relatively close to them. God knows why, they don’t exactly treasure them with acknowledgement at the best of times.

State Four, without indecision, will side with New Mexico or Louisiana, State Three with Arizona or Nevada, State Two with Pennsylvania and State One. Well, there like a wildcard among the others. Because this is where Nico tends to reside, they side with whoever he sides with, most of the time. I think, maybe twenty years ago, he was gunning for Nevada, along with Three, but the rest of the people living there voted for Florida, which helped them gain the win because they were the favorites. I wonder who the early favorites are this year. I won’t find out until the day before the show, but my hopes aren’t high.

“Everyone chooses today to stay asleep.” I murmur to myself. Walking as loudly as I can, I bang on their bedroom doors. “Get up; they’ll be here to pick us up soon.”

            When this is done, I quickly shower and change into a clean pair of clothes. There is a set time the whole town gets for hot water. Once in the morning and once at night. I’m shivering as I return to the sofa where my family is now sat at. There is only one place left, which is next to my Dad. I choose to sit with my back against the wall and my legs crossed.