"Hey, Molly?" A familiar voice asks, "Molly you awake?"
I open my eyes slightly. Huh... Wasn't I in the living roo- eh whatever.
"Well I am now." I mumble.
"I think it's almost time..." Killian tells me
"For wut??" My morning brain that apparently forgets everything asks. Killian looks down at his lap, and I realize what today actually is. "Oh."
I pull on a baggy T-shirt and some jeans and meet Killian in the living room. He grabs the remote and clicks the tv on. We're greeted by the minister's "kind face", and the anthem starts playing. "Okay," Killian sighs, "here we go."
As the anthem's finishing up, Killian notices how nervous I am. I'm trying to hide it, to be brave like him, but this is my first selection, and I couldn't be more terrified if I tried. "Hey," he nudges me with his elbow. "You'll be fine! I'll keep you safe! They won't get you even if you are selected. I won't let them." He makes me feel a little better. I lean into him and he puts his arm around my shoulder.
"Alright ladies and gentlemen! Let's get this selection started!" The minister's voice booms through the speakers. "Now before we draw the names, just a little reminder as to what the selection ceremony is all about!" Oh right... This is when the minister explains to everybody what the selection is, and that the rumors about the selected not returning aren't true. Funny right? "As you all know, the selection ceremony is when four lucky children between the ages of thirteen and nineteen are selected, and brought before the ministry. Now to you thirteen year old children who have heard negative rumors about the selection, you have nothing to fear. Being selected is an honor." Again with the jokes... "Now, here is my assistant," you mean slave? "with the names." Two large carts with beautiful golden designs and leaves are wheeled onto the glittering stage and moved to either side of the minister. One of the carts has a large, pink, blown glass vase on it filled with delicately folded pieces of paper. The other cart has another container, glass, but this time deep blue. This glass also has small pieces of paper in it. "In this glass," says the minister, gesturing to the pink vase, "are pieces of paper, each with a girl's name on them. And in this glass," he gestures the the blue one, " pieces of paper with the boy's names. I shall draw two from each glass, and we will have our selected."
Let the show begin.
Killian and I watch through the screen as the minister reaches for the blue bowl to the applause from the audience. He removes one piece of the light blue stationary.
I can feel myself clamming up. I squeeze Killian's hand harder and in response he starts rubbing my back.
"McPherely, Ashton."
Wait. Wasn't he selected in my drea-
"Ashton, you have been selected. Congratulations."
I turn to Killian, panic in my eyes. "Killian he was selected in my dream!!!"
Killian looks at me, the definition of calm. He shrugs. "Coincidence." And looks back at the TV.
Yeah. He's right. It must just be a coincidence... I focus back on the TV
"Next up I think I shall chose a girl... What do you think?" He asks, turning to the audience. They applaud and cheer.
Great.
"Alrighty then!" He moves over to the pink vase, and reaches in. "Molly, breathe. You're going to be okay!" Killian reassures me. I hadn't even noticed I had started holding my breath. I nod shakily.
"Everton, Emilie."
Wait. I recognize that name... Oh my god...
"Killian?!" My voice breaks. I turn to my brother just in time to see him smile in relief that my name was not selected. But I don't care about that now. All I care about is the possibility that my dream- no- nightmare is coming true.
When my brother sees the panic on my face, his smile fades.
"Molly? what's wrong potato?"
"Sh-she was selected-," I choke back tears, "in my--" I can't finish. So I just look at him, hoping he knows what I mean.
"In your dream?" He asks? Wiping the tears from my cheeks. "Is that what all this fuss is about?"
"Mmhmm" I manage to half speak, half sob.
"Look at me okay? Look at me." I meet his eyes. "I'm not going anywhere. I'm staying right here with you. Unselected, and safe. And I'm gonna keep you safe. Okay? Listen to me, I'm going to keep you safe Molly."
"Emilie, you have been selected. Congratulations."
Okay. I can do this.
We look back at the old TV. "And now for another boy!" The minister exclaims happily, and reaches into the deep blue glass for another strip of paper.
Killian hugs me tighter, letting me know that everything is going to be okay. I hope.
"Montana, Gabriel."
Thank god. I let out a sigh of relief. "See?" Killian squeezes me. "Told you I'd be fine!" I let out a little noise, kind of like a laugh I guess. And hug him tightly. "I'm just glad you're not selected!" I say.
"Yeah me too."
"Gabe, you have been selected. Congratulations." We're interrupted by our overexcited minister. "And now for the fourth and final name!" What's this last one going to be? I think we've had two boys and a girl already, so girl it is.
I'm so relieved that Killian wasn't--
"Jones, Molly"
The blood drains from my face.
"Molly, you have been selected. Congratulations."
Author's note: sorry this was so long! I had to fit all of the names into one chapter!! XD
