Submit (Book 1, The Karyln Trials)

Chapter Four

     I manage to make it through dinner without mentally cursing Mother and Father for their constant questions about next week. Our plates sink back into the table and I rise from my seat. "Thank you for dinner, Mother, Father. I'm going to head up to my room, I'm awfully tired after today." I give Millie a look and she subtly nods her head, knowing that we need to talk.

"I too would like to head upstairs for bed early. Today at training we were learning things that would ruin your appetites, I could really use some rest." Mother and Father nod at the two of us, dismissing us to do what we need and we dart up the stairs.

The two of us quickly change and Millie comes into my room, ready to hear everything that I need to get off my chest. "Okay, what was so important that we needed to leave the dinner table as soon as possible?" I sit cross-legged with my back against my headboard and Millie is sprawled out on her stomach looking at me.

"I saw him again." It bursts out of my mouth before I can think of a better way of telling her. I drop my head into my hands and cover my face.

"Sorry, you what?" Millie props herself up on her elbows and sends a confused look in my direction.

I rub my hands over my face and sigh. "I saw the market guy again." I drop my hands and can see Millie's shocked face.

"No way. We've never seen him before after living here our whole lives and all of a sudden you see him twice in one day?" She sits up scoots over to me.

"I know! I don't get it." I start rubbing at my wrist and Millie nods.

"So, tell me. You obviously saw more of him than his profile, what did he look like? Was he like, super hot?" I scoff at her curiosity and shake my head.

"Well, I...er, he was..." Millie squeals and claps her hands before I shush her. "Millie, quiet down."

"You totally think that he's super hot!" Millie jumps off the bed and starts to pace. "So, when did you see him again? Was it on your way to the center?"

"No, Millie, it wasn't on my way to the center. I was in the practice room, working on my routine when somebody started clapping at the end. When I turned around to see who it was, it was the guy from the market. He had been standing there, just watching my routine. He had shown up early for his practice shift and was watching me. At first, I was scared and embarrassed at the fact that somebody was watching me. Then I was just trying to get out of there as quickly as possible." I drop my head back and it hits the headboard behind me.

"Why?! Why would you want to leave that guy? He's obviously not hard on the eyes. Oh! What was he even doing in the practice room at the center anyway?" Questions of a fourteen-year-old girl float around my head, clouding my mind.

"Millie, the reason is because I can't afford anymore boy drama. I'm meeting August in a week, I need to push everything that isn't going to last longer than this week away and start focusing. My routine still needs work, I need to think about what I'm going to wear on my birthday. I can't get distracted, time is running out and my life will be signed away to somebody I don't know." I stop abruptly and take a deep breath.

"Ada..." Millie sits back down on the bed and reaches out to me. I lean into her and her arms wrap around me.

"Millie, the clock is ticking. Soon, I'm going to meet August, I'm going to go into The Trial, if I make it out, I'll move away and have a family to start." I look over at her as a tear drips down my face. "I'm terrified, and I can't go to Mother or Father because all they focus on is you."

Millie drops her gaze and looks at her hands. "Ada..." She shakes her head and sits back from me to look me directly in the eyes. Millie wipes away my tears and gives me a smile. "The reason they don't bring up your life and how it will be is because they feel like your number is their fault."