Countdown

Chapter 1

Knees shaking, palms sweating. Hazel eyes gazed around the room, nervously fiddling with a bracelet on their left wrist. She watched as her friend's names along with strangers yet very familiar faces were called, only to be grabbed by a person donned in full armour and led through a door. Her fingers would cross every so often, begging, praying and most of all hoping that she was not called up.

A heavy sigh left her lips once the ceremony was dismissed, tears finally escaping the barriers as the salty water rolled down her cheeks. Trailing down and dripping off her chin as she stood frozen in place watching the door in which the people went through, not knowing exactly what was on the other side but having an idea. Her shoulders sagged as her legs buckled, falling down onto her knees upon the cold, hard ground. Head hanging as tears continued to fall, that's when the noises started. Quiet sniffling and gasping as she continued to cry heavily.

Hair once perfectly combed and styled was now nothing but soaking wet and messy hair, clothes now covered in mud and soaked through. She was incredibly pale with a flushed red face. Eyes red from crying so much along with a bright red nose. Her shoes sounded across gravel as she walked up the walkway and into the house.

Wood groaning and creaking under her weight as she closed the door and locked it, pulling off her shoes and dumping them near the front door as she made her way through the house, heading upstairs and into the bathroom.

Her hands shakily turning the taps to turn the water on as she ran a bath, slowly pulling her dress over her head and dumping it on the floor as she turned her back to the mirror and glanced over her shoulder. Lines a bright pink stood out amongst her pale skin, wincing as she gazed at them. Memories from the past surfacing as she quickly stripped down and turned off the water.

Sinking down into the steaming hot water and not caring at the amount of heat that was produced, it burned but she felt nothing. Completely numb. She pulled her knees up to her chest and rested her head on them as her sobs filled the bathroom room.