Captured by Him

Chapter 1

Trudging through the mud, I look at all the other miserable people who live near me and can't help but hate the Queen. She is an awful ruler, and only cares about herself and her money.

I live on the West side of the land called, Torrens. It is ruled by Queen Iris. She stands for money, luxury, and absolute power over her people.

By keeping us under her rule she makes sure that we have nothing. Including, making us all live in a place called, The Slumps. It is absolutely disgusting, but growing up in it, it isn't so bad. You get used to all the mud, which isn't even all mud... But, you get the idea.

In the distance, I can see my home. I start to walk a little faster so I can get out of all the muck. I can see the rotting wood and leaky ceiling, and can't help but smile. It might be crumbling, but it's my home, and where my family is.

I walk up the stairs to open the door, but pause. Through the door I can smell the faint stench of cinnamon.

Confused, I walk in and the smell hits me harder. I hang up my beat up, hand-me-down coat and walk towards the kitchen area.

I see my mom working in the kitchen. I lean against the doorframe and watch her work.

Her dirty blonde hair is up in a loose bun, with strands falling over her face. Her hair is streaked with gray, even though she is still pretty young. I can see that her once bright blue eyes are focused on the task at hand.

"Hi, Mama." I say walking towards her. "Watcha making?"

Her dull eyes flicker towards mine. "Oh, hi sweetie." She says giving me a half-hearted smile.

She turns towards me, hiding whatever she's making. "It's nothing, why don't you go rest? You've had a long day."

I look at her suspiciously and know that she doesn't want me to see what she's making. I walk towards her and look at what she's hiding.

"Mom!" I say with disbelief. Behind her is an uncooked cinnamon bun. I've only ever seen them at the bakery where the folks with a little more money get them.

"This must have cost you a fortune." I look at her with wide eyes.

She looks at me sheepishly. "Well it is your seventeenth birthday tomorrow."

It didn't even cost me all that much. I got the flour as a favor from a friend. And you know that eggs are pretty cheap. The milk was from your sisters cow. The only thing the was costly was the cinnamon. It all was worth it because tomorrow is your last birthday with us."

She walks towards me and puts her hands on my cheeks, with tears in her eyes. I lean into her hands with tears in my own eyes. I am going to miss her so much when I have to leave.

Since I turn 17 tomorrow, I have to choose. By choose, I mean literally choose the rest of my life. I can either become a solider, which will earn my family a lot of money, or I let the government choose my job. Those jobs include being a factory worker or a farmer. If your lucky, you get to be a shop owner or go and work for the Queen.

My mom pulls her hands from my face and looks into my eyes. When she looks at me I can see all the love in her eyes. I can see her crows feet on the sides of her eyes and the beginnings of laugh lines.

"Let me finish this up, you go and rest, okay?" She smiles at me.

"Okay, Mama." I walk across the creaky floor towards our living room.

I flop on top of our dusty, old couch and just think. I think about what I will choose next month. I could become a soldier. That would instantly earn my family enough money to be comfortable, but will I put my life on the line? I'm sure to die on the battlefield.

I could also let the government choose for me. But, will it be likely for me to get a decent job? Should I risk it?

I'm interupted from by thoughts by the closing of my front door. I look up and over the couch to see my dad hobble in. I smile wide and jump up to meet him.

"Hi dad!" I say cheerfully. "Let me help you with that."

I reach behind him and help him take his coat off. I hang it up next to mine.

"Thank you, pumpkin." He says giving me a kiss on the top of my head.

He walks over to my mother, his cane tapping on the floor with each step. He gives her a kiss on the cheek and I can see the love that is still between them.

"Daddy!" Someone yells with joy from behind me. I turn to see my little sister running towards my dad. I giggle as her little legs wobble when she runs.

"Emy!" Yells my dad happily as she clings to his leg. She's only 4 and is still very small. She has the same dark hair as my dad, while I have my mom's blonde hair.

"How was work?" My mom asks my dad with her arms around his waist.

"Very stressful." He tells her with now tired eyes. My dad works at the factory. But, ever since he injured his leg permanently from a piece of machinery, work has been hard and slow for him. Thankfully, he can't work with heavy machinery so they put him somewhere he can't get easily hurt again.

"Well, we can talk about it over dinner, alright?" Mom gestures to the pot of boiling water. She'd put away the cinnamon bun to cook for tomorrow.

I get up to set the table without having been asked to. It's the little things that help my parents the most.

We all sit around the table holding hands to say grace. Most families aren't religious, but my dad says it's good to have something to believe in.

We all start to eat in a comfortable silence. But them my mom decides to pipe up.

"So, Artemis, do you know what you will choose?"

I look up at her mid chew, with wide eyes.

↽✵⇁

Walking into my bedroom after dinner, I think about what my mother had said to me.

Artemis, I know you will choose right. You may think of us while doing so but, you have to also think about yourself. Will you risk your life for us? Or go and live yours?

What will I do? She's totally right, though. I have to think for myself. Right?

Yes.

Yes I do.

Myself.

Choose to live.

Right...?

I plop down on my bed.

Artemis Crane, I think to myself, what will you choose?

Hello, and welcome to Captured by Him! So, this is my first story, so stay with me! There may be some mistakes but I had a lot of fun writing this. I'll be updating pretty frequently. But, thank you for reading my story 😄
~Autumn Stormm