Element

Epilogue Part Two

"My god, I really want that chicken," Alanna growls, reaching across me at the serving tables.

"You'll get your chicken." I hiss, slapping her arm away. "Patience is a virtue." She clicks her tongue, instead grabbing the salad right in front of her. "Not that hard, is it?" She signs, staring enviously as I scoop a mountain of poultry on my plate. "Oh, for goodness sake, here you go."

She grins, licking her lips anxiously. "Thanks Ram..."

"Anything for the birthday girl, right?" I smile for the first time in three weeks. Of course, Kaelie sits at this year's unchanging fixture, a table close to the windows and far from the doors. We slide into the seats, awaiting the arrival of Brooke, Rhodes, and some of his friends, whose names I haven't bothered to learn.

"There she is! How's sixteen treating ya? I bet it's fun having a birthday so close to the Solstice!" Kaelie exclaims, squeezing Alanna tightly.

"It's pretty fun, yeah," Alanna says as Brooke and Rhodes take their seats next to us. "No posse today, Rhodes?"

"Not today," he winks. "I know you're not the biggest fan. Figured I'd treat you to their absence just this once."

"Aww," she sighs sarcastically. "They were starting to grow on me."

Quickly, the talk shifts from Rhodes' obnoxious friends to this year's Winter Solstice.

"It'll be strange... So many people aren't here."

"It was Payson's favorite part of the year," Brooke adds bitterly.

"Have you heard from him at all? Since the summer?" I ask.

"No... No. Hopefully he's still in the training camps." I touch her arm softly as a gesture of compassion.

"He's plenty strong, Brooke. He'll hold his own," Kaelie mumbles.

Brooke sighs, glancing apologetically at Alanna. "Sorry to be such a downer on your birthday, Alanna."

"Hey, don't worry about it," she says. "I'm going to grab some dessert. Any takers?"

"I'll go get it," Rhodes exclaims, jumping up before Alanna can leave. "Stay here."

"Curious guy," Kaelie chuckles. "Remind me again on why you two got together again?"

I roll my eyes. "He's nice," I say insistently. Out of the corner of my eye, I spot two army officials flicking through a folder, pointing at various students in the Dining Hall, until their eyes land on Alanna. "Alanna," I whisper, not taking my eyes off them as they begin walking towards us. "Get down."

"What?"

"Under the tab—"

"Good day," one of the men says. "Would any of you happen to be Alanna Davington?"

"That-that would be me," Alanna stutters, standing up to face the men.

The two army officials glance at each other. "We need you to come with us."

"Why?" she presses.

"We are not at the liberty to discuss that at this time. Come with us."

My stomach drops like a stone. Usually they're given two to three days, a week, before they're pulled. I glance at Kaelie, a fearful expression etched into her face. She watched this happen to Gavin in the middle of class. I reach over and hug Alanna as she realizes where she's going.

I stay silent as she starts to shake, tears pricking in her eyes. Brooke and Kaelie qucikly join, before one of the officials clears his throat. "Ms. Davington, we're leaving. Now."

We watch in silence as she is escorted out of the Dining Hall, flanked by the two men in army uniforms. As the doors fall closed, we witness her blonde hair whip around, her eyes searching for us among the sea of faces in the crowd.

***

A week later, we wake to blaring speakers echoing through the halls. "All fifth years: Come to the Dining Hall immediately." I roll out of bed, looking at the clock. It reads seven AM. Quickly, I dress myself for comfort and warmth before jumping out the door and into a throng of fellow fifth years migrating to the Dining Hall as well.

I glance around, looking for a familiar face but find none. Slowly, the mass of bodies files down the stairs, attracting onlookers from other years. On the second year floor, I spot Parisa and Aately, scanning the crowds. "Parisa!" I yell.

"Ramaya! What's going on?"

"I have no idea!" I reply, but my shouts are drowned out by the thunderous chatter filling the stairwell. I am dragged along with swarming bodies, trying in vain to get to Parisa.

The current guides me to the Dining Hall with little effort, as I am compacted and resigned to the middle of the pack. As we funnel into the hall, an anxious Principal Algathy stands on top of a table at the flank of one very mean-looking Lieutenant.

His voice booms over the uneasy silence. "Fifth years. We must thank you for the sacrifices you are about to make. As the plurality of your classmates have already joined the army, we have agreed to extend enlistment to everyone who has completed four years of formal education."

The shock of his words are visible; wide eyes, gaping mouths, stifled gasps, and audible shrieks. Principal Algathy searches the crowd. I know he is looking for his son. "It has been a great honor to be your principal. I wish you nothing but luck on your journey from hereon forward." His voice wavers, not completely trusting his own words, fearing something else might dart out that was not his intention.

The Lieutenant casts us under a critical eye. He shouts, "You will be guided to the train from the Hall. Each of you will be sent back to your respective homes. Your parents and guardians have already been informed of your arrival. You will spend two nights in your old home, and on last morning, you will board a train to the outskirts of the Animal and Fire sectors to receive your assignments. Anyone who might desire to desert will be found."

***

I stand beside Kaelie and Rhodes, packed onto a platform filled with too many young faces. Kaelie and I are headed to the coastal region of the sector, near the Water sector border. Rhodes is headed to Earth divide, on the opposite side.

We are stars. The world can still see us and will see us for many years even though we have burned out. We will be reborn from our remains as different, almost unrecognizable burdens. And they will continue to see us in our past life.