Sector 7

Area 1, Sector 1, November 6th, 2498, 4:00

"Good morning. It is 4:00 this Friday, November 6th, 2498 in Area 1, Sector 1. Today's event is Memory testing. Please prepare and be at the arena at 4:30." The female voice called over the intercom.

I stretched and just sat there for a few minutes. I was still in shock from what happened last night. Right before Lights Out, they announced who were the last three scores. One of them was Velvet or Phrynia. I was winded by the results. Phrynia didn't deserve to die just because she wasn't that good at math. She still had the biggest heart I had ever seen and she was full of historical wisdom, not that they cared. We then received the video of Phrynia, Bullet, and Tooth being shot by the same Count that shot Flower, Ember, and Capital on the second day. That night I was racked with silent sobs for Phrynia.

Thasia looked at me with a sad smile. "Are you ready to go?" She asked quietly.

I hesitated for a split-second before nodding slowly. "Might as well go now."

Her smile brightened slightly. "Atta girl. C'mon." She gently took my hand and lead me through the apartment to the main hall to the arena.

As we walked, we didn't talk. We just ventured on in silence, the images of the shooting still fresh in our minds. A friend of mine was dead and I watched them die. I guess what I was most scared of was that Ajax could've been her. Ajax could've been shot right in front of me and I would instantly be condemned as a widow.

We reached the arena and saw Ajax and Thaliard. "Hi," Thasia said, giving a curt nod.

"Plasma, Ion, nice to see you both alive," Thaliard commented, returning her nod. "Any information to pass on before we enter?"

We looked at each other before shaking our heads no. He nodded again and turned to the front, waiting for the doors to open. I slid in between Thasia and Ajax, squeezing her right hand and his left. They squeezed back for comfort, understanding how shaken up I was.

The door opened and the very first Count entered and surveyed the crowd. "Alright, as soon as these doors open, make your way to your designated Sector section. One chair will be labeled specifically for you. As soon as you sit down, you will receive a test about your color Score team. Answer each question wisely. When you are complete the test will disappear and you will wait for everyone else to finish. Then you may return to the apartments and wait for the lowest scores. This time, only the TWO with the lowest score will be terminated."

Ajax gulped next to me and I squeezed his hand for support. As the arena doors opened, we all marched in and sat in our designated chair. I decided to take stock of how many contestants were still alive. Sector 1 only had one boy who I recognized as Sky. Sector 2 had two, Taraia and another, older boy. Sector 3 had two as well, Seleucus and a youthful looking girl. Sector 4 also had two people standing, a girl and a boy. Sector 5 had Menteith and another boy and girl. Sector 6 had Orinia looking insanely depressed and Alarbus, with one more boy. Sector 8 had Frenzy and an angry looking man and Juith. We were the only team that had all four people still.

It seemed so, unbelievable. How could we still have a full team? Well, to be honest, I was surprised a Sector hadn't been knocked out of the running yet.

The test appeared and I got to work. There was no note, but I wasn't surprised. The test was so easy! I knew practically everything about my team. The hard part was the questions about all the deceased members of the team. I had to bite back tears when I saw two questions about Phrynia.

I snuck a peek at where Thasia was sitting two rows in front and three chairs to the left of me. It looked like she was writing a paragraph per person and based on how she was hunched over, she was definitely concentrated. I knew she held a lot of sour feelings about her teammates, but I didn't know it was THIS bad.

After signing the test with my signature, it slid into a document slot in the desk and disappeared to be reviewed. I sat back in the chair and let out the breath I didn't know I was holding. Now it was just me with my thoughts again. Which kind of terrified me. I didn't like being alone with the endless thoughts of death or fear.

To my relief, the last few people slid their papers into their slots and we were allowed to leave. As I got up, Thasia and Ajax stood on either side of me. We descended the stairs and went down the hall to the apartment. Before any of us could enter, there was a loud blaring siren and the female voice shouting, "Everyone return to the arena immediately! Everyone return to the arena immediately!"

Afraid of any consequences, we all ran back to our designated seats and sat. Cold sweat dotted my forehead as I imagined what kind of trouble we all were in. Standing in the center of the arena were four Counts. I assumed they were all from Area 1 because I saw they were all in very nice and expensive looking suits. I saw Cyril looking at me and he gave me a hint of a nod. I returned the gesture, biting my lip.

"The scores are in." The most frequently seen Count shouted.

"Everyone did substantially." A middle-aged Count added.

"However two of you had to have failed." An old Count stated gravely.

"Would Thorn and Silk join us in the front please." Cyril eyes Alarbus and the girl who had to be Silk.

As they walked to the front, I noticed that the old Count paled and set his jaw. The little girl looked at him and gave him a small smile. He simply turned away from her. Her bottom lip quivered, but she refused to cry.

The first Count went up to them and sneered. "You two have failed the Memory test. Count Ternce and I will deliver your just rewards."

And with that two metal tubes big enough to fit a small child rose from the floor. They were pushed inside and doused with some liquid. I knew it was gasoline when the Count Ternce lit a match. "Ready Count Llewellyn?" He asked.

Count Llewellyn glared at the children who were shivering in fear before giving a nod of approval. Count Ternce through the first match into Alarbus's container first and the second match into her container.

I realized now that the worst screams were not Flower's when she got the ring inserted into her ear, but the sound of the two children being burned alive. We weren't allowed to leave until they were burnt to a crisp. The old Count was secretly squeezing Cyril's shoulder.

As they thrashed and beat at the glass, their skin became blackened and charred. Their eyes filled with flame and the smoke poured out of their mouths. I was squeezing the life out of the armrests on my chair as I watched them crumple to the floor. As a small fire burned in each container, they allowed us to leave. We all had to pass the cylinders that once held friends.

As I passed through the doors to the hall, Juith made her way next to me. "Ceris." She whispered in my ear. "Ceris Blenkinsop. That's Imogen's adopted sister. Ceris was Imogen's sister and now she's dead."

I looked at her with wide eyes. "You mean Silk was the Count's daughter?"

She nodded furiously. "The oldest Count. That's Count Archibald Blenkinsop. Imagine what it's like to watch your daughter burn in front of you by the command of two of your colleagues."

My heart went out to the poor Count and I could barely choke out. "It must be the worst thing you could ever imagine."