The Selection

As Ingrid Snow tried to finish grabbing food from the flea market, she tried to avoid the stares of people. Her mother had simply said that they were staring at her because of her beauty. Ingrid still thinks it's because of her hair.

Ingrid's hair was like none other. Although her sisters had chestnut brown hair, Ingrid had dark black hair. It was such a dark black that it was almost a midnight blue. She hated it. It made her stand out. Now was not the time to stand out.

It was time for the selection. The Selection was a not so simple competition in which twenty girls between the ages of fifteen and twenty compete for the heart of the ever handsome Prince Kane.

Whichever girl won got to marry Prince Kane and be the future queen of Elania.

Although most girls would kill for the chance to even be in his presence, Ingrid didn't fall for his charm. She wanted to stay home and be with her family.

Besides, even if she entered, she knew she could never stand a chance next to the rich pretty girls who would enter. She'd probably be the first girl to be kicked out because she spilled something on the Prince or do bad etiquette.

Ingrid did not have time for that.

"Miss?"

Ingrid snapped out of her moment and looked up to see an old man staring at her.

"Are you going to get the fruit?" the old man asked.

Ingrid looked down and saw that she was clutching an apple.

"Yes. Sorry," Ingrid apologized while blushing.

"You should hurry on now. They're going to announce the winners for the selection. Maybe you will be one," the old man said with a glint in his eyes.

"I hope not," Ingrid replied.

The old man tilted his head in confusion. She just smiled at him before walking away.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It was now after dinner and Ingrid along with her family were on their worn out sofa, sitting in front of their tv.

"Turn it up!!" Isabel, Ingrid's younger sister, yelled.

"Anxious, aren't we?" Ingrid asked with a smirk.

"I want to hear! Besides, if you get entered, I'll be super popular at school," Isabel said matter of factly.

"Thanks for worrying about me," Ingrid replied sarcastically.

"Anytime," Isabel said with a smile.

Ingrid rolled her eyes and turned to focus on the tv.

The royal family stepped onto their royal balcony and smiled down at the crowd. Well, the King and Queen did. Prince Kane looked like he wanted to escape. What was his problem?

A royal servant popped into view and rolled in a glass bowl filled with slips of papers with names on them. (A/N: I'M SORTA DOING IT HUNGER GAMES STYLE).

"Now, the King shall choose fifteen names from the bowl and read them out. He's about to begin," a news reporter replied.

The King placed his hand into the bowl and rummaged around before grabbing a slip.

"Belle Rosemary," the King read as the first name.

Ingrid sighed out loud. So far so good. She wasn't gonna be called on.

"Reagan Luke," the King read from the second slip.

Ingrid began to smile. No castle for Ingrid.

"Oh come on!! Call Ingrid's name already!" Isabel exclaimed.

"Ingrid Snow," the King read from the third slip.

Ingrid sat rigid on the couch while the rest of her family cheered.

It was the beginning of an end.