One Hundred-Four Eyes [RANDOM UPDATES]

Chapter 3- Results

                        Chapter 3- Results

                Date: 1st of Newcome, Year MMCLIV

                Time: 7:45

        -BLAIRE-

Screech!!!

Out of shock, I jumped in my seat. "Aow!" I cried softly. Kiana gave me a strange look. Ignoring her, I stared ahead, where I thought I heard the sudden squeal.

The scream came again, only softer this time. It was right ahead of me, on a stand, or podium thingy. At least that's what Kiana calls it.

Our town leader, Sir Layman, strutted up to the podium thingy-ma-jiggy and started to speak. "Hello, young ladies of town 8, neighborhood 46. Today, as you all know, is a very special day. This is the day of the Choosing. For those who do not know, the Choosing is a day where your identity is programmed into a computer..."

Computer? What's that? 

The look on my face already had Kiana knowing what I was thinking about. She whispered, "A computer is an electronic machine."

I whispered back, "What does electronic mean?"

"Shh, no questions. Remember?"

I nodded to her and sat back in my seat. Maybe Layman would explain some things.

However, Layman never did. In fact, by the time I resumed listening, I was lost. He had gone far ahead into the speech, and I couldn't rewind time or anything absurd like that.

"... the end, 52 candidates are Chosen to compete for one of the Prince's hands in marriage. Others who do not win... are executed."

I furrowed my brows in confusion. What does executed mean? He sure is using a lot of foreign words or something.

With his last words being said, Sir Layman gathered his papers up and said a final goodbye. However, after taking a few steps, he scrambled back to the podium. "One last thing: winners will be announced at 8:15, today. Have a great night, and may you all be blessed."

I watched Layman scurry off the stage, like the mice I found one night under the mealmaking room cabinet. After he left, I simply stared in the same spot, going over what I heard of his explanation...

So that's what the Choosing is all about, marrying a lady off. How many princes are there?

Thoughts like these swirled in my head. How was I to know the answers to any of these?

Suddenly, I felt a tug on my arm. Of course, it was Kiana. I turned my attention from the back of the stage to her. "What?"

"We have to leave. It's alright, the winners will be announced soon."

I simply nodded at her, letting her take my hand and pull me away from the other girls in the town. I guess we would have to wait and see the winner...

                TIME: 9:15

"Here you go," I said to my pet rat, Benny, as I handed him a mini dollop of peanut butter. "Just for yo-"

I was cut off by the dong, dong of the town bells. I moaned in frustration. Now somewhat annoyed, I turned my attention outside.

I could see a large hologram thing projecting a name. My name, to be exact. All of a sudden, a voice came on to loudspeaker.

"Participant of the MMCLIV Choosing is Blaire Atkins. Blaire, meet Sir Layman at the Town Building at 9:30..."

I won? Oh, maybe this was good. I heard that the last winner from this town was nearly sixty years ago, so this rare opportunity had to be good.

My sister came rushing to the room. "No!" she shouted. "No, no, no! You can't leave! You don't- no- you simply can't- agh!" She threw herself to the floor.

I stared, wide-eyed at my temper tantrum-throwing sister. "Okay... I'm, uh, going to Sir Layman now. I'll... meet you later."

"No!" she screeched, "You can't! You don't understand, you just cannot-"

I was out of the house by the time she looked up. She was getting me scared, and that was the last thing I needed.

I decided to walk to town 8. Yes, it would take me a long time, but it was certainly better than listening to my sister's screeching for fifteen minutes. I was tense, as it was. No need for anyone else to pressure me.

About thirty minutes later, I was at the front of the town. "Okay," I thought aloud, "the town building is to the right, about twelve buildings down...  right?"

I watched my footsteps as I crossed down the dirt road. I noticed that my walking wasn't quite as even as my sister's... however, it may have had to do with the shoes I was wearing. They were old, raggedy loafers of a dull grey color. I had that pair since two years ago. Sometimes, I find those shoes to be a blessing, because they fit after all this time... However, they weren't particularly as comfy as they were when I bought them originally.

However, comfort was not the number 1 priority right now.

I found the building very soon after setting foot in the town. It was rather hard to miss, anyways, with the bright red paint job on the outside.

Sir Layman was already outside when I met the front of the building. "Pleasure to see you, Miss Atkins," he said, extending his hand. I nervously shook it, trying to seem polite."Pleasure to meet you, too, Sir."

"So this'll be a short meeting. I'm just telling you the basics right now. Ready?"

I nodded. "Sure."

With a grin on his face, Sir Layman dumped an armful of papers in my hands. "These are for your caretakers. You can read them, too, if you want."

"O-kay. What else?"

"Alright," Layman started, cracking his knuckles. "So... here's what is going to happen. Tonight, you are packing up for your trip. You are also saying your final goodbye's to your family. You-"

"What do you man, 'final'?" I asked, getting anxious. He didn't mean...?

"I mean that you are leaving them. Permanently. You have to pack up and leave for the Palace, as many refer to it. That is where the real Choosing will occur."

I was more than perplexed, to say the least. "Wait, what about-"

"Shh, the papers say it all," Layman replied, trying to make the situation sound better. "Just... read them tonight. I'm sorry, I am very busy. I must go. Goodbye, Blaire, and best luck." He ambled back into the Town Building.

I stood in place for a long time, not even thinking. But............ what?

"Blaire! Get back in the 'former right NOW!"

I turned around to find Kiana, sitting in her car, angry as she could be. "Now!"

Silently, I tiptoed into her car. "I'm... sorry," I replied softly.

She looked at me. Concern filled her eyes. "What happened?"

I merely stared up at her. I hoped that my eyes would say everything for her...

This... is goodbye.