Paraden: Chosen

Chapter 1

My small frame was covered by shadows cast by the houses surrounding the Main Square of North-Outer Paraden. Looking up at the huge homes it is extremely apparent that today is a day of celebration. Each residence is lavishly decorated in greens and golds, showing off Paraden's national colors.

The flying flags and streamers cause a fervent feeling of nationalism to bloom inside me. The decorations seemed ever more beautiful in comparison to the few measly lights and two huge banners that adorned the square itself. Which, in all reality, have no need in being decorated any more since it will still look inferior to the homes of the wealthy.

The decorations that are placed on the square will be swept up and stored as soon as the Ceremony ends. The houses, however, will stay decorated all through the night forming the perfect backdrop for the parties, ones which I will never receive an invitation to, that will be hosted inside.

Choosing Day for the wealthy was the one day every three years they get to prove to the rest of us that they are better. Majority of the Chosen have come from these houses and I can probably count on one hand the number of Elites that were not wealthy.

I turn my attention back to the square. Everyone packed inside it seems to feel the excitement and hype judging by the loud roar that is overwhelming my hearing. Their screaming and chatter all blend into one load buzz that makes deciphering hard.

With some concentration, I can hear little snippets of a few of the conversations.

"Who do you think will get picked this year?"

"I heard that they are selecting fewer people."

"Oh, I bet this year's group will be the best group yet."

All typical discussions about the Ceremony and its Chosen.

The chatter intensified as a bell rings through the square. Pulled from my eavesdropping, I begin to move with more purpose. The bell signifies that we are five minutes away from nine o'clock, the time that the Ceremony begins.

My fiery red hair thrashes behind me as I pick up my pace pushing through the throngs of people each now moving towards their own specified sections. My feet, which are encased in dull gold shoes, shuffle another pace faster to ensure I get to my own seat in time.

A large group of cobalt blue-clad adults emerge into my sight and a sigh of relief escapes my mouth, I'm on time. The cobalt dress hugging my own figure, not that I have much of a figure anyways, announces I am between 18 to 20 years of age, as it does for everyone else wearing it. I do not think the dress goes well with my hair but it does make my blue eyes pop.

I began running beside the aisles scanning the now rapidly filling section looking for the seat I know my best friend Belle has saved for me.

Bellamy Baines is a beautiful girl with blond, wavy hair. This, paired with her blue eyes and tall frame, makes her sought after by many suitors. Much to their dismay, she has been happily dating Chance Aden for three years now and, by how attached they are, I will be surprised if they are not engaged within the year if neither gets Chosen.

My eyes lock on a familiar locking golden head of hair sitting near the end of one of the rows a couple feet ahead. Looking beside her I see Chance, as expected.

"This one for me," I ask plopping down in it before she answers.

"Well, who else would it be for," her eyes roll, "my other nonexistent best friend."

I gasp, "Now hold on what other nonexistent best friend."

Once we caught our breath from the giggles that followed my fake hurt Bellamy continues, "Aren't you so excited. This is your year to be Chosen".

"So can you and Chance, Belle," her face fell at that comment. I changed directions, "The odds are not really high enough to keep my hopes up Belle since any 18 to 20-year-old can be selected," I put on a calm facade to hide my excitement. There is really very little chance I will become a Chosen.

Though I do enjoy being in Outer Paraden, I have always wondered what the Inner City is really like. Yes, I've been told stories by some of the Outers that work inside the gate, tales of homes even greater than the ones surrounding us now and shops filled with delicacies no one outside of the Inner City would have access to. How much has been exaggerated I haven't the slightest idea. I do know however how much being in the Inner City would allow me to create and sell more of my toys and other inventions.

When I was younger, I loved to visit the junkyard near my house and collecting any interesting things I found. One afternoon my mother and I decided to play with some red tattered cloth from a garment of some sorts and ended up making a doll for my younger sister. Word spread to her friends and suddenly their parents were asking me for one as well. Since then it has turned into my own little business. The profit I get from the few jobs a month is enough to help my family but not enough to make us wealthy or anything.

"I know," Belle acknowledges the fact that the chances are very low, "but this might be an amazing opportunity for you."

"You know that this will open so many doors for you and your family."

"Think about the stipends the can receive during the first year you're in the Inner City."

The last statement hits hard, the extra money could help my family a lot. I brush down this personal thought and turn it into frustration before the hope betrays me and slips out. "Why are you pushing this on me, you and Chance, yet again, can also be Selected," Chance finally looks at the two of us, "we all three are eligible so stop focusing on me."

"Let's hope not," Chance mumbles so no one else hears.

"You know neither of us wants to be chosen and does not need to be," which is true since both of their families are in the higher middle class.

She continues, "you have nothing holding you here so why not hope for the best." She is right again, aside from my family nothing is keeping me here in the Outer City.

My agreement to her assessment was left unspoken when a trumpet ripples through the square.