His Choice

⚜ TWENTY TWO ⚜

Unedited

---(Name this line?)---

I take a deep breath as I ready myself in the water, Jake's words encouraging and motivating me. I briefly look over to the bleachers and see him returning to his designated spot. He sends me a wink before taking a seat and turning to talk to his father.

Alright, Ally, we got this.

As soon as the shot rings out, I push myself off the wall and focus on my strokes and not the girls around me. Easier said than done but I manage to glide through the water more effectively this time around. Or so I hope anyway. I feel more in control, my motivation and feelings for Jake pushing me through each stroke.

The race feels like an eternity but when I finally reach the finish line, I'm quick to count the girls ahead of me. Four of them. I did it! I came fifth. Literally, just missing the cut off for the elimination.

I heave a sigh of relief as I pull myself out of the pool. The five girls that came behind me look solum as they get out of the water. I can't tell if they're crying or if their faces are just wet from swimming. All of them are from lower-sectors and I can imagine exactly how they're feeling.

This challenge was to filter out the lower-sectors by testing them on a skill they knew they either wouldn't have or would be lacking in. And that sucks. It makes your elimination all that more painful to know that you've been cut based on your background and not your personality. My suspicions are confirmed when I hear Miss Mint announce the next challenge - Archery.

"As you may well know, Archery is the official political sport of the country. As a member of the royal family, you may be required to partake in friendly Archery competitions as part of the social seasons or when hosting royalty from neighbouring kingdoms," Miss Mint announces to the crowd, "The aim of the next challenge is to test your Archery skills, social sportsmanship and manner. The round will take place the day after tomorrow in the courtyard. Nobels, I look forward to seeing you there; ladies of The Choosing, good luck with your preparations."

This is ridiculous and so unfair. They know that lower-sectors won't have had a background in luxury sports and can't learn it in a day. I don't know why they allow lower-sectors to enter The Choosing when they're going to so blatantly phase them out.

I look around the remaining girls and my heart sinks when I realise that myself, Lola and two other girls are all that's left of the lower-sectors. Four of us out of forty-five girls remaining.

I don't like the sound of those odds.

♕

It's dark, but the ground beneath me is soft. I push my hands into it to find the familiar sensation of grass lacing between my fingers.

Where am I?

It's a weird feeling - the moment you realise you're dreaming. I can't control anything, not even myself. It panics me, but yet I am incapable of showing it in my sedated state.

What seems like hours pass me by before I feel a breeze. Suddenly, something touches my hand. I turn around only to come face to face with a man. His eyes are kind and his smile is familiar.

Dad.

"I'm so proud of you," he whispers, but his voice is carried off.

The moment doesn't last as I am jarred away and sucked through a void.

I sit up as I bolt awake. Shaking my head, I force myself to get ready. The whole process is draining but a reminder of what I'm fighting for serves as motivation.