The Running

Chapter 2 - Camille

"Do you think you're going to be in the Running?"

"What do you think? My parents already paid off the people in the announcement." I knew I was going to be in the Running because my parents would never lose to the other people in the Cluster. They had to show their superiority. All the new watchers were bad for business and they are stealing the townies from right under us.

We opened the doors to the school for all the watchers' kids. Everyone was whispering as we walked by and it was pretty obvious that they were talking about the Running.

"Did you know that Ezra is also trying to get into the Running? I got a message from Esther and she said that Ezra parents were trying to get her into the Running too."

"Luce, don't even talk about her. Her parents can't even compete with my parents. Anyways, she probably just wants to do it because I am. She has always been the jealous type."

"I just wanted to warn you Camille. She has been telling everyone that your townies have been quitting and going to her parents."

I felt the anger rise in me and I quickly defended my parents. "That is a complete lie. We are having some trouble with the townies, but they aren't leaving us. We are just giving the troubling ones to those who have less. It is a charity case."

We finally got into our classroom and sat our books down. We only had a half day today because the announcement was going to be at noon and everyone watched it, even the townies. I will have to deal with Ezra later though, I can't believe she is spreading rumors about my family.

"...so like I said, the Running is something that is very important to our history. It allows the people to choose who gets to be leader. Why is this so important?" The teacher looked around the room and his eyes laid on me. "Can you answer Camille?"

"Before the Running, the people that were governing were apart of one big family and there was an uprising that led to the slaughter of the family due to its cruelty to the people. So now we have a Running that allows the people to choose who gets to be apart of the elite governing group that will have the benefit of the people on their side."

"Well, that is a great answer, does anyone have anything else to add?" He once again looked around and Ezra raised her hand to answer.

"Like Camille said, the Running was made for the people, but there is still a large amount of people who cannot be in the Running, like the townies. I think it is unfair to say that it is for all the people when the majority of people have no chance of ever going into the governing group." Ezra's eyes focus onto mine and smirked.

"That is..."

I felt my body heat up from the anger that was clouding my mind. How dare she try to counter my answer? I quickly cut off the teacher before he could let her have the last word.

"Well like I said, it is an ELITE governing group so it makes sense that only those with elite status would be chosen for the position. Why does it matter to you? Doesn't your life revolve around the unfairness that you treat those so called 'townies?' I would say that they should be lucky to even be able to vote in the Running."

"I think..." He quickly got cut off again.

"What do you mean they should be lucky to be able to vote? Just because you are a townie does not mean that you are any less than us. Your mommy and daddy may have money, but that doesn't make you anymore special than those who actually work for their money. And I try not to treat them unfairly." I heard her voice start to crack as she finished talking.

"The fact that you live in the Cluster and you take the things you have, proves that you enjoy the privilege and advantage over what you call the 'poorly-treated townies.' If it bothers you so much to treat them unfairly, just go live with them and you can finally treat them as equals." I looked her dead in the eyes and knew that I had won. She looked uncomfortable in her seat and she quickly looked away from me.

"Okay, that is enough. This is not the time to be arguing about politics." He looked at us both as if we would be in trouble if we continued. "Now, continuing, the Running allows the people to choose who are going to be apart of the governing body. It has been a tradition for over 150 years now. This year specifically is very important because the governing body is about to lose their only member from the EN Cluster. This could change the whole dynamic of the Clusters if someone from the EN Cluster is not chosen this year. I want you guys to pay close attention to the participants of the Running this year. Do not think about what Cluster they are from, but what qualifies them as better leaders of this world. And I want to leave you guys with one last thing before the announcement, don't forget to do your homework tonight.  I know the announcement is very exciting, but so is the history of the rebellion. It may even help a future leader to reflect on the mistakes of history. Okay, class dismissed."