Jacks And Jokers

15: Among Jokers

"So what'd you get?" I showed her the card and she looked just as confused as I felt. 

"What do you think it means?" I looked at her. She'd always been pretty smart, so if either one of us knew what it was, it would be her.

"I don't know. I've never met anyone who ever got a joker." I looked to my right to the other's cards seeing a few muddy 2s, 3s, and even a bejeweled jack card, which wasn't as fancy as Izy's king. We decided not to worry on it too much. "We'll figure it out in time. For now let's just enjoy another free feast tonight," At that the lady calling everyone up shook her last hand, gave a final speech and waved us off. 

We soon got ready for supper. There was to be a feast for all the students, and the parents who had children in this class. It was a sort of goodbye dinner of sorts for the people who were to leave. You could still visit anyone if you were higher ranking, but as a lower class you could never go past your placement. 

Dinner was about an hour after the end of The Ceremony. I got home and relaxed for the small amount of time before the next feast. My parents all tried finding their nicest clothes and got changed. After a small talk we headed to the ceremony. I sat down and looked around. People were slowly filing in to our schools gymnasium. I soon spotted Izy walking in. It really wasn't that hard to spot her with the happy aura she radiates causing everyone to smile. She finally came over and sat by me once she was done talking to half of our school. 

"Figured anything about your card yet?" I looked at her with a glare to show I hadn't, mind you I didn't even try to figure anything out. "So what do you think it is."

"I think I'm a joke to society and they don't like me, hence the joker card," I said only partially sarcastic. I didn't want to tell her the actual reason I thought I got it. The fact I was a murderer didn't help my ideas of what the card meant. "In all honesty, I don't think it holds anything good." 

"What do you mean by that?" She said hoping for me to continue.

So I did. "Did you see how all the cards looked similar to the lifestyles the people will get?" She nodded at this. "Did you also notice how the joker card was ripped, muddy, and burnt? Everyone else was just muddy, well or at least fitting. Like how your's had a king that was extremely bejeweled." She nodded towards me. 

"Too bad I'll probably never know what it means," she looked at me looking at her questioningly then explained, "because I'm going to the kings, and you'll probably leave before I know." I knew she was right, but I couldn't help but feel slightly unsettled. "Well, anyways, I'm going to the bathroom. See you in a bit!" Izy got up, and walked out of the gymnasium. 

I started to eat some of my food off my plate but didn't eat to much because of stress. Surprisingly, some of the food had actually been improved upon since the last meal here. I guess they wanted to send us away in a better, more positive attitude than before. I looked around, and for the most part it was working. Everyone was light hearted, some jubilant, but all enjoying themselves. I looked down at my plate and saw some overlooked delicacy, and without thinking slightly murmured, "hmmm... bug." 

At that moment Izy returned, and the principle of the school started an announcement. "Dear class, I've seen all of you grow up! I've enjoyed every year I've had you, and it's almost a shame to see you go, but life goes on, and I know all of you will do your best to make the most out of your new one. We will now be having everyone pack up your bags, and get ready to leave when your designated train gets here. And always keep your card on you from now on." At those words I took my card and put it in my front pocket to make sure I still had it. "If you have any questions about anything, feel free to ask." He looked around as if to get one last glance of his students. "A toast to the happiness and prosperity to your class!!!" He held up his glass with cheap wine and yelled, "Cheers!"

"Cheers!" Yelled the entire grade in unison. 

Soon after this everyone dispersed and flocked to their homes to wait for their life. I got home well past when my parents went to bed. I got into bed and fell asleep quickly after my head hit the pillow. The sleep though was just as brief.

"Wake up child." There were big strong hands shaking me awake. 

"Who is it." Fear gripped my heart with icy claws as I woke up. There were no lights, so I couldn't see the intruder.

"No need for that, let's go!" The brute forcefully pulled me away from my bed. Even with adrenaline giving me strength I was still powerless against whatever had me.

"Where are we going?!?" I managed to put together.

"No need for that, just come." The voice said again. 

After a few seconds of thinking I realized we were heading towards the train station. "Is this because I am a joker?"

"No questions! Just follow!" He said in the same stoic voice.

He wrenched my arm to the side and gestured for me to follow him. I did as he asked, not so much because it was a question, but because in the moonlight he looked like he could kill me with his pinky.

I followed him and was right about one of my theories. We, more than just the brute and I now, were at the train station with a jet black train waiting for us. There was professional looking man going around asking for the other's cards. There were about two more of my classmates outside of the train. All of them had burnt, ripped, and muddy cards like mine. 

The conductor, or so I assumed, came over to me and asked for my card. I pulled it out of my front pocket and showed it to him. He smiled, counted all the other children and ushered them into the train. Not so long after that I sat down, and the train took off. All of this seemed a little too scary for my liking. It was too dark to tell the direction, so I decided to wait till I could tell.

Thanks so much for reading. Please vote if you enjoyed it! If there are any mistakes, or any difficult to read parts please tell me. I'll keep working on posting regularly. Thanks for your patience! And have a great day/night/evening/Christmas/Hanukkah/Other Holiday/normal thing.