The Reaping

Chapter 7

Cora

Thomas looks at me in anticipation as I sit and contemplate my next answer. I look once again into those eyes that seem to always captivate me and I know how I should answer.

"Yes, I did often feel like I had no freedom. I'm not sure how much you have been outside of the headquarters or how many villages you have actually seen, but women are not treated as equals. There are very few men who actually care about their mates. I was lucky enough to live in a home where my father wasn't physically abusing my mother. Well, at least not where I had ever witnessed it. My grandparents were together before the reaping so they were actually in love." I see the look on his face and I can see that he has not heard this or at the very least knew that it was a widespread problem. "Most women in my village were with men who would a***e them. They were treated as second class citizens. That is why I have acted the way I have. I was afraid."

"I knew that the a***e happened on rare occasions but I never knew it was this bad. Leaders have been hiding this well. My father would have surely put a stop to it had he known. Cora, I swear I would have done something if I had known..." I cut him off.

"Thomas I know. I will admit that I have been afraid from time to time here, but it was never because of anything that you did. I have been taught from an early age that women are to be silent and to do what they are told. My father never abused me but he did make me hide things about myself so that I would not be noticed. He told me to purposefully do badly in school and on my tests so that no one would know how smart I am. He was afraid of what might happen to me." I sigh and continue. "My life has been so much better than most, but the way this world is not really what you think. I'm afraid that you and your family have been lied to for years."

Thomas

All I can think of is how we never caught on to this. How could we not see what was clearly right in front of us? I look at Cora and all I can think of is what would have happened to her had I not chosen her. Would she have been with a man who would have beaten her and made her life miserable?

"Cora I never wanted our date to turn out like this. I just wanted to get to know you and hopefully start building a relationship. I'm sorry." I desperately want to take her hand and what she does next floors me. She takes my hand and smiles.

"Sorry if I am being too forward. I think this date is going perfectly. We are getting to know one another. You are learning about my life and me and learning about you. Sure they are not what we might have hoped but I do not regret a thing." With just a few words she was able to calm me and to make me feel like we would be alright.

"Well, you are definitely not being forward because I was dying to hold your hand." I smile at her and see the blush start on her cheek. "Cora I will fix all of this. It makes take a lifetime but I will fix it." I take her hand and raise it to my lips. I give the top a gentle kiss and look in her eyes as I do. "You deserve the world and I will give it to you."

We finish our food and our game of questions. I then take her hand and lead her out to the yard. I have set up a quilt with some extra throws and two pillows for us to lay back and look at the stars. It may seem cheesy to some but I want her to feel safe and at home. I wanted our date to allow us just to talk and get to know one another. As we sit down and get comfortable we begin talking about things again.

"I feel like I have shared a lot about myself but I want to know more about you. What is your life like as the leader of The Chosen?" She looks at me with a serious look on her face.

"Well to be honest with you it is really hard." I chuckle as I say this. "I work all the time, but that will change now that you are here. I rarely do anything outside of work and spending time with my family. I do have a best friend, Adam. He helps me as my assistant and right-hand man. We don't really get to hang out that much but when we do we tend to just hang out here and play games." The look on her face lets me know that she is excited to hear everything that I am telling her.

"So when you say games you're meaning those things you have in your living room?" once she finishes I remember that not everyone has access to all the technology that was left.

"Yeah, those are video games. I will show them to you some time. They are a fun way to kill time." I smile when I see the excited look on her face. The fact that she has been deprived of things that I think are normal makes me want to hit something. The thoughts that she has been living a life that is less fulfilling than I have makes me angry.

"Thomas are you alright?" Her question wakes me up from my thoughts. She has a concerned look on her face as she rolls onto her side to get a closer look at my face.

"I was just thinking about how different our lives have been. It makes me incredibly angry that you have had to live a life that is less than what I have. You are good and pure and I can't help but feel that you deserve so much more than what you got in life. I can't help but think that I could have helped with that. I should have known that this was going on in our community." I can't seem to look into her eyes anymore. The thoughts of me letting her down weigh heavily on me.

"Thomas, these things were going on way before you ever took over. If your father and grandfather didn't know about it then it is pretty safe to say that these things were well hidden from them. Not everyone is willing to talk about it. To be honest I debated about whether I should say anything or not. I wasn't sure if you would even believe me." She takes a deep breath. "Most men in my life have always taken another man's word over any women's. It will take time for me to get over all that I have seen. Just know that there are many women out there who may never speak up about what they have been through. Please don't blame yourself. If it bothers you then make the changes. You are the only one who can answer for your actions. You can't take the blame for things you didn't do. Now that you know it is up to you how you will move forward."

I know that she is right in what she says. I have to make changes that will make things better. I can't sit and dwell on the past because I had no part in that, but I can focus on changing the future. I know that I am facing an uphill battle that will most likely take years to win.

"Will you help me change this world for the better?" She looks at me in shock. It is almost as if no one has ever asked her for her thoughts or help. I realize that is exactly the truth. She has never been valued for her opinion or her help. "You will be the greatest asset that I have. You have been through so much and you are smart enough to help me. Please say yes."

"I will help you with everything that I have. If you can make this a better place then I will stand behind you 100%"