Chapter 5 - Selected
1118 Words
Erin’s POV
“CAITLIN ANDERSON,” Beta Daniel’s voice booms.
Cait has been selected.
My baby sister has been selected.
That can’t be right. I must have misheard. In a brief second my world becomes cloudy. My vision is hazy, sound is a warped echo, my heart rate has plummeted and I feel light headed.
There’s a knot in the pit of my stomach and I can feel bile rising. I think I may throw up the contents of my stomach all over the poor girls grouped beside me. I’m trying to remember how to breathe, I’m unable to speak, I’m in a state of shock as her name bounces around the inside of my skull.
I pinch the inside of my upper arm, hard. In an attempt to wake myself up. This has to be a dream. It has to be a new version of the nightmare I’ve been having. Only this time, instead of myself being hunted by the wolf, it’ll be Cait.
A shrill and ear splitting scream pierces my brain and reawakens my senses. I frantically look around for the source of the scream. My heart already knows what I’m about to see, but that doesn’t stop my heart from sinking when my eyes see Cait trying to fight the wolves.
They’re trying to drag her, laughing at her attempts to free herself. Her feet are dragging in the mud as she continues to attempt to break free.
My Mother and Father have tried to rush to her and are being restrained by the guards.
“CAIT!” I scream as my body once again begins to work and I fight my way through the crowd to reach her.
“ERIN!” My sister sobs, the sound breaking my heart. Our eyes meet and her gaze pierces through me, like a blast of ice.
It has to be a mistake.
“STOP!” I yell at the top of my lungs. I’m about to challenge the wolves and my heart is clenching with dread.
I know what I must do. But doing is sometimes the hardest thing. I force myself to swallow my own fear in order to expand the safe zone of my sister. To be the sister she deserves.
Her face is now drained of blood, and she’s numbly walking, her hands clenched into fists, as two wolves grip her upper arms tightly.
Shoving those who are in my way aside, I finally manage to burst onto the walkway and charge towards the stage. I reach her just before she is about to climb the steps. I pull at her dress with such force, the wolves let go and I drag her behind me, adopting a protective stance and fully prepare to defend her to the death.
Before the wolves can take a step towards us, I stand tall and scream. “I VOLUNTEER!” I gasp for air, “I VOLUNTEER TO BE SELECTED!”
The confused babble of everyone here permeates the air. Nobody has ever volunteered for this. But I read a journal by Reverend Norton that the original Alpha declared law that any human female of selection age, may volunteer to be selected, and may volunteer to take a family members place.
Cait is now beyond hysterical, screaming behind me. Her arms are clenched around my waist as she sobs into my back, “No, Erin. You can’t do this. I was chosen. You can’t go.”
“Let go, Cait. Go find Mother and Father,” I tell her as I prise her arms from around me.
“What is the meaning of this? Bring them both onto the stage to me,” Beta Daniel demands.
A wolf attempts to grab my arm to escort me onto the stage. But, I see it coming. I grip his wrist and roll my body so that my back is to him, I lunge forwards hunched over and drag his arm with me. Propelling him to the ground. I stand up straight and smooth the fabric of my dress. “I’m perfectly able to walk alone, thank you,” I tell the wolf as I turn back to the stage, take Cait’s hand and proudly mount the steps.
We slow our pace and stop before the Beta. “Sir,” is all I say.
“What’s your name, child?” He asks me.
“Erin Anderson.”
“And this young lady would be your sister?”
“That’s correct.” I say firmly, as I look at the crowd of humans. They’re all stood with their heads bowed and their left hand over their heart. They’re admiring my strength and they’re admiring the bond of sisters.
“What’s this about your volunteering? There has never been a human volunteer.”
“I’ve been reading the old journals, from when this place was first created. Reverend Norton recorded that your original Alpha declared law that any human female of selection age, may volunteer to be selected, and may volunteer to take a family members place. I am simply exercising my right to uphold that law,” I say and boldly look him in the eyes.
An odd flicker of his eyes catches my attention as a far away look comes over his face and his eyes cloud briefly.
What is happening?
“I’m well aware of the laws, Miss Anderson,” Beta Daniel says, raising an eyebrow at me. “Take the young one to her parents; this one is now one of the selected. Take a seat, Miss Anderson. I do believe you are going to prove very interesting to The Hunt.”
I watch as my family walk away from the selection ground. They trail behind the others.
“When do we say goodbye?”
“You don’t get to say goodbye. If you are not selected during the Hunt, you will return home,” I’m told.
“WAIT! MUM, DAD, CAIT! I LOVE YOU!” I scream to their retreating backs.
They turn and blow a kiss my way, before being shoved forwards by a wolf. Telling them to continue their exit of the grounds.
A group of wolves approach the stage and I’m escorted away. We approach a row of cars and a blind fold is placed over my eyes and my ears covered. I’m blind and death and completely at their mercy.
During the drive, I ponder Cait’s earlier theory about the hunt and problematic families being selected. She was right.
Cait was right all along.
And, now. Now, I’m officially one of the selected and I’m about to learn the fate of those who are chosen.
I’m about to learn what The Hunt entails.
- Writer
