The Picking

Looking in the mirror, Sophia couldn't help but feel disgusted with the image on display. Her black long hair was braided back while she wore a thin white dress for the dreadful evening. Although she hoped the darkness of the night could hide the sheer outline of her body, she frowned knowing many men would be looking at her with their disgusting eyes.

Even though she looked beautiful, tonight was not a night to celebrate when she was to be faced with the chance of being picked.

"You look beautiful little one." Came the soft hum from behind Sophia making her close her eyes in frustration. "Very beautiful."

She turned her head slightly noticing her frail mother standing in the doorway. Her right hand was holding the door so she wouldn't fall over due to the fact that the woman didn't like standing for too long. It seemed the older woman's body was failing since she was becoming more sickly by the night.

Sophia frowned knowing tonight was probably not as difficult for the gray haired lady as it was for her. To her mother, tonight was an honor even though a small part of the frail older woman hoped it would pass over on her only child who was the only remaining part of her beloved husband who passed away.

"There is not much to be happy about." Sophia murmured looking back at her reflection. Everyone could see her defined jaw line which only enhanced her facial features. Her blue eyes had a gray tint within making her pale white skin look even more light and clear. She was a dark haired beauty according to the villagers, but her beauty could not save her if the stars and moon decided it was her.

"I have prayed to the skies that you won't be chosen." The older woman whispered approaching her beautiful daughter. She had tears streaming down her cheeks as she reached toward her daughter comforting her knowing Sophia had a high chance of being chosen. Her mother was aware of her daughters discomfort making it hard to give her any words that could help. They knew tonight could change everything if she was chosen.

"Since you are seventeen, it is required by law that you join in the picking. I'm just hoping you make it till your twentieth year. Then you won't qualify anymore." Her mother said unbraiding her hair brushing it softly. "And then we can find you a suitable husband. There have been many men in the village who find you compatible."

"It's torture really. I am either going to be killed or wedded to a drunk." Sophia said looking to the side where she had a bag packed with some belongings and non perishable foods. It was hidden from her mother's view at the door, but now it was in a position where the older woman could see the direction of her daughters eyes. And today, luck had not been on the girl's side.

"You can't run away Sophia. The villagers will hunt for you, and if they don't catch you, surely the Wolfmen will." The words were said with disapproval when Sophia's mother saw her bag.

Her mother then focused her eyes back toward Sophia who kept her eyes toward the bag seemingly lost in thought. It was no secret she didn't always listen to her mother.

Shaking her head, Sophia turned and faced her mother with anger in her eyes not liking the relationship they had. But still, she didn't want to leave without the only family she had left. The two of them spent every moment together since the rest of the village didn't care for their poor status and this meant Sophia had a soft spot for the woman who gave her life.

"This can't be something you think is alright mother! I'm your only daughter! We can both run together away from this place! We can actually live a good life together away from here." Sophia took a deep breathe hoping her mother had more motherly instincts, but the older woman stared at her with no expression. It was Sophia's father who was against the tradition, but he hadn't lived very long after Sophia was born. Her mother however was not so against the event expressing to her daughter it was about the bigger picture.

"Mother, what the leaders are doing is wrong. This is basically murder and a way for them to get rid of the least popular person in the village! And you teach against murder and corruption!"

"Sophia Red!" Came the harsh words of the older woman. "Our leaders have had to make sacrifices for the rest of us to survive. The pack of those evil monsters have become far too powerful! You know it's the only way for us to guarantee safety for the others."

"By sacrificing one?" Sophia challenged narrowing her eyes.

"It's better for one to die then a whole village. And it's a sacrifice, not a murder." The older woman said in a defeated tone. "I don't wish for you to be a part of this ritual, but it is law. Like I said, I have prayed to the skies for your safety."

Her mother began to walk away from her daughter reaching the doorway glancing at her child for a small moment.

"We need to leave soon. Don't forget your cape since the weather has been surprisingly chilly lately."

Walking out of the room, Sophia's mother didn't look back again even as a small tear escaped her eye.

Sophia looked at herself seeing how her mother brushed her hair. She rolled her eyes placing the dark strands back in the braid from earlier. Looking at her bed, she grabbed a brown cape to keep herself warm for the night. Even though she would be placed with forty nine other girls by the fire tonight to dance before the stars, she wished for it to rain so she could blend into the dark night.

Walking in the little hut where the two women lived, Sophia enter a small room where they could have little gatherings. Her mother had on a brown cape and frowned looking at her only child.

"Your hair looks better when it's let down falling against your shoulders Sophia."

"I'm hoping not to be noticed too much tonight." The girl mumbled walking toward the door for their small walk to the main event.

"Your looks don't determine if you're chosen. The seer does. I would prefer for everyone to see you shine while you preform. Even if you aren't picked little one, you still have to keep up an appearance for a possible marriage proposal."

Sophia grimaced thinking of how sexual this display was. But the village leaders claimed it was respect toward the skies. And apparently the village leaders had much wisdom.

However, Sophia had a feeling that the leaders were interested in seeing the girls while they were still pure.

The pathway to the center of the field was barely lit by torches by the huts making the tension somewhat gloomier. Silence filled the little town since many were mourning. Many of the villagers were probably already gathered together while others avoided the event at all costs.

The forest around the pathway was filled with howls making the girl shiver slightly because of the fear knowing she could hear them close by.

The sacrifice was going to happen in several days, but the Wolfmen transformed every night until the sun rises making a lot of the villagers stay indoors out of fear.

Even though the village leaders made a treaty to send a sacrifice every year, sometimes a person would disappear out of nowhere. And the leaders were often to 'busy' to care to investigate where the individual was.

The people around the center of the field were standing in the circle around the warm fire where the blind seer was singing some sort of enchantment.

"Go on now." Came her mother's soft voice taking the black cape off her daughters shoulders and giving her a light push.

Sophia walked toward the center where the other forty nine girls were waiting patiently for her. They all offered small smiles toward one another as the positioned themselves by the fire. Although their white smiles seemed to convince the villagers of their willingness to please the gods, Sophia noticed tears beginning to build within their eyes.

Music began to play as some villagers played the drums with a steady beat against the soft wind. The beautiful pure women in white danced to the rhythm gracefully to a dance they had practice since they were small girls as they prepared their whole lives for this event.

Sophia closed her eyes as she tried to think of happy things during this awful situation. But nothing ever came to mind making her focus more on the soft music and the crickets in the background. She twirled around moving her body around the the other girls.

Her body flowed gently as she started to feel something within her stir as the music became louder in her ears. The beating of the drums began to make something in her heart beat faster as though she was missing something important in her life. Something deep and something longing.

But what was she longing for?

The beating of the drums intensified as she continued to turn and swing her arms around while experiencing strong desires she never knew existed with nothing igniting it. Suddenly the music stopped and Sophia opened her eyes staring directly at the seer woman who for a split second seemed to be staring straight back into her eyes.