Engagement

Falcon stares into empty space while the engagement invitation sits beside him. He begins to wish that he had known the rule about getting engaged at twelve years-of-age earlier. He would’ve asked Galaxy for that privilege before she got chosen to marry Quade. He sighs deeply and tears fill his eyes. He can’t possibly deny the invitation.

Falcon gets up and grabs his schoolbag.

“Hey Falcon,”his father says politely while his mother is nowhere to be found. “She is working today,”his father says, “I got today off.” Falcon nods and smiles happily, “I’m glad.” “Why?”his father asks with concern. “I am not in the mood for her positive visionary personality today,”Falcon says with a heavy sigh as he collapses into the chair. He places his head in his folded arms and then glimpses at his father from beneath it. His father looks at him with amusement.

“So,”his father says questioningly, “are you going to tell me what is bothering you?” “Galaxy,”Falcon says with pain in his black and grey eyes. Both swirl with emotion. “What about her?”his father asks as he looks at the time. “She is getting engaged,”Falcon says dejectedly. “So?”his father says like that isn’t an excuse, “fight for her.” “I can’t,”Falcon says with even more sadness. “Why not?”his father says and then puts his hand on his son’s shoulder, “tell me.”

“She is getting engaged to the leader’s son,”Falcon says with pure sadness and tears. “Oh,”his father says with pain in his eyes, “that is sad. There is nothing you can do about it. Just do your best to move on.” “That’s not the problem,”Falcon says as he looks at his father exasperatedly, “she invited me to the engagement party.” His father nods and says, “You know you gotta go. Just avoid her as much as possible if it hurts that much.” Falcon nods and says, “Do you ever question the motives of these people?” “Yes,”his father says honestly, “but we have nothing to compare it to and nothing to prove otherwise.” Falcon nods, gets up, bids him goodbye and heads to school.

The school day passes by quickly. Galaxy and Quade aren’t anywhere to be found. Galaxy is dressing in her lavender dress while Quade wears his sky blue uniform. They meet at the leader’s home. In the yard, all the media personnel are waiting. Quade is standing with his hand in Galaxy’s hand while they wait for Aldrich, the leader, to come and announce their engagement.

Aldrich approaches soon after with the ring that he was talking about. Galaxy starts shaking nervously and her grip tightens on Quade’s hand. He squeezes her hand reassuringly.

“Today, we are gathered to announce the engagement of Quade, my son, and Galaxy,”Aldrich says and then hands the ring to Quade, “we will be having the wedding on the first day of the first month of this year.”

Quade turns Galaxy towards him and places the ring on her ring finger. She smiles at him sadly and he gives the same smile back. They turn towards the crowd and smile happily.

“We further announce that from the day of being wed, that Galaxy will begin living with us and wearing the appropriate white uniform for a leader as well as my son,”Aldrich says with a smile on his face, “they will continue their studies in the school they are currently placed in with their rank attached. Quade and Galaxy will become the new leaders of the country when they are eighteen years-of-age. If I die earlier than that, my wife will work alongside them to help them rule until they turn eighteen.”

Aldrich then walks off the stage with his wife and daughter following him. Quade and Galaxy follow soon after. They can’t keep their thoughts straight as the impending doom of three years’ time, almost two, seems daunting.

The media leaves the yard where the engagement party will be held and everyone sits in the living room. Galaxy and Quade are still holding hands. Aldrich and Nazareth look at them with pity. Mazarine looks at them and notices the tension.

Mazarine gets up and looks at her parents, “Let’s have dinner.” Her parents follow her without a word.

Galaxy gazes at the diamond ring and smiles sadly.

“I know it’s not easy,”Quade says with pain in his voice, “I’m sure it wasn’t easy for my parents either.” Galaxy nods and smiles at him, “It’s not your fault. It’s those prisoners’ fault.” “Our people changed a lot of the rules,”Quade says and looks at her, “we didn’t want some of them because of what was represented by them.” Galaxy nods and says, “I’m glad.”

Quade looks at her and says, “Atleast we are ready for the party.” Galaxy laughs, “Yeah, we only have one choice of clothing anyways.” “Mazarine hates lavender,”Quade says and Galaxy smiles.

Soon after, they make their way outside to meet their arriving guests. Aldrich, Mazarine and Nazareth are waiting outside. Quade and Galaxy walk side-by-side.

All the leaders arrive and slowly Galaxy’s guests start arriving.

Mazarine comes towards Galaxy and says, “I’m sorry it had to be you.” Galaxy smiles and says, “I’m ok with Quade it’s just the responsibilities and marriage.” Mazarine nods, “I know you hate the government and that Quade didn’t tell you what happened to your parents.” Galaxy looks at her quizzically. “Almost everyone secretly hates the government,”Mazarine says honestly, “you have too many reasons to hate them.” Galaxy says, “What are you trying to say?” “They don’t like to kill people, Galaxy,”Mazarine whispers, “but they do get rid of you if they have to. They got rid of a big danger called Galaxy in a different way.” Galaxy looks at her with fear in her eyes, “Mazarine?” “They don’t like imprisoning people either,”Mazarine says sweetly, “they did kinda imprison you in their clutches. Don’t you see? You are under strict watch.”

Galaxy looks into her black eyes and sees the honesty shining through. “I know my parents were killed by the government,”Galaxy says as she looks at her, “but I don’t know why.” Mazarine smiles victoriously, “You are in the perfect home to investigate.” Galaxy looks at her with confusion.

Mazarine sighs and says, “There are many reasons I couldn’t be the next leader. My gender, my mistakes and my secrets.” Galaxy looks at her and waits for her to continue as they stand far away from the crowded field. “I was punished many times after turning twelve,”Mazarine says with a smile, “I passed with the highest grade. I hated all the laws. When I saw someone poor and sick, I helped them to the fullest degree and I didn’t care who saw. I got imprisoned and then my parents came to get me. They removed all my rights.”

Galaxy smiles sadly and looks at her with sadness, “They didn’t believe you were a real leader because you cared more about other people than the rules.” Mazarine nods sadly. “I no longer had the right to rule the country due to that one choice,”Mazarine says with anger in her voice and eyes, “It made me hate them even more and they are my parents. One day, my little sister was dying and my parents just stood there waiting for the doctors to come. I grabbed her and helped her as much as I could. She died but I knew I tried my best. Guess what happened? I went to juvenile detention and was out of my brother’s life for two years from the age of twelve.”

Galaxy looks at her with pain in her eyes, “Why tell me all this?” “I know you won’t tell anyone else,”Mazarine says honestly, “you love and care too much. You didn’t see beyond the façade but I am helping you to see it. Find out my biggest secret. I know you can.” “But why?”Galaxy asks seriously. “So you can see what power does,”Mazarine says sweetly. Galaxy nods and looks at the girl curiously as she leaves like nothing happened.

Legacy comes towards Galaxy with their parents trailing behind. Tears fill their eyes and Legacy hugs her happily. No words are exchanged as they leave. The words of Mazarine playing like a mantra in her mind. Quade comes near her and notices her concentration. She notices him and then smiles.

“Something wrong?”Quade asks her with worry. She shakes her head and smiles brightly. Mazarine is sitting quietly in the corner. No one approaches her. Nazareth looks at her daughter with frustration. Her father, Aldrich, sighs deeply at the girl. Galaxy is confused.

All her friends come towards her and congratulate her and Quade. He then leaves so she can talk to them privately.

“Congrats,”they all say with a shout and Galaxy flinches. “Thanks guys,”Galaxy says but they see her true feelings. Stone and Falcon stay behind while the friends go and mingle.

“I am really glad you guys came,”Galaxy says with happiness. Falcon smiles half-heartedly. “I can’t stay long,”Falcon says and Galaxy frowns, “my father is on a break today so I wanted to spend time with him.” Galaxy nods, hugs him and bids him goodbye.

Stone smiles at her and says, “How is Quade doing?” “He is as stressed as I am,”Galaxy says with all seriousness. Stone frowns but nods in understanding. “Is Mazarine always quiet?”Stone asks curiously, “she’s as quiet as Legacy.” “Yeah,”Galaxy says, “but leaders don’t have personality types.” Stone nods and continues talking to her.

Mazarine is staring into space as she remembers the days she was in the juvenile detention. They didn’t care about her parents’ rank. No one cared about anything there. She could just be herself and get in trouble for it. No one would remember when she left anyways.

Her tears start falling as she remembers the punishments she had to endure all day. They physically and emotionally abused them all. She was black and blue most days. She would go without food for so many days. Water wouldn’t be clean and would be withheld. Clothes, shoes and blankets were gifts for the best behaved, so she never had these things. The caretakers were never punished for this. They continued abusing and went unpunished since it’s not a crime to be abusive. Mazarine gets up from her seat and goes towards the bathroom.

Mazarine notices her father trailing behind her so she walks faster. Aldrich grabs his daughter by her shoulders and she freezes. “Why are you crying right now?”Aldrich says with anger, “this isn’t the time and place.” “It never is,”Mazarine says and turns towards him, “Aldrich.” His anger rages on, “When will you ever change?” Mazarine looks at him silently because she doesn’t have an answer. “Go into that bathroom for five minutes and come out without those petty tears of sorrow over your own mistakes,”Aldrich says with anger in his voice, “got it.” Mazarine nods half-heartedly and hurriedly runs away from him.

She breaks down in the bathroom further. She thinks about being twelve again and never getting to see her brother. She couldn’t even say goodbye to him. Quade would never know these secrets. He would never know the one that she told Galaxy to figure out. She would do all it takes to get out of here and find the zeroes. She knows Galaxy will find them and then she will go there instead of being stuck in this world with evil.

The party finally comes to its end along with the day. Everyone disperses and Galaxy goes home with her family. She knows in six months’ time she will be trapped inside that house. Quade waves goodbye as they leave and then he enters his home of secrets.

Galaxy walks along with Stone. Her parents and her sister are ahead of them.

“About what you said about Mazarine,”Galaxy says and looks at him, “what are you getting at?” “I was just thinking that I don’t have a personality so I don’t show one specific trait and she shouldn’t either,”Stone says as he looks at her, “she is very introverted but then she wouldn’t be a leader.” Galaxy looks at him with confusion, “What made you think all this up?” “I have become good at deciphering people’s personalities because I don’t have one,”Stone says honestly, “that’s all.” Galaxy nods and smiles sweetly. She then looks down at the ring on her finger and sighs deeply. Stone looks at her with pity.

Stone then heads in a different direction so he can go to the orphanage. Galaxy waves goodbye and then runs ahead so she can reach her family.

The days pass by quickly. The weekend comes to its end. Everyone returns to school along with Galaxy and Quade.

Everyone stares at them and views them as tattletales who will reveal anything they say and do to the leader. Galaxy could care less about anything they do and say. Quade is too stressed with his impending leadership that nothing matters to him either.

Quade goes from class to class in silence. Galaxy waves at her friends as she passes by them.

Lunch break ensues and Quade is nowhere to be found. The friend group sits at their usual spot. “Where is your fiancée, Galaxy? Did he run away already?”Ivy teases as she walks passed with her friend group. Galaxy rolls her eyes in annoyance.

“Where is he?”Icterine asks politely. “Meeting with his father,”Galaxy says with a smile, “I am not allowed since I am untrustworthy.” They all nod. “That’s a good thing,”Major says with happiness, “they fear you.” “Actually,”Stone says kindly, “it is better if they trust her enough so that they tell her everything.” Nicolette and Navy glare at him. Falcon laughs, “Some people are overprotective over Major.” Galaxy smiles happily. Navy and Nicolette barely smile. Icterine sighs and says, “They got bad news.” Everyone nods in understanding. Navy keeps a neutral face while Nicolette tries to hold back tears.

Nicolette gets up and runs away. Navy follows her quickly.

“What happened?”Galaxy asks out of concern. “They don’t want to talk about it,”6 says seriously and everyone goes silent as he gets up and leaves as well. Quade comes and sits.

He looks down with guilt and says, “I am sorry guys.”