Chapter 2 - Selection Day

⚠️Mentions of Cannibalism ⚠️Fighting ⚠️

Today is selection day, and the two representatives stopped at our district. All of district 8 has gathered in the middle of the district, everyone hoping to get selected. I might get picked; I might get chosen. I am so excited I can't wait; anticipation was oozing from me out of every orifice. But I didn't get selected. The ones who got selected was this decrepit old man who looks like he has one foot in the grave and this young girl. How could he get selected, and not me. I am younger and stronger than him. He was so old; it looks like he could die at any moment. But something feels off. Who is that old man. I have never seen him before. And how is he so old. How is he not dead, could I grow old like that. Probably not.

The old man was so happy he was jumping up and down with joy. Everyone glared jealously at him, including me. The little girl on the other hand looked blank. Like, she was here, I mean, I could see her. But she didn't look here. There was this distant look in her eyes. Like she was looking for something far away. Doesn't she know how much of an opportunity this is. Getting chosen and going to Pulchra. Why isn't she jumping up and down with joy like the old man. She is so ungrateful. If I was chosen I would openly express my joy and gratitude. What are the representatives thinking. The old man and the little girl started walking towards the metal beast, the beast to Pulchra.

Then suddenly before the old man and the little girl boarded the metal beasts with the two representatives. The old man dropped on floor. Lifeless. I guess he was so happy, so overcome with joy that he died. Which means, I still have a chance. 

The representatives looked at each other. They always bring two people to Pulchra. That's the rules, that's how it has always been. So, they must pick a replacement, they have to … don't they. The little girl boarded the metal beast followed by the two representatives. Then they left. They left, there gone, and they only took one not two. This shouldn't be happening. I should have gotten chosen. I have to leave Deformis, I have to. I don't care were I go as long as it's not here.

Everyone was livid, and angry. They started fighting and blaming each other. It was chaos. Even though we were all hungry and just skin and bones. Everyone started fighting. It was a bloodshed, a massacre. Many people from our district died that day, but a lot of people felt full that day as well, just like how I felt.

I didn't participate in the fighting though; I just stood their blankly then I started walking "home". I have to keep myself calm and healthy and just wait for the next two years. Surely then I will get selected. I just have to bide my time. I spent the whole night reassuring myself. I need to get out of here. I can't just wait until I am old and decrepit, If I even live to grow old. If I don't get chosen on the next selection day, then I will have to leave Deformis on my own. After hours of reassuring myself and building up my courage. I finally go to sleep.