𝕊𝕥𝕒𝕣𝕝𝕚𝕘𝕙𝕥 𓆩⟡𓆪 𝕏𝕒𝕕𝕖𝕟 ℝ𝕚𝕠𝕣𝕤𝕠𝕟

「 ✦ 0.02 ✦ 」

Save it for your pillow, I scold myself knowing I can't cry in front of all of these candidates. I don't want to look weak.

"I wonder how many candidates have fallen off the edge of the steps and died before they eve reach the parapet," the woman says, glancing down the center of the staircase as we climb higher. There were no railings to protect us from the fall and I knew exactly how many have died on these steps, but it was too morbid to discuss while on the steps.

"Two last year." I hear Violet say behind me and I briefly look back at her, before facing the front again. I do not want to be the fourth to die from these stairs. That would just be embarrassing. And I haven't even reunited with Xaden yet. I, at least, need to do that first before dying. "Well. three if you count the girl one of the guys landed on."

I do count her. Poor girl. I shake my head at the thought of dying from something quite literally falling on you and crushing you.

The woman's eyes flare in surprise, but turns back around, probably not wanting to fall off the staircase. Smart move.

"How many steps are there?" she asks and I smile, knowing the exact amount from the many books I spent my time reading in my free time.

"Two hundred and fifty," I answer, and we climb in silence for another five minutes at that. Let's hope no one has asthma. Who am I kidding, they would never be dumb enough to join the riders quadrant with asthma.

I hear a wheeze from behind and I shake my head. I stand corrected. Some people are dumb enough to do just that. I just hope he can make it to the end, without dying.

"Not too bad," the woman says with a bright smile as we near the top and the line comes to a halt. "I'm Rhiannon Matthias, by the way."

"Liam," the blond guys responds with an enthusiastic wave and I make a mental note to befriend him.

"Ainsley." I say, smiling widely at the two hoping we can all be friends.

"Violet"

"I can't wait to cross the parapet." Rhiannon says and I glance back at Violet, who has the same expression as me. We might be the only two that are dreading this quadrant. I mean, why would be excited to live day to day with high chance that we might die. I'm sure as hell not excited for that.

"Yeah, I've been waiting for this day." Liam responds and he smiles slightly, but it is not happy. I can see behind his eyes that he has been dreading this day. He has no choice but to join this quadrant and prove his loyalty by either obeying or dying. Doesn't seem like something any of them would be happy about. I'm definitely not happy about how they got their choice and freedom taken away. It wasn't fair at all.

"You might make it across the parapet," I hear a guy sneer behind me and I turn around to see the guy behind Violet opening his big trap. "This one here is a breeze away from the bottom of the ravine."

I roll my eyes. He was about to be proven wrong, because she was going to make it, even if I have to throw her across it myself. She was much stronger than she looked. And, she had me to help her and I'm sure our new friends too.

"Shut up and focus on yourself," Rhiannon snaps, her feet clicking against the stone as we climb. I smile gratefully at her for sticking up for Violet and she returns it, before turning back around.

The top comes into sight, the doorway full of muddled light. I glance at the clouds that are swirling above and getting darker every second we stand here. I let out a small sigh, knowing these clouds are going wreak havoc on us, and we needed to get across that parapet before they swept us down the ravine in a heartbeat.