My Name Is Schedule

The Interview

A hand gripped my shoulder. Startled, I jumped, turning around. There was the straight blonde haired woman, 423,  I'd seen talking to the king earlier. 

"King Schedule would like to speak with you," she said calmly.

My stomach dropped. I could feel my mouth falling open, but I could do nothing to stop it. My mind couldn't process a single rational thought. Everything hope I had of anything fell apart and shattered in front of my face.

Her piercing gray eyes narrowed at my surprise, and looked as if she was making mental note of my every move.

I couldn't act guilty. And currently, I was doing a pretty good job of it. I could feel my palms getting sweaty. Fear overtook me. I had to get a grip on the situation, but I was so afraid.

"Wha--what an honor," I managed, trying to look amazed in a good way. 

"Not really, everyone is getting interviewed," she responded flatly, her eyes still narrowed. Some of my worry dissolved, knowing I wasn't being targeted in particular. She then flashed that perfect teeth smile that seemed too manufactured to be sincere. "We don't have all day."

"Of course," I mumbled, trying to collect myself. 

She tightly gripped my wrist and began pushing her way through the disorganized crowd trudging through the palace, which she didn't seem too pleased about.

"Did you lose anyone today?" she asked suddenly, and rather bluntly.

My throat tightened up. I could feel every muscle in my body tense. I didn't want to think about it. Why was she asking me this? I swallowed, and tried to hold back tears. I wasn't going to break down crying in front of her. "Yes," I whispered.

"Who?"

I didn't want to answer her. I stared at the ground, chewing my lip. I just had to keep my voice from cracking. I had to remain steady. Or did I? What was more "Schedule"? "My brother," I said finally.

Something flickered across her face for a fleeting second, and I could almost believe it was sympathy. But it was gone in an instant as she shoved another person out of the way.

"We all lost someone today," she said, her expression once again unreadable. I wondered if she had. She seemed very calm, too calm to have lost someone close to her. "Do you understand why the Schedule is important now?"

I could feel my heartbeat quicken as my face grew hot. I wanted to full-out scream. No, I did not understand. I didn't understand how everyone in this horrible town could believe this. I bit down on my lip so hard that I could taste the blood. 

"Yes," I breathed. "Yes, I do."

Her eyebrows were knit together, like she was thinking hard, but she noticed me looking over at her she put on that fake smile again. "Perfect. That's exactly what King Schedule would like to talk to you about."

I realized we were walking down another corridor, this one silver with green accents. For someone who was so obsessed with the perfect, "everything the same" Schedule system, the king sure had some creative decorations in his palace.

I was suddenly aware of the tight grip on my wrist from Schedule 423. It was so tight it almost hurt. I sucked in my breath quickly. I wanted her to let go, but I didn't dare speak. Why was she holding on so tight? Maybe so I wouldn't run away? That would make sense, but officials were practically everywhere. 

We stopped short in front of a pastel green door. "Here we are," she said, taking a deep breath. If her expression wasn't so unreadable, I could almost think she was nervous. I remembered her conversation with the king earlier. He hadn't seemed too happy with her.

She knocked four times on the door, rocking back on her heels. The door swung open. An official stood there, gesturing for 423 to come in. She let go of my wrist, her eyes distracted as she seemed to be deep in thought. The official stepped out, standing next to me, as an escape-preventing measure, I was sure. But he didn't take my wrist.

The door shut, and I wondered what I was supposed to do. The official glanced over at me.

"You'll go in momentarily," the official told me, then went back to looking rather bored. 

I needed to take this opportunity to calm myself down, but it wasn't that easy when you were about to be interviewed by the ruler of a nightmare town who held your life in his hands. I took deep breaths, steadying myself. I just had to act like a perfectly normal Schedule. It wouldn't kill me. In fact, it would be the one thing keeping me alive.

I was starting to wonder what was possibly taking so long. She had been in there for at least five minutes, which I thought was a bit long for explaining who I was and such, which was what I assumed 423 was doing.

The door finally opened again, courtesy of 423, and the official turned to me. "Come in." 

423's gray eyes washed over me, as if she was analyzing me like a machine. She gave me an odd look as she walked away, her keys jingling.

I stared at her, confused. This was going swimmingly.
Great. Closing my eyes, I stepped into the room. And flat-out slipped onto the ground, falling.

I reverted to full panic mode and scrambled to my feet, my palms sweaty as ever. I couldn't believe myself. Of all the times to be a klutz, it had to be a now. Mortified and scared for my life, I turned, and to my utter disbelief, heard horrible, low laughing. Just a chuckle at first.

Behind me was a desk, and sitting at it was non other but King Schedule himself, laughing. I had hoped I would never have to see his face this close again. But here I was. No such luck.

"I'm so sorry," I choked, straightening the skirt of my dress. 

"Sit down," the king told me, calming himself from that haunting laughing he had just done. His stretched-out smile was still on his face as he filed through some papers on his desk.

I pulled the chair out from in front of the desk and sat in it, cursing myself for my stupidity.

"Schedule 852," he said, looking up from his papers. He smiled again. "Lovely."

Thanks so much for reading! If you liked this, please give it a vote or tag a friend! Also, I love hearing feedback, and all suggestions are open! Thanks again! -Squimba