Fire and Ice (#JustWriteIt April 2016)

Chapter 1: Alena

Her school was one of those schools that take the least achieving students. Least achieving in fighting and brutality that is. She couldn't fight well up close, or make weapons, or torture anyone. She just couldn't. All she was good at was reading, understanding stuff, straggling and long range fighting. All which were pretty useless.

To add to her misery, her appearance caused her to be isolated from everyone. While everyone had dark skin, hers couldn't be lighter. While others showed their pulsing red veins proudly, hers were dark as the ground of her volcanic home. If she could even call it that.

She was about reach for another book from beside her when she heard the horn sounding. She was in her private little place. It was close to her school and house. She would hide out here from the better people that go to her school, because if they find her, she would be beat into the ground. Again. It wouldn't matter if she was with anyone anyway, nobody liked her. Apparently the only words  they can describe her with are barely ever used on this side of the planet: nice and kind. Not even her parents cared about her. She was the Family's little disgrace. Her older brother and sister where ranked at the top fighters of all time. ALL FRIKKING TIME. She couldn't even beat half of that. So everyone has given up on her except her friend. But even she wasn't much better off.

Her friend, Kira, was just as nice and just as likely to be picked as the sacrifice for Guangala. Their half of the planet had to send ten people, But the other half also had to sacrifice ten people.

I bet it is even harder for them to pick their sacrifices, especially since the Infernas started throwing gas bombs all over the border, She thought as she gathered her stuff and hid them. Reading was not allowed, especially for the scum of Thanta like her. Then she started making her way towards the Court. Basically the place where they make big decisions, like who to sacrifice.

I bet all the monsters on the border were scared off and went rampaging on  the ànthropoii's side of this crappy planet.  She kept thinking about that while she admired the scenery around her. After all, it might be her last chance to do so, since the sacrifees are kept at the ruler's mansion till the next day when they are released to Guangala. She started running when she thought she might be late though.

She started slowing down when she was almost to the court. When she finally reached the huge building, she slowed down. She spotted Kira and ran up to her. When she looked at her face, all she saw was fear and pity. Usually she was the chipper one, but now, she just looked plain terrified. She knew she would be picked.

******

Just like I did. I sighed and patted her back.She just pushed my hand aside and hugged me. I hugged her back. Of course we knew this would just make us even more hated, but who cares?  We both needed this damnit!

We parted and continued to the hall. We were the last two to enter because just as we were inside, the doors were closed.

The Ruler stood in front of the crowd, blabbing on and on about how this is a happy occasion. The he started reading the ten names. The ones chosen fro  the lowest schools.

"Xrowrith Wuerriks. Train Magnese. Kira Chaz..." My friend looked horrified as she walked to the front of the room and through the door that the two people before her went through.  You probably don't know this, but the naming wasn't in a random order. The first people are the lowest in the ranking. The last ones are the ones that were close to not making it to the list.

Just adds to the stress and agony and misery. You know, the usual stuff they do to you in those torture classes they give in the better schools.

"...Zeneth McHuge..."

Yah, wonder how fast we'll be killed? If any one will cry for us or even miss us? Probably not. They all think we are just little shits that are not worth wasting the food supply on. Not that I like the food here. Or anywhere really. All we ate here is what the seniors can get from their daily hunts.

"... Prewont Pruk'okx. Gystahue Flubym. Trirb Joeqrar ..." 

Starting to wonder if I will be picked. Only three names are left. That means I almost made it out of the list! Damnit! Why must my luck be the shittyest??!

"....Glealhue Sifoph. Stiecehstoe Kraeqraelleo ..."

Oh, wow, I either didn't make it on the list or was the best out of all of them. Probably the latter. I really hate my life right now. In the entirety of my short lived fourteen years, each containing four hundred fifty seven days, each containing thirty three hours each containing ninety minutes, I have never hated my life more than I do right...

" Alena Sekter"

Now. I straightened my back as I walked towards the room. I spotted my brother. He was one of the only people that helped me out when I needed it. He always thought that being a good fighter depended on one's ability to make fast choices, something I was partially good at. He taught me how to fight from far away and things he thought would be useful in the field of battle like lip reading so that I wouldn't need to make a sound to communicate with whomever was with me. I just hope his team mates don't give him a hard time because I was picked. I wish he doesn't hate me for being picked. I thought he would be disappointed at me.

But he wasn't. His eyes were hard and stern as if trying to convey a message to me. Just like when he was teaching me something important. I almost reached the room and everyone that wasn't picked was cheering. Only then did his lips move. I read them like I did so many times when we went hunting.

You have to survive.

I froze my steps. The guards standing in front of the doors grabbed me and dragged me into the room and closed the door. But I don't remember much after that. Just that I was staring at nothingness while I contemplated what he might have meant.

You have to survive?  Survive what? The zone? Guangala? He was invincible if the books are to be believed! What am I, supposed to do against a monster like that?

I knew one thing was for certain. If Guangala doesn't end up killing me, then my thoughts probably will ....