The announcer comes back on stage, the Commander passing a transparent glass tablet as he struts off the stage.
My palms are tremendously sweating pools and my heart is thumping like a jungle drum. Why would the Commander just heighten my curiosity when he questioned us if we wanted the truth and than just leave me hanging? Now, on top of my urge to know the truth of... whatever, the Pairing is starting.
"My name is Balilendro and I will be your host for the first ever Human Pairing! Before I call the first gentleman and lady up here with me, I think our Commander and Council deserve a huge round of applause!"
We automatically clap along with the Xileons while Balilendro swipes his finger back and forth along the tablet's screen. His eyes fall back on the crowd with his face plastered in cheesy smile and raises he's hand to silence the audience.
"Without further a do, I will ask Kwang Haneul Won from Seoul, South Korea to come forth!"
Kwang has an average build, looks about 5ft., has jet black hair, and wears a grey tux with a violet tie tied around his neck collar. He strolls across the half a football field stage to meet the announcer. He's just as pretend as Balilendro.
"For our girl, Ko Maki Yamada, from Sapporo, Japan!" Ko skips excitedly towards the announcer, and gives Kwang a sweet kiss on the cheek. Kwang of course is a flustered bright tomato red after the kiss. Their actions are unreal. It's as if they're programed to act like high school sweethearts who just won prom king and queen, and not rational human beings! What the heck is happening to everyone?
Before Balilendro introduces the next Pair, a quick roar of cheers flood the auditorium. "Could Jamal Abioye Louis from Togo, Africa, please come forth? Than following, Aavet Carmen Evenstad from Oslo, Norway!"
I whip my head done the line to see Aavet's face drain of all color. She doesn't notice me watching her in shock as she holds her head high and confidentially strides to center stage. I know she doesn't want anything to do with the Pairing just as much as me, but she hides it way better then I.
"Thank you, thank you fellow Xileons! We will now move onward to our third Pair!" Balilendro shouts with his arms out wide, almost like he's going to give the crowd a large bear hug.
I peer at Aavet when I notice Jamal lace his chocolate fingers into Aavet's. The look on her features would turn off any other rational guy but Jamal... Jamal just widens his grin more.
I'm so caught up in Aavet's and Jamal's walking off stage, that I nearly miss my name being called.
"... Jillian Rosanne Carter from Toronto, Canada!"
My fists clench and unclench with each deep inhale and long exaggerated exhale. I wipe my disgustingly sweaty palms on the sides of my gown and step out of the line of girls. Renee gives me a thumbs up when I unsurely peak over my shoulder. I guess I get Renee's blessing, I think.
My feet fall into a steady pace as I tune out the hungry stares and geedy squeels of the hundreds of Xileon men and women and children. I won't fall down on my knees for the Xileons pleasure, so I shrug off my nerves and raise my chin to the lights to show I'm a strong human being that can be her own person.
As I stand beside Balilendro I relize I never heard who I was Paired with. When the announcer quietly asks me to make my way off stage with my Pair, who happens to be that boy that was staring at me last night at my birthday party, Ryan. My first thought of us being Paired is a huge relief for not getting one of the other brainwashed guys, but then I wonder if he is just the exact same.
"I think it was only last night that we... well sort of met, but now it's official. You and I finally mert and we wil spend the rest of our lives together," Ryan whispers to me when we're backstage.
"Um... I'm sorry to ask you this, but I didn't really catch your name..." I say starting with a question but end up drifting off.
"Yeah, I kind of noticed that you were in your own bubble. My name is Ryan MacKenzie Smith and I'm from Salem, Virginia... I guess that doesn't mean anything now though," He replies.
I shy away from his last comment and decide to hunt down either Nixon or the Commander.
"Hey, where you going?"
"Um... sorry, I keep thinking I'm still a single lady but you know..." I say trailing off. "Come help me find the Commander."
He nods, following my lead around the dark and less hectic part of the backstage looking for the Commander, that is until I spot Nixon. I stop to gape at his well practiced and concentrated stare (that happens to be on me). I leave Ryan's side to meet Nixon half way, but immediately halt all future movement when a sharp stinging pinch sparks a freezing cold sensation that devours all of my body control. The floor comes rushing fast just like when you're on an airplane that's taking off, before the world goes black.
YOU ARE READING
Another Way
Science FictionEvery living thing is dying on earth. Organisms, plants, insects, birds, man and, everything else that's a living thing, is dead or dying. An ancient disease has waken in our bodies that has been around since the beginning of earth. Anything that br...
