Luz

Chapter 1

I am sitting in a dark room and it is suddenly flooded with white light. I quickly shut my eyes against it so that they can adjust. Don't be real. This is not where I want to be. Don't be real. I knew I would end up here, in this nightmare. Please don't be real. I have lived this horror over and over again, hoping for it never to be real. As someone opened the door to the white covered room I hear the sound of my alarm and I'm sucked out of the dream.
Today is the day someone is chosen. Someone who is older than 16 is chosen to leave their home, friends, and family to go fight some force we all know next to nothing about. This is the first year I could be one of the chosen. I don't understand why anyone would want to do this, the outcome is all the same. Everyone else seems to think it would be a great honor, even my parents think going to fight is a good thing. I've had the dream almost every night for the past month knowing the choosing would be today.
I got out of bed and slowly got ready, making myself look nice so i wouldn't get scolded by my mother for not taking the choosing seriously. After I'm ready I look at myself in the body length mirror in the corner of my room. My hair is curled and in a half up half down fashion. The light colors of my clothes contrast strikingly with my dark features. I tiptoe closer to the mirror looking at my face closely. My mother always attempts to get me to wear makeup but i never do, today will be no different. My eyes are weird to say the least, they can be a dark blue all the way to a light green. Today they have decided to agree with my mood and stay rather dark. I quickly look away from the mirror and make my way downstairs into the kitchen. My mom and dad are sitting at the kitchen table talking about the upcoming events for today. As I walk in I hear their conversation die down.
"Alyssa you look beautiful. I'm so glad you decided not to fight me on it this year," my mom says referring to my outfit and hair.
Grabbing some toast I reply, "I know how you feel about events mom." and this may be
the last day I see you so I don't want to remember it with a fight. I think to myself.
"So after breakfast why don't we just all drive into town and get some seats?" my father said, looking up briefly from his plate.
"Dad I was actually thinking about walking. You know it will help with the nerves," I suggest.
My father looked at me skeptically. "You're walking with Daniel aren't you," he accused, pointing at me with his toast.
"Yes dad, is that ok?" I ask, looking at him hopefully.
"Fine, but don't be late," he said reluctantly wanting me to spend time with the family before the choosing.
"Thank you," I say jumping up and hugging him, "... and thank you," hugging my mom as well before darting out the door.
I meet Daniel on the corner of my street. He was standing with his back towards me. So me being me I used my awesome stealth moves and jumped on his back. We almost both fell to the ground. Daniel was taller than me and he had brown hair and brown eyes, but when he smiled it showed on his entire face..
"Geese, Lysa are you trying to kill me? I almost had a heart attack," Daniel complained.
"Oh would you quit whining. I got you good. Victory is mine," I say laughing.
"Yeah you're terrifying," Daniel said sarcastically after he recovered from shock.
"Shut up, I'm awesome," I say jokingly.
"Well come on let's get walking we don't want to be late," Daniel says then pauses realizing what he said knowing how I feel. "Then again, maybe we can just walk slowly."
"Yeah," I say noticeably less excited then I was a minute ago. Daniel isn't like me, no one is, and he thinks it would be great to be chosen when clearly it wouldn't be. To try to take my mind off of things I looked around at the familiar scenery around me. I don't even think I'll get chosen. I mean there is nothing special about me other than my grades which are great, but I'm fairly certain they want someone super athletic. The last time I did anything athletic was when I played soccer in the back yard last week. Pep talking myself seemed to help because I had zoned out for so long trying to convince myself there was no way I'm going to get chosen that we had walked all the way to the center of town.
I took in the big tent that was set up for the occasion of the choosing that looked to be at least 2 times as big as my house. The only thing in this place was a small stage for the announcements and stadium seating. It was actually quite impressive considering they had set this up last night. Everyone was already sitting it seemed, chatting amongst themselves making it quite loud it the tent.
"Come on I see our parents. They saved seats for us," Daniel said waving back to my parents and his who were sitting next to one another waving franticly. We slowly made our way to our families stopping occasionally to greet friends from school. When we finally go there Daniel's parents and my parents were in a deep conversation and were so concentrated that it took them a minute to realize we had finally arrived.
"Oh Hello darling didn't see you there," my mom said when she realized we had arrived.
I heard my father end the conversation with "We have to start training him now." Then he turned to my mom and I giving a quick hello to me.
On stage I could see that someone had come out and someone over the loudspeaker asked for silence. The lights on the stage turned on and you could see mayor Minford on the stage. He was dressed classically in a fitted suit and the smile that won him his campaign last year.
"Good evening ladies and gentleman. Today we are gathered to celebrate the joyous occasion that has been tradition since the start of this great country. Something that is not only necessary, but vital to the success of our mission to stop the Jushin from harming the civilians of our great nation. On this day our town will contribute to the common good of having one of our own be chosen for the very important task of protecting us all. Let it be noted that this person is not simply chosen at random. The chosen has been researched and evaluated by the zone leaders to ensure that they get the best of the best from our town." Milford paused as the crowd cheered happy that someone from our town is considered for this elite position. However I did not join them in their joy. After the cheering died down he continued. "So without further ado," he said pausing to open the envelope that would seal someone's fate. "The chosen one from our town is Ms. Alyssa Barton."
The world didn't stop or move in slow-motion. It didn't speed up either. Somewhere deep down I had anticipated this. The world moved on as normal or as normal as it could now that I had to get up and go on stage. I slowly rose to my feet and found my way out into the aisle. I know people were cheering so I plastered on a fake smile trying to keep up the façade. If I were to protest it would get me nowhere except embarrassed. I wasn't fighting it like I had imagined doing so many times. I was going to accept it and pretend for as long as possible that everything is alright. I found myself on stage and a microphone being offered to me so that I could say what I wanted to the crowd.
"I would like to thank my mom, my dad, and my best friend for helping to shape me into the person I am today. Without them I would not have been chosen for the noble task of keeping us all safe. I wish you all well. I hope to see you soon." I found myself saying this but I didn't mean it, not a damn word. I knew I wouldn't see them soon I wouldn't be back until I was different and cruel. I was feeding my friends and family false hope, but that's what they all did. If you look at old videos from other towns the chosen all did what I have done. I might be more like them then I care to admit. Tonight I would pack my stuff and tomorrow I will be taken to the airport and flown to the chosen training center to start my career as a soldier.
When I got home I realized my parent's had thrown a party in my honor. Seeing them so happy to see me chosen pained me. I never understood why being chosen was such an honor. My parents made sure the party lasted only 3 hours, so that "the chosen one" could get sleep for the big day. Their words not mine. My parents wanted their 16 year old to go to sleep at 8:30, because it was my last night in my own room I didn't protest.
The next morning I got up forgetting all about the nightmare that ensued the day prior. So when I made my way downstairs and my parents were talking to city officials it's safe to say I was momentarily confused. When all the memories came back to me I was more than disappointed because I knew why they were here. Before they could say anything there was a knock at the door and to leave this awkward situation I rushed to answer it. When I opened the door for once today I wasn't surprised.
"Hey Daniel, are you here to say goodbye?" I asked.
"Yeah, I know I said goodbye last night but I figured it would be nice to see you one last time." Daniel said sadly.
"I'm glad you're here they are making me leave soon." I said moving out of the way so he could come in.
"I know I saw the government car." He said thumbing behind him as he stepped inside. He seemed nervous for some reason.
"Are you ok Danny?" I asked stepping closer to him. He looked up suddenly and stepped forward, lightly touching his lips to mine. He stepped back to judge my reaction.
"I'm better now." Daniel said. "Good bye Alyssa, I'll miss you." He whispered. After that he left without another word.
I felt like I should run after him and tell him how I felt but I didn't. I turned around and the government officials were there and ready to leave. Now it's time to start a new chapter of my life whether I like it or not.