Vienna was a part of the 4th colony, the poorest one. They had been desperately trying to live off the land, since they haven't won The Run in 6 months. Everyone in the community is constantly outside, tending to the plants who are fighting for survival, just as the people who live there.
"VIENNA! Did you water the potatoes?," Her mother shouts to her.
You could hear the fear in her voice at the thought of Vienna forgetting her chores but how could she? She is constantly reminded that her colony is dying.
" Yes mother," Vienna sighs.
She was tired of it, tired of watching her colony suffer. She got out of the cot she was laying on and walked into the front room, where her little brother slept quietly with his teddy bear tucked under his arm. She crept up beside him and kissed his head gently. Her father smiled at her sweetly as he witnessed this.
" You let him sleep on the couch?," She whispered to her father. He shrugged and sipped at his water. Water wasn't the problem here, it was the food.
"Vienna, come out here!," Her mother shouted horridly. Vienna rushed out the door to find her mother on her knees in the garden. Her gaze averted to the ground, all the plants were dead.
"How?," She asked shocked.
They were just fine thirty minutes ago.
Her mother was left speechless , as she stared at the only food we had left. If they didn't win this month, they were gonna starve. Vienna walked over to her mother, tucking her hands under her armpits and pulling her off the ground.
" I'm so sorry," Her mother whispered sadly to her.
"It's not your fault mama," Vienna assured her.
Carrying her mother inside was easy, considering she was so light. She sat her mother next to her brother who was now awake from his nap.
" Luckily tonight is The Selection, we won't have to wait long for the run," Her mothers voice was strained and sad.
"Speaking of, we should get ready shouldn't we?," Her father set down the book he was reading and stood up, her mother and brother following him to one of the rooms in the back. Vienna stood in the middle of the living space, devastated. She already knew her colony wasn't going to win, everyone was too weak, deprived of sleep and food.
-
Vienna stood in front of the mirror in her room, brushing out the wrinkles in her dress. You always had to look nice during the selection.
" I hope Timothy Green gets picked," Her brother sat in the chair beside the mirror waiting for everyone to finish dressing.
"Why is that?," She said curiously.
" He's one of the strongest people in the colony, he sure would win," Her brother said hopefully. She sighed and gave him a knowing look, she was the same way when the colony first started losing, but facts are we're weak.
"Vienna are you ready it's a long walk, we have to hurry," Her mother called.
Vienna fixed a strand of hair that fell from her hair, which was put into a nice bun. After she was presentable she walked into the living space where her parents waited. They nodded in approval at her outfit and headed out of the door.
-
The selection is the ceremony that decided what six people are participating in the run. It's random, unless someone volunteers, but nobody has ever done that and anyone can be chosen. Last year a 10 year old and an elderly woman were chosen. Once we reached the Selection Area we joined the crowds of people.
"Vienna!," She spun around to see one of her closest friends from school.
"Perry," She nodded to her friend as if to say hello.
Vienna was only 17 but she was more mature than the others from her high school and she had a very high IQ which made her even more different.
" I haven't seen you in a while," Her friend poked her chest and gave her a cheeky smile.
" It hasn't been long, only a week, and that's because they give us a break before selection day," She reminded her friend.
She stop looking at her friend, instead her eyes remained on the podium in front of the crowd. Everyone went quiet as a woman began walking to the podium. This woman would decide the fate of our colony. She cleared her throat as she set down a metal box on the podium. No sounds could be heard besides the sound of the woman and the box.
" Hello Colony Four, I am Moore Harris," She paused, waiting for a reaction but none was given.
"I am the twelfth member of the society. As you all know, it is time for the selection, I will pull six names from this box, those lucky six people will have to run for the colony," She recited this like she had done it her whole life. Her hand reached into the box and for a split second my heart stopped.
"First runner, Garret Charleston,"
Cries can be heard from the crowd on the left side. It was probably his family. I looked over and watched as he hugged them. This could be his last goodbye. He walked onto the stage and kept his head down.
" Second runner, Lanette Austin,"
I heard a scream, and my head shot to my right. A teen from my school tried running out of the crowd only to be dragged on stage by guards from the society. I looked down at my shoes, I couldn't handle looking at the girls face. She was so scared and everything in me wanted to comfort her.
"Third runner, Timothy Green," I looked up and watched as Timothy green hugged his younger sister, his only family. He walked on stage without any emotion. He didn't cower like the others he stood with his chin up high, and his eyes filled with hope.
"Fourth runner, Alex Komp,"
I looked around the crowd for Alex, he was the smartest kid in my school. Alex didn't run, but he didn't move either. Instead his eyes were darting to tw guards moving towards him. One reached for Alex's shoulders but Alex pulled them down by the hair and kneed them in the face, he prepared himself for the other two coming towards him. A tall, skinny, guard reached for Alex's arm but Alex used his leg to knock the man to the ground. Alex stumbled back as the third guard punched him straight in the nose. Alex threw a left hook into the guards jaw, then kicked him in his man junk.
" Behind you Alex!," Vienna found herself calling out to Alex, as a guard ran at him from behind. He kicked the guard in the face, then thanked me silently with his eyes. After he knew the guards were down, and he had time to run, he darted through the crowd. He almost got out until someone from the colony tripped him, and dragged him onstage.
"Well that was interesting," Moore whispered.
Alex brushed himself off and stood up.
" The fifth name, Thomas Dorn", Her head shot to her little brother, he had no idea what was going on. Her mother fell to her knees beside him, tears spilling down her cheeks, her father desperately tried to pull her mother away. He knew she wasn't gonna let go otherwise.
"Tommy," She knelt down beside him.
"Tommy, listen to me, you go on to that stage and you do everything Timothy tells you okay?," Her brother nodded to her and made her way onto the stage. Vienna stood, tapping her foot. He's too young. The lady pulled out the next card but before she could call the name of the sixth runner,
" I volunteer,"
