Culling

Part I • Chapter III

"Whatever, it was fine." Maro stood up and passed by me as he left the room. "I'm going to bed."

I stood by, stunned. My mother appeared so too.

However, once Maro left the room she seemed to forget the previous conversation entirely. "Sang, what are you doing standing around here? Clean up this mess."

I rushed out, grabbed some dishcloths and returned.

She watched me for a moment. "Is the kitchen clean?"

I might not be punished? It seemed almost too good to be true. "Yes."

Mother frowned, and laid back down into her bed as she pulled the covers back over herself. "What about your room?" She asked.

"Almost." I couldn't believe it! It looked like I was not going to get into trouble.

"Whatever. Get it done. Don't leave your room until everything is spotless."

I fled and locked myself in my room.

Afterwards, exhaustion caught up with me and I had finally fallen asleep.

Now it was morning of the most hated day of the year - reaping day.

The Capital made attendance a requirement for anyone of age and their immediate families (not that it always worked, but still...). I wondered if my mother would be going, to my knowledge she hadn't left the house in a long time.

This year would be the first year that Maro would be entered as a candidate, since he had turned sixteen yesterday. I was actually surprised that I hadn't heard anything from mother about it in the last few weeks. Perhaps she had forgotten the Culling was getting closer, and what day today was?

That would be typical.

I wondered if she would object to me going? I mean, it wasn't like I could break the law. Plus, I wanted to support Maro like a good sister should.

After stretching, I got up and dressed in my best - a dark grey a-line skirt with a light pink tunic. I rarely wore it. I hated to wear it for this occasion, but it was my nicest outfit from the very few pieces of clothing that I owned.

Overall, I thought I looked passable. I smoothed out my skirt as I checked my appearance in the small mirror that hung on the wall in our tiny living room. I had even done my hair in a loose, side-swept braid for the day. I never owned any makeup, so my face looked as plain as always.

Hopefully I wouldn't embarrass Maro.

Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed Maro enter the room. He wore his normal everyday clothes that he used for school. "You are supposed to dress up." I reminded him.

He glanced at me, giving me a once over. "What are they going to do, put my name in even more times for next year? I'm not going to look like a dork, like you. Or maybe it would be fun, to be picked as a tribute. Unlike a lot of other losers, I can fight. Better than sticking around here."

"Maro!" I reprimanded as I glanced around to make sure our mother wasn't in hearing distance.

I could see down the hallway and her bedroom door was still closed. If she had planned on coming with us then she should have been up by now.

"Is she awake?" I nodded my head, gesturing down the hallway.

"Why don't you go see."

"Why don't you go and check." I frowned at him, "Who knows what they will do if she doesn't show up."

"Probably nothing, but fine." Maro sulked, but listened to me for once.

Apparently he was still in a good mood from last night. He stomped loudly on his way to the door, and knocked obnoxiously. "Mom, it is time to go!"