Culling

Part I • Chapter VII

Mr Blackbourne hadn't joined in on the conversation, of course, and instead stood off to the side as he pinched the bridge of his nose.

While the men behind me were fussing about my hair and hair in general, I suddenly heard a sharp intake of breath from Kota.

"What? What's wrong?" I turned my head to look at Kota.

He was staring at my shoulder and had raised his hand towards the front of my dress.

Everyone stopped arguing and moved back into view.

"Um..." I watched as he slowly moved to touch the pin that Khloe had given me earlier.

I had forgotten about it entirely, but I guess with my hair being pulled back it was visible again. He was studying it intensely as he touched it, a look of disbelief on his face.

I glanced up at the others, who were now somberly looking back and forth between the pin and each other.

"What's wrong?" I repeated.

It was Kota who answered, he had stopped touching the pin and put his hand back around me. "It's just that... this design is not something we see often. Where did you get this?"

That's it? That's why they were upset? What was so important about the design of a piece of jewelry?

"Khloe gave it to me. She was the representative who came to my district to pick the tributes. She was nice to me on the train ride over and said she wanted to help. I thought it was some kind of gift of friendship..." I trailed off.

I noticed that the men around me were doing some kind of communication thing with their eyes and seemed so serious.

"Toma?" Silas was the first to break the silence.

"Probably, I heard she's from that area and we knew they were going to be around." Dr Green mused and glanced at Mr Blackbourne. "Do you think it's that or just a plea?"

"I don't care!" Kota seemed upset and gripped tighter to him. "They can keep it to themselves, we aren't doing this for them."

Mr Blackbourne frowned, "It probably doesn't mean that. Right now it might only be a request."

I felt like I was going to get whiplash from how much my head was turning to look at each of them. Even Nathan and Silas, who I had interacted with the least, were looking unhappy. "Um, guys..."

They stopped talking and gave me their attention, but it was Mr Blackbourne who stood out the most. He seemed determined and pensive, but I didn't know about what.

"Did she give me something bad? If it is offensive or something I don't have to keep it..."

"It's not bad exactly, it could just mean different things." Mr Blackbourne regarded me seriously. "Can you tell me exactly what she said when she gave it to you?"

I pushed my lip to my teeth as I thought back to earlier that evening, wanting to remember the details correctly. "Well, I was worried about meeting new people and finding a room. She told me that she had done everything she could and that I would be alright. Then she told me that I had to trust in my instincts."

It seemed as though everyone let out a collective sigh of relief at my words.

Dr Green patted my shoulder. "Pookie, you just about gave us a heart attack."

I blinked up at him, but I didn't do anything. They were the ones acting strangely. I wanted to ask why, but I figured that they'd tell me if it was something really important.

Probably some weird political upper district stuff.

Kota was still looking a bit tense though and was speaking to Mr Blackbourne. "But if they think..."

"We can sort out the details at a later time." Mr Blackbourne waved him off. "I know him. They aren't going to think anything, they are more than happy with their bird. Don't read too much into it, Mr Lee."

He turned his steel eyes back on me. "Miss Sorenson, we probably should get back to the event. It is starting to get late and I'm assuming you haven't eaten yet?"

Well, that was true. Considering everything, it had been a while since I had even felt hungry.

"Plus, people should probably at least get a glimpse of you before they start coming up with wild theories about you being spirited away or something." Dr Green pointed out as he reached down and helped me off of Kota's lap.

Instead of letting me go, he placed my hand in the crook of his arm and started walking towards the building. "Let's go, Pookie. We have things to do, places to see."

Nathan leaned over to Silas and said something to him, and Silas laughed. I wondered what was funny.

I sighed and looked up at Dr Green, who was looking down at me with his green eyes glittering mischievously. "I guess I have to show up sometime, don't I?"

"Yes, you must." Dr Green grinned at me just as Mr Blackbourne came to my other side and started walking along with us. The other four trailed behind as they chatted with each other.

Oh well, it wasn't like anything else eventful could happen before the night was over.