After we all ate dinner, we sat at the table talking about various different things like school, jobs and friends, the usual. Anything except the pending doom date that was only an hour away now. Amber held my hand, squeezing it every so often when someone spoke about someone they had lost to the Culling, something that we all did to remember them on this day of days. She didn't want me to be chosen, but who could blame her? She's in the shoes I was in 4 years ago when August was taken from us. I gave her a soft smile, reassuring her that it would never happen, because it never has and it never will.

Sadly, after August's name was called from the pool, my family fell apart. My parents always fought every night it seemed like. Until my father finally had enough, calling the marriage off and deciding to file for divorce. Amber and I were destroyed at the thought of our father leaving because things weren't ok and for the longest time, we both blamed ourselves because we felt that we were to blame. Because we couldn't fill the hole that formed when August left us.

Not to mention, in our times divorce was a very bad thing. Normally, if the family spilt up, the children were as well, meaning that Amber and I would be separated. But, my father remained in the house, but lived down stairs in our basement. He busied himself with work and so did our mom. They never really saw much of each other because they kept themselves so busy once Amber and I got old enough to take care of ourselves. Our dad was always out, so when we could, we would go to see him whenever he was home. It was hard at first when they separated but there was a compromise and our parents both no longer fought.

I loved and admired my father and I longed to follow his footsteps. Studying criminology and sociology myself at college, and now ready to start my second semester at the police academy. Though, I knew most of what I was being taught since my dad taught me everything I needed to know after I revealed what I was going to go to college for. He didn't want me to become a detective, but there was no changing this girls mind. I was top of my class so far at my school and on my way to becoming valedictorian. There was no way to tell this girl no, it was in my blood. 

So, against his wishes, he started the physical training before I went to my first semester of college. He told me that he wished that someone would have helped him train before going to college to make it easier on himself. For the past 4 years, I've been kicking ass and taking names training three times a week at the local shooting range and gym with my dad and his coworkers. They said that they couldn't wait to work along side me when I was able to join them and that they would eagerly await the day.

I pressed my forehead against Amber's, giving her another reassuring smile, "Breathe." I joked. She breathed out a huff of air, giving me a playful smile back. As we sat there, looking at each other, the adults all stood to their feet, causing us to break away from each others gazes. The mothers with young children gathered them up and bid their older ones, who had to stay, goodbye. My mother did as well, along with our father. 

One by one, everyone filed into the house, the time of the Culling coming upon us. So, per tradition, I stood to my feet, being the host family's oldest child I had to give the speech that everyone dreaded to hear. "Tonight," I began, getting everyones attention. Everyone's eyes fell to me, making me gulp, nervous that so many kids were watching me expectingly, "we join the pool. Some, for the first time and others," I waved to myself, "for the last. In a few short moments, a bus will arrive and take us to the place where the Culling will be held. I ask of you all, to be brave. Not to be scared," I looked around me at the terrified kids, my heart aching for them, "to show kindness to everyone, and most important of all," I said taking a deep breath, "Good luck to you all." 

With that, a man dressed in a suit came to our back gate, opening it. A beast. I looked to everyone, waving my hand to them. "It's time. Now please, everyone walk in a single file to the bus and sit down according to attire. First years in the front, last years in the very back." I commanded, the children all filing together in their appropriate groups. I stood at the back with the few my age who were on their last year. I didn't know them well, I knew that they went to my high school. Now that I was in college, I barely recognized them. 

We all filed into the the waiting bus one by one, going dreadfully slow. I was at the very end, making sure everyone was on the bus. The beast that was standing behind me, seemed to be on edge, as if he was being watched. I peeked over my shoulder at him, regretting it. He snarled at me, causing me to jump and bump into the guy in front of me. I yelped, "Sorry." I kept my eyes in front of me. The guy ahead of me didn't even look at me, probably too afraid of the beast that was behind us. 

I boarded the bus quickly, scanning the bodies for my sisters face, finding her almost in the middle of the bus. I touched her shoulder, knowing that this was the last time I would see her for the rest of the night. She gave me a quick smile, not wanting to show the bus driver, who was also a beast, any sign of emotion. I told her, no emotion tonight. Not during Culling. It made you look weak, and we were not weak, not tonight. No matter what happened, no tears. 

I slumped into the back seat, looking at my family home as we began to pull away. Our families weren't allowed to wave us goodbye, they weren't allowed to stand in the windows and watch us leave either. Rules that we were made to follow set by the beasts. 

I crossed my legs, my bare feet sliding on the floor, the dust making it even more slippery. Another rule, no shoes. Because if you ran, humans would eventually step on something that would hurt, blood making us easier to track. Not that we would get far, the beasts were better than us in every way, even in their human forms. They could easily catch us, every single one of us, one of them able to catch 5 us. Not that we dared do that, they would kill any that tried to escape, to make an example. Don't try to escape, the only escape is death. 

The short ride from our suburb to the field where the Culling was held took only 10 minutes, so we didn't have to sit on the stuffy bus for very long. Luckily for us, we didn't have to wait for check in, especially the older ones. The first years had their own booth, since they had to complete their own registration, we had to say our name and blood type, then we were checked in. 

I went to my spot in the back, since fifth years stood in the back and so on. I looked around the crowd, the only sound was the sound of soft footsteps on the grass. We weren't allowed to talk, another rule. I found my baby sister, standing with her back to me, I wouldn't mistake her medium blonde waves for anyone else. I breathed in a sigh of relief, knowing that I would be able to see her from where I was standing. I looked ahead of me as one of the beasts walked passed us, growling at us to make sure we were behaving, a sign of control and dominance, things these creatures thrive on. 

I kept my eyes on the screen ahead of us, knowing that if I looked back to Amber that I wouldn't be the only one in trouble. I clenched my jaw as the one passing us paused, looking over his shoulder to my row. Shit. I thought to myself, beginning to wonder who was acting up enough to catch his eye. But he never turned around, he instead kept walking and scanning the crowd for anyone who dared to step out of line, along with the 10 or so others that patrolled the pool. 

The pool was what everyone was referred to that was in the Culling. The name stemmed from the glass bowl the mayor stuck his hand in that held everyones name. Everyone just calls us the pool, an emotionless name for all the children who was chosen to be dragged and ripped away from their families. 

Finally, the mayor came on stage, his wife in tow. They wore their ceremonial dress, walking across the stage like they do every year, heads low, as if their children were in the pool. But their status kept their children out of the pool. I hated them, pretending as if this affected them, when it didn't. 

The mayor tapped the mic, clearing his throat. "Hello," he greeted to the crowd, "welcome to this years Culling." He began his long speech, the same one he gave every year. I stood there, growing annoyed that I had to stand here, listening to the same speech like everyone else. I wanted to get this over with, so I could go home and study for my finals. I began to drown out the mayors speech, going over my studies in my mind. Before I knew it, the video we had to watch about the Great War began to play, bringing me out of my thoughts. I watched as reenacted moments from the war showed deaths of both human and beasts, until eventually, we drew an alliance between them. Thus, creating the Culling. 

I watched as the images flashed on the screen, blood and core splashing the screen. I didn't even flinch. I had seen it multiple times, the fake blood and the violence growing stale over the years. 

The video reel ended and the mayor clapped, motioning us to all clap with him. Then the next speaker came out, a male. Every year it's flip flopped, a representative Beast coming forward for their leader to give the same speech. I took a deep breath, watching as the beast began to speak. We were getting closer and closer to the drawing, my nervous starting to set in. I knew I wouldn't be chosen, there was too many of us. The hundreds upon hundreds of names waiting the the opaque bowl sitting off to one side, seeming to only add on to the anxiousness of the crowd. 

Any of our names could be called. 

Any of us could be taken. 

But only one of us wouldn't be returning home. 

I prayed that if anyone, it wouldn't be my sister, or even me.