We all stood in the field silently trying our hardest not to move, afraid that one of the monsters would lash out at us if we fell out of line. I struggled with not fanning my face or neck as it began to get hot, another sign that it was getting closer to the end. Everyone was getting miserable, the heat making us want to cool ourselves, but no one was allowed to move. My eyes looked around to the backs of children's heads, trying to distract myself as I felt sweat beads roll down my forehead into my eyes and down my neck to my back. I wanted to dab the sweat off but I didn't dare move. No one did. We all had to stand perfectly still.

The beast's speech ended and the mayor was back, clearing his throat awkwardly. "Alright, now," he paused, looking over to the crystalline bowl as it was pulled toward the bureaucrat, "it is time for the pool to be drawn from." He spoke, clapping his hands together, something that he always did. I rolled my eyes, honestly, the never of this man. We all clapped in response, it's not like we could do anything else. I speak for myself when I say that I was happy for that little bit of breeze that was created by clapping.

No one dared to breathe, everyone feeling the same impending doom as the bowl stopped beside the mayor. My heart thumped in my chest, waiting for him to stick his hand in. This year was different, he looked nervous, as if he was being watched. My mind momentarily wandered back to the beast the growled at me as I got on the bus, why did everyone seem on edge? They were all normally assholes, but this year, it seemed like it was a little worse. My detective senses were tingling.

He stuck his hand in, digging around until he pulled a name out. As usual, he paused before reading the name. "This year, our honored Culling will be..." he seemed to not want to look, almost as if it was going to curse him if he did. Everyone held their breath, waiting as he stood there, reading the name. 

"Amelia Harrison." My heart stopped. What? I looked around, the people parting to let the Beasts through to claim me. I gulped, looking around but doing my best to not panic. Was this really happening? No family has ever had to give two children up. This has never happened before. Ever. 

I saw my sisters face, a mixture of relief and fear on her face. I gave her a quick wink, before being yanked forward by the beast who found me first. I was dragged to a side tent, being tossed into a cage. I yelped in surprise, kicking myself back so I was far enough away that no one could reach me from the outside. I looked around, the beasts all eyeing me, as if expecting me to start crying, to beg for my life. But I didn't. I looked around in a mixture of fear and awe at the massive men who all moved about the booth in silence. One growled at me, letting me know that I was starring for a little too long. I immediately looked down to my lap, avoiding anymore eye contact. 

I realized that I wouldn't see my father ever again. Or my mother. My last interaction with them both being good, but not what I imagined. We had high hopes since there was never more that one child chosen from a family, and this was unheard of. Imagine the look on their faces when Amber comes home. Alone. 

I gulped, my mind swarming with thoughts of my family as the beasts picked up my cage. I slid, the jostling movement causing me to slid around in the sleek kennel. I yelped when one of them pinched me, making me move away from him. I wanted to pinch him back, but I knew better. I held on to the top so I wouldn't slid around. If they were a little more gentle I wouldn't be sliding around like an ice chip on a hot plate. 

They sat me in the back of a dark car, closing the hatch on me. I could barely see outside, my eyes adjusting to the dark windows. I was taken somewhere off to the side, probably so my sister couldn't see me. They really thrived on misery. 

I felt the car jostle and doors slam closed. Soon, they were driving away, just as quickly as my name was called, I was being taken away from everything I knew. I felt everything but fear. I did however feel despair. I wanted to tell them goodbye, to tell them that I loved them. But I couldn't, luckily, I was smart enough to hide letters incase this were to happen. I never thought this day would come, I never thought it would ever happen. Because it never has. 

I curled up into a ball in the crate I was tossed in, the feeling of smooth road beginning to rock me asleep after a time. I didn't dare given in to my tiredness though, I didn't want to be vulnerable around these creatures. So I kept myself awake by counting the bars one by one at first, then by twos, threes, fours, fives, and then tens. I was half way through my second counting of fours when the car stopped. I sat up immediately, looking at the hatch. I watched in horror as a new beast opened the cage, pulling me out by my foot. 

I yelped in pain, his large hand wrapping around my ankle and squeezing a little too hard, "I'm coming! Geez!" I sassed, pushing myself out and standing in front of the creature. I didn't dare look him in the eyes, my smart mouth was most likely going to get me into trouble either way. To my surprise, he didn't even touch me after that. He stormed away, walking to the passenger side of the car. I looked up to see a small house, lights on in every room, illuminating the grass. I looked up to the sky, seeing the moon was in its first quarter. 

"Come!" The beast commanded, causing me to jump and rush toward him. I followed the beast up the stairs and to the front door. I felt his large hand wrap around my upper arm, before I could blink, he tossed me into the house. I heard what sounded like a lock, causing me turn and see that he was gone. I went for the handle, seeing that it was reversed and the locks were on the outside. 

He locked me in the house. 

I took a deep breath, looking around the quaint house. The house was indeed small, the dinning room and kitchen directly behind me. I stepped further into the house, seeing a small sitting area with an old tv sitting against one wall. I looked around, stepping toward the hallway to see two open doors. I peeked into the one to my left to see a very small bathroom, nothing special about it. Other than it was entirely white, no other color in the room apart from the silver mirror, shower cabin and towel rack. I looked to my right to see a small bedroom, with a single bed and nothing else. I sighed, looking around for a light switch and turning the light off. I did the same with the bathroom. 

I walked back down the hallway to the dining room, running my hand over the table top. It looked like my grandmas, the old oak table she had for special occasion such as Thanksgiving or Christmas and any other special dinner that our family had. I rapped my fingers on the wood, sliding into the matching wooden chair. I rubbed my palms on the smooth surface, looking around the building. 

I felt better that I was the only one here, but not comfortable enough to sleep or eat. I did not want to move, and for a long time, I didn't I simply sat at the table, thinking. 

I listened to the sounds of the house, a trick my father taught me. Any good detective should be able to listen for what sounded normal and what didn't. My ears picked up on a soft tick, tick, tick, making me turn to see a clock on the wall. It was past 1 am, knowing that the sun was up when I left, I knew I was far away from my home. We made only a few turns, the rest were straight shots. I made sure to pay attention to every turn and count the time in sets of 1, 2, 4, 5 and 10, another trick my dad taught me incase I was ever kidnapped. 

Everything was a game, and there would always be one winner. 

I aimed to be the winner, no matter the cost.