The Chumming happened three years ago. The water was unusually brackish and thick that day. All wards were at their spot, waiting for the signal to start their laps. The air reeked of something rotting. A horn blew and we dove in. Something in my gut turned. I remember racing through the thick, filmy water as fast and hard as I could. The pressure in my head was throbbing behind my ears, my heart was pounding. During my third lap I started to hear screams. The water around me became unnaturally disturbed. I glanced to the right and saw a ward go under, then another. I pushed as hard as I could and made it to my fifth lap. Before finishing, I felt, rather than saw a massive shadow pass below me. I could feel it rising. I reached my lap goal and scrambled up the ladder to the dock.

Looking back, I saw a younger ward struggling in the water. She had a yellow bow in her hair.

I turned away so I couldn’t see her. But I knew she was still there, struggling. I couldn’t take it. I ran back to the ladder and climbed down to help her. Before I dropped in the water, her eyes met mine and for a moment her face brightened. Then she was dragged under. I raced back up the ladder, curled into a ball and covered my ears.

I could hear the muffled sounds of fighting. Several boys must have gotten out of the water before finishing their laps. They were fighting with the guards. I could hear the dull thud of clubs. I looked for a moment to see several boys being thrown back into the water, one of them pulled a guard in with him. Rumor had it that some of the older wards were planning a revolt. The Chumming was a clear message to them and the rest of us of how completely expendable we all are.

Jael makes it back to the dock and climbs the ladder. She dries herself in the chilling wind while looking out to the horizon.

"I’m afraid West," she finally says.

Me too.

The horn sounds for us. We change and make our way to the auction.