Thomas
The morning of the reaping is one that is always busy for the people in the headquarters. Everyone makes sure that the event goes off without a hitch. I on the other hand have to spend this morning meeting the newest member of the Chosen. There is one man who scored higher than anyone has in a long time so he was picked to join the ranks here in headquarters.
"Thomas the young man is here." I hear a voice come through the intercom system. Amazingly after the great illness, we have been able to restore almost all of the technology we had at the time. Although it works most people do not have access to certain things. That is one of the things that I have been working to change.
"Send him in." The next second the door opens and a young man walks in. He is tall with blonde hair and I can tell that he is very popular with the ladies. He already has an arrogant air to him, so I can tell that he is going to be one to watch. "So Michael tell me a little about yourself. Have you taken a look at the females for your pick today in the reaping?"
To most these may seem like pointless questions, but I am trying to get a better picture of the guy's state of mind. He strikes me as someone who is very self-absorbed and that can potentially cause problems for me. I try and surround myself with people that I feel are wanting to help lead people into a better future. Unfortunately, I am not getting that feeling from him, which will also determine what type of job I give him.
"I came from a smaller village and had your typical upbringing. I was by far the smartest person there and I was pretty bored. I was pretty sought after by the young ladies so I have an idea of the types I want to stay away from. There was one chick named Cora who had this crazy idea that she would give me her virginity and that I would pick her during the reaping. She wasn't that good so I don't think I'll be picking her if you know what I mean." He laughs as he says this.
So this jerk is lying to try and make himself look better. Does he think that this is something that will make him look better in my eyes? I knew this guy was going to be a pain to deal with, but he is making it so much worse at the moment.
"To be honest I haven't looked at the girls. Since I was told that I scored the highest, I'll just pick the girl with the best score. I mean I deserve it right?" He laughs some more. His arrogance is pissing me off more and more as he speaks. Right then it hits me that I am not going to burst his bubble yet.
"Well, it's good to know that you are aware of what you deserve. I will see you at the reaping." I motion for the door and he walks out.
I am going to let this idiot see just how much he messed up in time. Not only did he show his utter disrespect for me and my office but he also disrespected my Cora. This will be some great entertainment watching him squirm later when it all comes to light.
Cora
Over the last day, the females have started opening up and showing their true colors. One, in particular, is reminding me of what I don't want to be. Megan is a beautiful girl on the outside, but her soul is black. She has done nothing but brags about herself and her scores for the last few hours. She just knows that she will have the highest scores and will be chosen first. The funny thing is that she will have no idea until the reaping begins what her scores are. I have just kept my mouth closed and watched the show.
"What's the matter, Cora? Upset that my scores are better and that I'll get a rich mate?" She laughs and a few girls join in. These women have no self-respect if they are going to just follow along with her.
"I'm good. I'm not concerned with my scores. I did my best. I just want to hopefully get a nice mate. I could care less about his status as long as he treats me well." I hear her scoff.
"You can't be serious. That is the only thing that we should be concerned with. Comfort and riches are all we have to hope for. Goodness, you are a moron." With that statement, she shakes her head.
"Ladies I have an announcement. The leader of the Chosen will be taking part in the reaping today. Be ready in fifteen minutes for the start of the events." The lady turns and walks out of the room. She had barely gotten out of the room when I heard Megan.
"Guess we all know who my mate will be!" She just continued gushing so I just stopped listening.
We were all given a white dress to wear which matched all the other females. It was a modest dress that covered everything and was not overly form-fitting. Many had complained that the males would not be able to see our figures in the get-ups but they seem to forget that all of our assessment information and pictures were available to the males. I am starting to think that most of these girls have stopped using their brains. I blame that on Megan.
"Alright, ladies follow me." With that announcement, we lined up and made our way to the area where we will wait for the reaping to start. The females have to stand in small groups of twenty in straight lines. There are television cameras set up in various areas of the building. The males are all seated in padded chairs that are set up almost like the risers in a school gym. The males look like they are having the time of their life with their cocktails and snacks. They are laughing and joking around like they haven't a care in the world.
A song starts playing over the PA system and everyone goes to attention. The leaders of the Chosen begin filling out onto the stage and take a seat as the announcer begins his speech about the reaping. Over the years my family has always watched the reaping. It was one of the few things that we got to watch other than the news. I knew that my parents and grandparents would be gathered around the television watching and waiting to see what would happen to me.
The announcer begins going over the results and listing the girls in order. Megan was listed as number one with the top score. She stood smirking as the other names were called out. I began to worry when my name was not called. When the announcer got to the end-all all of the girls began to look at me and I knew that they also noticed that I had not been called and given a ranking.
"I know that many of you have the same question about why there were only ninety-nine females listed. The next speaker will address this." The speaker then walked away from the podium and a man who can only be described as beautiful and stoic walked up to the podium.
"Ladies and gentlemen not only here in attendance but those watching from home, my name is Thomas and I am the leader of the Chosen." His face held no emotion whatsoever. From the corner of my eye, I see Megan began to try and adjust her dress to make her look more inviting.
"I have come today not only to show myself to you all but to also claim my mate. The reason that there are only ninety-nine females is that the one that was not mentioned scored the highest ever score on her assessments. Not only in the normal categories but also in the fact that she is pure." With that, a loud murmur could be heard all across the area.
"This woman whose name is Cora will be my mate."
ThomasAs those words left my mouth I looked over to Michael who was seated to the side. His face visibly paled and I saw the huge gulp that he took when he realized he had been busted. At this moment I received so much satisfaction that I almost smiled. I knew that I couldn't do that as it would show emotion. I had been trained from an early age that as the next leader that to anyone who was not family I had to appear to be a tyrant with no feeling.Throughout the years that had been many stories circulated that made me sound like a heartless monster. That couldn't be further from the truth but I had to make sure that those outside my circle saw me as just that, a monster. My only fear in this is that my mate would be terrified of me. I knew that only those who were just after power would easily come to me and try to seduce me and want to be my mate. I had never entertained a woman because I always wanted to wait for the woman
CoraI look into his eyes more confused than I think I have ever been. No one has ever said that I am above them. I know my family cares about me but even they have never lifted me above them. Yet I sit here looking into the eyes of the man that leads a whole continent of people and he says that I am greater."You look like you don't believe me." He says with a chuckle, and I feel myself begin to relax again. He smiles at me. "Cora I have waited to find someone that I thought I would be able to love. I waited to meet the woman I would fall in love with. I listened to your answer to your questions and I know that you are looking for the same thing. You have never been intimate with anyone and neither have I. I want us to try and make this a real relationship and not just a mating."I know that I am sitting here with my mouth hanging wide open and look like a total idiot. I take a moment and study this man in front of me. He is beyond handsome and it is obvious
CoraThomas looks at me in anticipation as I sit and contemplate my next answer. I look once again into those eyes that seem to always captivate me and I know how I should answer.“Yes, I did often feel like I had no freedom. I’m not sure how much you have been outside of the headquarters or how many villages you have actually seen, but women are not treated as equals. There are very few men who actually care about their mates. I was lucky enough to live in a home where my father wasn’t physically abusing my mother. Well, at least not where I had ever witnessed it. My grandparents were together before the reaping so they were actually in love.” I see the look on his face and I can see that he has not heard this or at the very least knew that it was a widespread problem. “Most women in my village were with men who would abuse them. They were treated as second class citizens. That is why I have acted the way I have. I was
CoraWaking up the next morning I find myself confused as to where I am and what I am doing here. After a few deep breaths and calming myself, I realize that I am Thomas’s house and that this is my new home. Just knowing that he wants to take care of me and make me happy gives me more hope then I have ever had in my life.Thoughts of what my life has been up until now make their way into my head. Had I really spent my life living in fear of what the day may bring, granted my life was never as bad as some in my village? I think that for the most part I have been spared the worst of what this life has to offer, but that still doesn’t mean that my life has been a bed of roses. Knowing that these thoughts were doing nothing to help my mood I decided to get up and start the day.Last night at the end of our date Thomas walked me to the door and told me that today he would have to return to work. He also said that he wanted me to come with him. After givin
CoraI could tell that the two of them were having some sort of weird conversation about pasta and bread, but I honestly had no clue as to what it all meant. Thomas was a very different person when he is at headquarters and I can’t help but think that maybe he’s that way to protect himself from those around him. Just from the way he’s talking to Elliot I can see that he trusts this man more than anyone around him. I’m hoping that this means that there will be someone helping us to change this world we call home.I look up and notice that they are saying their goodbyes and I give Elliot a slight smile and wave. I look over to Thomas and see him looking at me with a twinkle in his eye. He is up to something that much I am sure, but what could it be.Thomas begins showing what he would like for me to do in helping him at headquarters. He tells me how the leaders mates would help in the office until children are born. I feel my cheeks heating
ThomasI could tell that Cora had questions about what just happened. She was fidgeting in her seat and I could practically see the wheels spinning in her head. Even though we have only been together for a day and a half I can say that I already pick up on her emotions. She has let her guard down with me and so now I can tell what she is feeling, and right now she is curious.“I do not for one second believe a word that man says. I knew the moment he walked into my office that he was going to be in trouble. I told you that I had watched most of your evaluation. I know the doctor who examined you personally and they would never lie about your purity. I’m afraid that Michael has a different idea as to what the Chosen is about than I do. I will explain more later.”She looks over at me and I see the understanding in her eyes. She is a smart little thing to pick up on the subtle hints that I have been giving her all day. Not once has she pressed me
Cora “So you’re saying that you two have been working to take down the Chosen before the Reaping?” Elliot smiles like it’s his birthday and he just got the thing he wanted most. Thomas makes his way over to me and takes my hand in his. “Well, it is the three of us, “Rebecca states with a light in her eyes that shows that she is in this for the long haul. “Should I go over the areas that we have been working on Thomas?” “That would be great Rebecca. Let’s all have a seat because this conversation is heavy.” He leads me over to the couches and we take a seat. He never lets go of my hand and I can tell he is wanting to reassure me that everything is going to be ok. “So I guess I should start from the beginning. We all grew up here around headquarters. Just like the girls in the villages I was taken out of school way before most of the boys. I was given a temporary job of inventory for the shipments of food and logging the distribution of the food.” She s
ThomasHearing those words come from her mouth hit me light a bolt of lightning. I found myself feeling lightheaded and the thought that I may be going into shock was just around the corner. Not only did she live in a village that she was treated as a second-class citizen but she also had to live in fear of whether the main rapist would find her and do unspeakable things to her. I’m a man and I know that we all have urges, but I have never thought of getting pleasure by taking what I want by force. I couldn’t live with myself if I did something so depraved. I’m ripped from my thoughts by Rebecca running up to Cora and wrapping her arms around her.“I can’t believe that you had to love that way. Here in Headquarters women were never equal to men but they have never been treated that way. To live in fear of just walking doesn’t the street makes my head spin.” She has tears pouring down her face as well and she and Cora are wiping