Artemisia

It’s easy to make one mistake. To cross that line from good girl to the one who isn’t a sure thing. And once you cross that line it takes more than a lifetime to go back to the other side. And so you keep paying for that mistake until it catches up to you. Then you are either proven worthy to have that mistake wiped clean or you aren’t.

Twins are rare. No one knows how or why the Law of Twins was made, not really. But many have some guesses. The council says that it is because twins are too similar and people who are too similar are bad for each other. They are too prone to fight and they know each other’s weak points. That makes a dangerous environment for them and the people around them. So one is chosen to stay in their home while the other leaves, never to be seen from again. We are told that they are put to work in mills, but no one knows if that’s the truth. But it’s the law and it is what we are told by the high-ups so no one questions it. Not publicly anyway.

Do I believe all of this? Depends who’s asking.

Anyway, I’ve made more than one mistake. At first my mistakes were by accident. Than I gave up. It didn’t matter anymore how many mistakes I make because I had made enough already for me not to be chosen. It was over for me.

It’s over for me. It’s over for me.

And walking into that room and heading towards the ebony table, that is the thought that kept playing in my mind. It’s over. And soon it will officially be over. All of those who have been worrying can finally move on. Soon I’ll be nothing but a memory that when reached for wiggles from your grasp. Nothing, forgotten. The sooner the better. I don’t want them to mourn me. I want them to live their lives without sadness, which means forgetting about me.

Is it too much to ask that they hurry it up a bit? Its not like it’s a hard choice. They’re probably in there discussing the weather not our fates.

Finally the head judge comes out of the council and walks toward us. “The chosen one is Carla Bradley. Artemisia walk out the left door to the chamber. You will be given further information and instructions there. Congratulations Carla. You will go out the right door.” Then she walks out the middle door and is gone.

  Carla looks sideways at me but doesn’t say a word. “Goodbye Carla,” I say. I wait for a moment and when she doesn’t answer, I walk out the left door as I was told. This is the last time I ever hear form Carla and she didn’t even say goodbye. It hurts worse than a knife wound.

 

 

“Artemisia, Artemisia, Artemisia.” The council member clucks disapprovingly at me. “You always were a disappointment.”

“Me? A disappointment? You cant’ be disappointed when you never believed in or even expected anything of me in the first place.”

“Remember who you are speaking to, girl.” She warns.

“What does it matter now anyway? I wasn’t chosen. Mistakes don’t matter. Then again, they haven’t mattered for me a long time.”

“There are worse punishments than not being chosen. And if you do not shape up and respect your superiors, I will see to it that you feel some of those punishments.”  

“Who are you calling superior?” She slaps me across the face. Hard. “I thought we aren’t allowed to show emotion.”

“Don’t!” she screams in rage, “Don’t even!” She takes a moment to calm herself. “Report to the nearest shuttle in ten minutes. You aren’t not allowed to bring anything with you and you will be searched before hand. Everything will be provided when you get there. That is all you may go.”

Ten minutes. 

Reviews

[Sylvana]

Interesting, I want to see more.

[Wild Willow Blue]

Another great chapter.

[Sophie]

oooohhh! Next chapter please :)

[Odayin]

Hmm, should be interesting to see where it goes. I was a little surprised the choosing was done so quick. I though you'd take us through the pressureing feelings once more. But either way it was great, so nice job