Carla

I made it. I’m chosen. People swarm me, congratulating me. But the one person that I wanted to have there the most wasn’t.

I spot him in the corner of the room looking out the window. The window that shows in a clear view Artemisia walking to the plane that will carry her away for good. As I walk over, I can’t help watching her board. I feel a sharp pang but immediately shut it down. She sealed her fate. It isn’t my fault that she was always the bad child. And I’m glad that it wasn’t me that had to leave.

I finally reach him. “Hello.” I say. He doesn’t answer, just continues watching as the plane takes off. I clear my throat, ”Hello, Carson.”

His shaggy blonde hair flips as he turns his head towards me. “Hey, Carla.” I purse my lips, I thought he would sound happier to see me. He turns back to the window and doesn’t look at me until the plane fades completely from view. “This is stupid. I mean, she never exactly played by the rules, but she shouldn’t have been sent away.”

“Are you saying that I should have instead?”

“ No, of course not Carla. Not everything is about you, you know.”

I decide to ignore the last part and be content that he doesn’t want me gone. “Well ten people had to be sent away. She probably would have been leaving anyway. She just left a few days earlier this way.”

“They wouldn’t let me say goodbye.”

I frown; this was not the way this conversation was supposed to go. Carson had been friends with Artemisia and I for years now. He was my one mistake. They had warned me that if I was friends with him that he would lead to trouble. His parents were Undesirables so he was adopted into a Normal family. They said that it was in his blood and that he would drag me down with him.

Despite their warnings, I continued to be friends with him. I couldn’t help it. And contrary to what they said, he remained without a single mistake, toeing the line on the occasion, but never crossing it. They still wrote it down as a mistake to give me a lesson, though. And now he seems to not even notice the sacrifice that I made. It’s all about Artemisia.

“Don’t you even care?” He snaps at me. I blink and take a step back in surprise. “If it had been Artemisia that was chosen she wouldn’t be enjoying this party. She would be begging to go in your place. And here you are.”

“What does it matter?!” It is his turn to look surprised. I have never raised my voice toward him in my life. “She’s as good as dead to us now!” He mumbles something about mills and I smile smugly. “Do you really think that that’s what happens to them? Your too naïve, Carson.” He is silent. “Now, if you would excuse me, I have a party to enjoy.” I fix my hair quickly then trudge away.

I can’t believe it! I’m tired of people comparing me to my sister! No matter how she messes up, she’s always the favorite. Mother and Father even missed the first half-hour of my party trying to visit her one last time. And now Carson. I should have guessed that he wasn’t interested in me. No one ever is. It’s all about Artemisia. No one would ever look at me when she is around.

But that is about to change, I console myself.  Because she is no longer going to be around. And eventually I will even win over Carson. There is no one stopping me now. Her leaving is the best thing that has ever happened to me. And Carson had wanted me to try to stop it! Not for a million lives like my old one.

And so, without the slightest bit feeling guilty, I am able to enjoy the rest of my party. Mine. 

Author's Note

Help?

Reviews

[shawlyn]

Hi Brooklyn,
You are showing a great deal of depth and characterisation of the twins, well done. I'm looking forward to finding out more about the society and the predicament that the twins have gotten themselves into. Very believable dialogue and thoughts.
Regards
Shawlyn

[Sylvana]

Already it sounds that each character has depth in it. I'm looking forward for more.

[Pencrafter]

Your story is interesting and absorbing, pulling the reader in and developing your characters. I would suggest using just a little more scene descriptions, telling us about the location, the room or the terrain. Also, just a couple of questions: In the next-to-last paragraph the last line, beginning with "Not for a million", seems unclear. And, in about the twelfth paragraph, the fourth from the bottom, the line that says, "Your too naive", you probably should use 'You're'. Otherwise, it's a great story, so far.

[Jeanette]

Looking foward to more!!

[Odayin]

Good
Well done

[Lydia]

I'm already in love with this story. If I'm correct it seems to be sort of like a dystopian type book which is my favorite genre. I can't wait to read more! Make sure you send me a read request once you post the next chapter!