The Choice: Part Four There's nothing like relief filling you to the brim with warmth inside when you know you've succeeded. I don't get that feeling, I've failed...awfully. Two, that's it. No more, no less. Two. I didn't save them, I didn't save them. The girl woke quickly, she has sharp eyes, cunning, confident, wild. She was ready to wake, I just prompted her to wake a little sooner. The boy...the boy woke me, so he never was in any danger. He saved my #life. Saved my #life...but I didn't save... Fourteen; that's how many there were...are? No...were...definitely were. I heard them scream and...and...no that can't be real...this can't be real...it is. I know it is, I watched them...ha -hack...chop...cut...slice. I know I watched them scream...I don't want to know any more was real. Am I sane? No, not anymore. I feel like I'm running, and I can't stop, but I want to...want to...die...do I? Yes? No? Maybe, maybe. I'm lying on my side, my knees drawn close to my chest to help ward off the horrible stomach cramps I keep getting. I'm shivering, drenched in sweat, cold, frightened and wanting to throw up. "Well? Are you going to just lie there and do nothing, or are you going to help me out here?". It's a horrible thing to say, especially since she's witnessed the same atrocity I'm traumatised from. Still, she's quick, and sharp to the point, I've got a funny feeling that I'll need her on my side. "I'm Jade, and you are?" "Feeling rather sick." I snap. Her lips pucker as she judges me. Soon enough though they twist into a lopsided, yet respectful, smile. "I'm Kathy." She frowns then mumbles, "Yeah well thanks for waking me up and all that... But don't think for one second this means I owe you one, got it?" "Sure." I let it slide, it wasn't that she was being ungrateful, she just seemed a little embarrassed that for one second her #life had relied on me. There's nothing wrong with that, some people just like to control their own fate; self reliant. "So what city are you from?". She asks me, chewing intently on a bit of old, soggy, gum. "Three, you?". Her eyes remain fixed on a strand of hair that floats millimetres from her iridescent green eyes. Somehow, after all that's happened, she manages to look bored. Jade's either one of two things, heartless or a brilliant actress. I think it's the second one, her eyes keep flitting around the room every so often, and her ridged position suggests that she's not at ease. "Five." She replies, though there's still a small shaky undertone to her voice. "Wait a minute, five?" Jade nods as I stare open mouthed at her. Five is the city of tolerance, children are taught to be seen not heard, and to listen not talk. "I'm sorry, it's just you don't really seem the tolerant type." "Yeah well you don't exactly seem the obedient type either honey." She retorts. In city three you are taught obedience, to always follow the rules and do as you are told. How I hate the rules, the endless rules. The boy sits in the corner looking at us intently. "Do you know him?" I ask, trying to figure out why he's staring at us. "No, I tried to ask him his name, but he wouldn't speak to me." "I wonder why." "It's obvious isn't it? He's from seven!". City seven -cowardice, courage is seen as wrong there, children are brought up to be shy and needy. It's a horrible thought but at least he'll be easy to kill, if it ever comes down to it. A screeching enters the chamber, followed by a voice on microphone. "Meet your team mates for the next challenge." The walls begin to rise, and I find myself somewhere totally new.