Execution List

Kiarra

I was running out of fake smiles, but I dug deep.

“Last shift for the week. I’ll see you later.” I smiled and turned, hoping the auto locks would magically turn faster and get me away from her wandering eyes.

Maybe I was just having a bad day? I considered as I made my way through the prisoner blocks.

The first level was only checked at night, so I started there. As far as I could tell, nothing had changed from the morning, so I quickly went to the second level.

My heart started to thump.

Left and right, everywhere I looked, the cells were emptied.

Standing at the end of the silent hall where the mysterious rogue had been held, I flipped furiously through the pages.

There was nothing. We’ve always kept detailed records. How can this be?

Suddenly my eyes traveled to a clipboard on the wall, near where they had kept Angela. It was labeled ~Finals~.

I opened the first page, and my stomach started to travel to meet the lump in my throat.

Execution list:

Angela

Martina

Paul

Lucy…

The list seemed endless. Page after page, a detailed record of executions scheduled for the evening.

Disgusted and lightheaded, I replaced the Book of Death in its place and made for the main entrance.

“Glenda! Glenda?” I called before I was even close enough for her to hear me.

“Whoa there!” she laughed light-heartedly, “something spooked you?”

I tried to compose myself. I had no idea why the sight of this wolf’s name bothered me so badly. I felt violently sick every time I had to go down there.

The routine was always the same. Go to Glenda, get my board and my ID, and do the head counts. Every time I went, there were more prisoners to replace the ones that wouldn’t conform.

We would lose ten, but we’d gain twenty.

That’s just how it was.

I know my pack has always been this way, and there’s a reason behind it all. A purpose, a unified goal. But still, I can’t bring myself to get right with it. All the suffering, all the pain.

Was this really worth it?

This week, it seemed they were going out faster than they were coming in.

~Maybe that was a good thing~, I wondered.

Maybe the dissenters were finally starting to see our pack’s purpose.

Glenda beamed up from behind her glowing computer screen, “Coffee?”

“No, no thanks,” I smiled faintly before grabbing my pass.

“Whoa there, girlie, what’s troubling you?”

I couldn’t decide if there was suspicion or genuine concern in her eyes.

“I didn’t sleep well,” I tried with charm and tried to throw her off the scent of my disgust, “rough night,” I laughed lightly.

“Well, if you run into anything, you just buzz up; I’m here.”

Glenda went peacefully back to her computer, but I swear her eyes followed me through the door.

The lights above me hummed an institutional harmony that helped fuel my unease. I made my way through the names before reaching the end hallway. The cell that had housed the rogue Angela was empty.

My heart sank.

My mind went back to the day I first set eyes on her and the words that had haunted me ever since.

A cold sweat broke on my forehead, and I couldn’t breathe.

I needed to get out of there.

***

“Knock knock, sweetling.”

Rose’s head poked around the door to my room.

I had taken refuge in my room after my shift, somehow managing to make it back without passing out.

The last thing I wanted was company.

“I’m not feeling awesome, Mom, I’m gonna just rest a while if you don’t mind?”

“Oh, but my dear, you’ve forgotten? I have a surprise for you!”

She was gushing, clearly excited, but I couldn’t give her the appropriate gratitude.

“Mom, I’m sorry.”

“Nonsense! I have a set of dresses on their way up to you now. Just pick the items out that you love, and I’ll take care of everything else.”

“Dresses? For what?”

“Well, your father and I didn’t want to make you nervous, but we’re throwing you a suitor ball! Isn’t that exciting?”

“A what?” I half-giggled, but suddenly, the strange meeting I had had with that wolf in the woods crossed my mind.

I hadn’t told anyone, so there’s no way Rose could know.

And yet, she looked at me with a suspicion I’d never seen...

“It seems like you’re troubled, darling,” Rose frowned.

She was right. I was troubled, but how could I approach this without sounding crazy?

“Your next shift starts in an hour. How about some supper?” she pushed gently, eyes still busily trying to figure me out.

“I’m not very hungry, Mom.”

She said nothing else but headed to the door.

I decided it was worth a try.

“Hey, Mom?”

She turned to face me again, this time smiling, “Yes, dear?”

“Is there something else I should know?”

Rose hesitated, but she never faltered, “All you need to do is make sure you’re ready and at the Great Hall by seven sharp.

She smiled another toothy grin.

I knew no matter what, I wasn’t getting out of my shift or whatever this suitor thing was.

She closed the door behind her, and I pulled myself reluctantly from my bed.

The thought of doing another shift nauseated me, but dutifully, I threw on my jacket and made my way.

“Kiarra!” I was startled until I realized it was my dad.

“Hi, Pop,” I smiled.

“Your mother says you’re a little out of sorts?” he frowned, checking my forehead for fever.

I didn’t know where to begin, but something inside me that I could not explain kept my true thoughts to myself.

“I’m fine,” I lied, “didn’t sleep great, that’s all.”

“Well, tonight, you have nothing to be worried about,” he smiled encouragingly, but something clicked inside me that I didn’t expect.

In all my years in this family, I’d never felt fear. Especially not where my dad was concerned.

He must have read my face, “Yes, the prominent families of the territories will be here,” he beamed some more, “all eyes are on you.”

I’m pretty sure this was his attempt to console me, but it was having an adverse effect.

Again, I felt the world closing in around me.

Again, I needed to get out of there.

I looked at my watch. “Okay, I’m almost late for my shift, Dad,” I smiled; it took me everything I had, “gotta go!”

I turned and fled.

“See you tonight!” he called after me.

“You bet!” I yelled back but kept moving forward. I couldn’t stand to look at him.

I kept my head down as I jogged toward the cells.

~Kiarra, Please help me!~

The words of the now-missing rogue still haunted me.

I needed to know where she went.

I descended the stone steps to the prison and grabbed my board and my pass from Glenda. “At it again, eh kid?” she winked.

It wasn’t like I knew her. But still, I needed to know.

“The prisoners on the second level, where have they gone?”

She looked back at me coolly. Not unkind, but not with the jovial disposition I was used to.

“They’re scheduled for execution tonight,” she cleared her throat, “as part of the suitor’s ball.”

I was lost for words.

What sort of pack held public executions as entertainment?

Questions swirled around in my head.

What kind of pack were we?