Side Note: Someone told me this sounded like the Hunger Games, this is story is not going to be the Hunger Games. This is simply my version of a dystopian society world, and how the elites, and mates would have been selected.
Jace's Point of View:
The first day of The Rue Ceremony was today, people who were 17 years old, were selected to compete in the bloodshed, to satisfy our "human needs" – at least that is what the government claimed. The ceremony was a two-weeklong event, in which the entire civilization was required to participate. Bids could be placed, campaigns were made and money was wasted. The wealthy bathed in the luxuries of society, and the poor continued to drown in misery. Although my family was considered upper class, I felt myself being enveloped by dread increasingly. Day one of The Rue was selection day. Each of the seven city-states produced two champions, to compete, a boy and a girl, it was considered an honor to be selected, however this ceremony was not for the weak- physically or mentally. Your family could pay to have your entered multiple rimes, to bring more glory to your family's name. The remaining 6 days of the week were dedicated to the government's people making you "beautiful," testing your endurance, training, and forcing the regular luxuries of the government onto the champions. Week 2 was when The Rue officially started. Girls competed against other girls, and boys against boys, on the last three days, whoever survived, male or female were put against each other. The events of the ceremony were always a "surprise" however; everyone knew it was going to be brutal. On the very last day, the Creator- the person who controls, and creates that year's game pairs each one of the remaining girls and boys, and they battle, until the last couple is standing. This is how they created the perfect mate, and the elites of the society. If you won The Rue, you were wealthy, noble, but also in severe danger.
Soft light flowed through my bedroom window. Max, my tiny 9-year-old brother stirred next to me, as I quietly tried to roll out of bed. Me feet touched the worn wood of our manor's floors, and I shifted forward out of bad.
"Please don't go," Max, whispered, in his childlike voice. I could practically hear the desperation and sadness.
"Max, it's going to be okay, I promise. I will not be selected." Although it was an honor to compete, my parents did not pay to put my name in the raffle multiple times. When I asked why, my mother told me she was too afraid to lose me.
Max's lip was trembling fiercely. His round eyes widened, and tears threatened to spill over. I kissed his head, and ruffled his blonde curly mop, similar to the curls, found on my golden blonde head. I left him in my bed, where he came when he had nightmares, and locked my self in the en-suite.
Deep breaths, I told my self, as I turned the water on scalding, and stepped into the shower water. To be honest, I was terrified. I am 17 for god sakes! I am not ready for a mate, and I am definitely not ready to kill people. If I do win, I will be a murderer, I will be stuck with my "mate" forever and I do not know what I will become.
After my shower, I quickly put on my gear. All people who had the chance to compete were required to wear the gear they provided, for the first day of The Rue Ceremony. I slipped into; a slick black fitted shirt, very tight black pants, a small backpack and boots. I looked badass! After low-key checking myself out, I went down stairs, where my parents were seated in front of the large projector, waiting for the announcement of each of the champions for the seven city-states. The countdown of the names began; I was in section 7, the last city-state. The suspense was setting me on edge.