Chapter 3: The Prices We Have Paid

Sorry, by the way. I'm angry because I typed the whole thing up and then accidentally deleted it and I couldn't get it back and ARGH. And I really liked the first version better than this one. I think this one has less feeling. GROAN

She had been here first.

You'd never know, though. Because when Noon called for all the people applying for Dawn, everybody rushed towards the door like they wanted to get stuck like a tin of sardines.

Whenever she thought she would be next, a hundred people would barge in front of her. I need to do something for these people, she thought. They're desperate. They need the money because they're all starving. But, if what Dusk says is true, I can't do anything for them. I can't make any changes at all.

Dusk. He had made this bearable. Whenever the door opened and people would fight to get in, he would stand up to see her and give her a smile and a slight wave. She would smile and wave back, and then more people would join in the fight to get in the door first and he would be blocked from view. And when he had waved for the twentieth time, he turned to pretending to shoot himself in the head, and she'd laugh. And then Noon would glare at her. He was really on edge too-he had cleaved somebody's head off with his sword after she had complained to him about something not being fair, because how was I supposed to know that I would actually see you in person? And after he cut her head off, he wiped his sword with his hand and gave her a menacing grin as if to say, You're next, sweetheart. Maybe not sweetheart. But something like it, she was sure.

Eventually, after waiting for two hours, she had had enough.

She kicked the person in front of her in the groin and watched her double over in pain. She grabbed the next persons head and crunched hers toward it. The person collapsed, and Astrid willed the stars and dizziness away as she pushed everyone out of her way. When she came to the door leading to Monday and his stupid crew, she threw herself sideways into it and it sprung open and smacked against the wall, causing everyone in the room to jump and look at her.

Monday stared. Noon glared. Dusk looked like he was trying to hold back fits of laughter.

"I believe I was here first. I believe it was my turn about two darned hours ago. If you're not going to let me see you, please tell me that in advance. Now, how about letting me apply for Dawn?"

Monday looked at her for a while before looking back at the current lady in the room. "You're dismissed," he said to her. She huffed but left.

"Miss Scarlett has spirit," Noon whispered to Dusk, as if it were something intriguing and rare.

"So why should we employ you?" asked Monday.

"Because..." she said, looking at Dusk. "I... I'm going to follow your orders. I want to follow you and help you. I want to make you greater."

Dusk grinned. Good job. Monday looked pleased. Noon's scowl grew deeper.

"All right. You are dismissed for now. Come back tomorrow, early morning."

She left, slightly confused, the fire that had been in her blood reduced to a few embers.

KTTKKTTKKTTKKTTKKTTK

Just as she was about to leave the house the next morning, she heard a knock at the door.

"Coming!" she shouted, running for the door. She opened it to find Dusk, who rushed inside and slammed the door shut.

She stared at him. "What are you doing?"

"I have to tell you. No matter what happens today, do not intervene. Do. Not. Intervene. Promise me this."

"All right-" she started, but he had already rushed out the door. She watched through her window as he spread his beautiful, glossy black wings and took off. She watched him until he disappeared from her view, midnight black contrasting with the whitish sky.

She realised she was smiling.

KTTKKTTKKTTKKTTKKTTK

When she arrived, the room was full of candidates. She sighed, but sat on the floor. They waited for a few minutes.

And then Monday came in, holding a man by the neck.

She watched, horrified, as Monday pressed his palm to the man's forehead and the man screamed as his flesh burnt away.

She was about to rush forward and help, but then she remembered Dusk's words.

Do not intervene.

She recited it in her head like a chant, while everyone else ran towards the man.

Do not intervene. Do not intervene. Do not intervene.

Eventually, Monday left the man on the floor and stood up. The man was dead. He was bones and charred flesh. You couldn't even tell it was a man.

"Noon?"

Noon glared at her. "Scarlett. Of course. I should have known. You are our Dawn." He wanted to see whether I would back him up or not.

She gave him a polite smile, but her head was swimming and the room was spinning. Why do I want this?

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