Chapter 281
.
Eve went to work at her usual time. Most of the sector police were on the streets today. They were maintaining order, there was a lot of discontent from those not selected. Fistfights on the streets, or worse, were expected. Chief Bowen had authorized them to use a firm hand when neccessary, stop and frisk when they felt it neccessary, rough up those who threatened them, but only use lethal force when absolutely neccessary, when there was no other options. Because the chosen list was public, sector guards had to protect some of them. Eve heard two were protecting a young doctor and his nine year old daughter. Some felt he was chosen because he was a doctor, his daughter was chosen because she was intelligent enough to learn these skills later. Even in the station people were upset. Mayor Ford had warned that the first selection would mostly be people with special skills. Maybe it was important to protect them first. Even so, it did seem like more than 60% of those chosen this time were the elite. This made people nervous. Maybe lottery chances, even earned ones, were just a pretext to prevent panic, especially for those in these concentration camps. They were after all Mason's enemies not long ago. Either way, most knew they had little real chance of getting into an Ark. After her shift on January 1st Eve went to see Jamal again. He was still in a coma, but Eve hoped he could understand her.
.
Eve: Hey Jamal. They had the first lottery drawing today. None of us were chosen. I'm worried about you. If you don't wake up soon, you'll probably be excluded from the Arks. There's another reason you need to get up. I know I've said this a lot recently, but I'll say it again. We are all sinners in need of Christ's forgiveness. You nearly died protecting those refugees, you cannot die without being saved. If you can understand me now then please, admit your sins to God and accept Jesus Christ as your personal savior. God gave his life for us two thousand years ago. Please wake up, for me. So that I can really introduce you to my baby. To my little Hope.
.
As Eve walked home on this day, the first day of the final year, Eve thought about who she'd see in Heaven. Amy got saved before she died, Adam, Claire, Teri, Anne, reverand Jenkins. If they survived ELE, or didn't, she'd see them in Heaven one day. But her parents, Tara, Jessie, Julia, she'd never see them again. It seemed ironic that she'd helped lead Amy to Christ, before being saved herself. But she's gotted Tara to become muslim in her final hours, thus sealing her fate forever. That was why Eve wanted to save Jamal, and Nadia. They'd been her friends, she owed them this. And she would tell her daughter about Jesus every day. As Eve contemplated these things, they approached her. Four masked individuals. Eve was still holding Hope. They threatened to shoot her baby if she didn't come with them immediately. As much as Eve hated this, she knew these thugs had the advantage for now. So, Eve followed them.