Ezekiel stood dripping at the edge of the pool, still displaying his excitement from earlier. “We could be happy together here.”
My mother's crass advice floated through my mind. Once they have no blood left for their brain, you can get any truth you want out of a man.
I crawled clumsily out of the pool, found my balance, and walked into the sunlight. “I could never be happy knowing everyone in my family was worried and trying to find me.”
“Put your shoes on. We should head back for the selection ceremony. “Ezekiel was quiet on the walk back to camp. There was some utility conversation about avoiding sharp rocks and walking in the shade but nothing more.
He was right. My clothes dried in a matter of minutes outside the cave. Salt rings formed at the seams of my shirt and edge of my shorts. I flicked the crusty plops in his direction as we walked. Ezekiel ignored me and seemed to be lost in deep thought.
We reached the entrance to the camp he stopped and shook his head. “You pick me tonight. Don't give up your right to choose a family. They will force you to go with one of the bigger houses. Unless you want to be stuck with Noah?” I shook my head no. “Pick my family. I won't watch you go with another one.”
“Thanks for showing me the water pool. As days in captivity go, this one was a pretty good.” I winked at Ezekiel how my father winks at my mother when he makes one of his stupid jokes. Ezekiel scoffed and looked at the ground all the way to the door of my holding tent. My sisters in captivity were laughing and carrying on inside. Several of the camp's older women were wandering in and out of the door carrying armfuls of beautiful dresses and trays of sugary treats.
“Looks like I'm missing out on all the fun,” I commented.
“Remember what I told you, Karine, choose my family.” Ezekiel bolted from the tent as if his life depended on being as far from me as possible.
The tent was bursting with estrogen and excitement. The ceremony dresses were beautiful, and everyone looked so happy with their new friends. Violet hugged me tightly as we stood in front of the tall dressing mirror and admired the formal creation, she sewed by hand for me that day.
I struggled to recall a similar experience with my own mother. We are not a touchy-feely family, and I never knew it was something I needed until now. To belong to the group and share in their happiness would be so easy. They were begging me to join them, but I couldn't turn off that alarm in my head, screaming at me to run.
Zeke was an unexpected distraction. My heart thought we were old friends, but the trove of experiences to go with that feeling was empty. False infatuation clouded my judgment and softened my resolve. Chemical reactions in my stressed brain were not going to stop me from leaving.
I took a good look in the mirror and smiled back at the beautiful girl in the beautiful dress and told her it was time to go home.
OPTION THREE
There was a time when I knew exactly how my life was going to turn out. Now I'm not sure. My mind hums with the anxiety of choosing between a life I understand and one that seems so promising.
If I leave the encampment, what life am I returning to? The continental government hasn't released information about a threat from a comet or otherwise. These people have a plan to survive whatever comes crashing in from above.
Am I stubborn? Is wanting to leave the wrong choice? Blue is staying. She lives a privileged life in our society. Why would she leave that life behind so easily?
Beryl says I lose sight of the big picture and waste time trying to force insignificant short-term situations. Of course, I called her a bitch for saying that to me, but I didn't understand what she was talking about until just now. I can't see what the big picture is anymore.
I want to go home. I want to live through the comet, and I want Jason. I can't tell if these are short-sighted desires, but they aren't insignificant to me.
“So, I ask again of our next new member Karine, what say you? We need an answer proclaimed out loud for all here assembled to witness and understand. What family have you chosen as your own?”
Standing by the edge of a large copper fire pit, I looked out over the flames at all the families assembled. Blue stood smiling next to her new man—their wrists loosely bound together by a symbolic silver cord. He pulled her hand to his lips, closed his eyes, and kissed her skin. The moment was backlit by the dazzling array of solar lanterns that seemed to drip soft, pink, and golden lights on every structure of the public square.
The only noise was the slapping of the hem of my purple sheath dress in the breeze. All eyes were fixed on me. The question had been asked of me twice now.
Zeke winked at me. He told me to choose his family. He fully expected I would do as he asked.
I cleared my throat and took a deep breath. “After much consideration. I choose death by banishment.” There was collective gasp before the roar of voices overtook my other senses.
Violet bolted towards me through the smoke as an older man grabbed my arm and pulled me towards the growing group of elders. I curled my hand into a fist and jabbed it under his rib cage. My arm was
