Stop it, I tell myself. Don’t let your imagination get away from you.
I have to stop having doubts about myself. That was the old, scaredy-cat Kora. The new me shouldn’t doubt herself.
The truck jumps on the bumpy road, causing me to press my palms against the floor for balance. Trent sits on the opposite side of the truck. I sneak a few cautious glances at him, and my heart beats a little faster each time. He’s here with me. What luck! Trent and I will both become racers. And that means we’re no longer in two different clans.
I wish I could speak to Trent, say something cool and act like Samantha and the other pretty factory girls do. But I’m too big of a coward. Nothing smart comes to mind anyway. Maybe later, once we arrive, I’ll work up enough courage to approach him. I understand I’ll have to be the one to do it, because otherwise it will never happen. I’m unnoticeable.
I can’t see his face in the darkness, but I think he must be upset. Trent didn’t want to leave our village. I know this because at times factory servants would gather around a little campfire at night, telling stories and sharing their future plans. Being a picker, I wasn’t invited to attend those gatherings. But I hid out a few times, spying on them, and heard Trent speak. He wanted to become a guard in the Recycling village. Apparently, Master Dimitri had different plans for him.
I realize my mother isn’t the only person I’m going to miss. I’m also upset about leaving Lady Augusta and her husband. Thinking of them, I suddenly begin crying. It’s one of my weaknesses, crying with or without a reason. But I have to let myself loosen up a little bit to lessen my anxiety and mental strain. My face is obscured in the semidarkness and nobody can see my tears. So I just have to make sure I remain quiet.
I envision my mother, the way I last saw her on the meeting square. I feel like I swallowed a rock and it got stuck in my throat. Choking me.
It takes about fifteen minutes to calm down. My mind comes back to thoughts of my future life. I have to decide what kind of person I wish to become. What will my new personality be like? Should I become funny and smart? Maybe aggressive and courageous? I’m not sure yet, but what I do realize is that I’m ready to become anybody except my old self. I’m tired of myself. I want so badly to be someone different. The other racers won’t know better so I might even create a new past, if need be.
Samantha. That one may become a problem. She could start spreading rumors about me. Now separated from her pack, she sits quietly in a corner. But I know better than to believe she’ll ever leave me alone. I may have to tell any future friends that Samantha is a liar. Perhaps even come up with a couple of nasty stories about her first. I know it would be a really mean thing to do, but all is fair in war. And this is war, right?
I can’t allow anybody to destroy my future. I must be brave and fight anybody getting in the way of my destiny.
***
Several hours later, our truck finally stops and guards let us out. I find myself in a vast yard in front of a giant mansion, long green vines curling up its tall walls. The place looks incredibly green and manicured. Trees with thick foliage grow along the fence. There are bushes blooming with colorful, exotic-looking flowers. The air smells of salt and a dozen other pleasant unknown scents. The sky above is cloudless and electric-blue.
“So here it is, the legendary Central Settlement,” Trent says, standing beside me.
I’m too overwhelmed to answer.
Samantha looks around, smiling broadly. She suddenly lets out an excited laugh and hugs Trent.
“It’s so beautiful here!” she exclaims, her eyes sparkling. “It’s the most beautiful place in the world!”
I turn away, annoyed. How can Samantha so easily hug Trent and I can’t? Tanya sits on the ground, tentatively touching the thick luscious grass with her fingers. I follow her example. I run my fingers through the dense grass carpet and sniff. The scent of the grass is pleasant and fresh.
About fifty other servants mill about in the yard under the supervision of a few obviously bored guards. I guess all these people will also be training to become racers. I watch them closely because they are my potential new friends.
A burst of high-pitched girlish giggling attracts my attention and I turn to look. A tall blonde girl stands in the middle of six or seven guys, telling them something and smiling charmingly. She wears cut-off shorts and a provocative little top which reveals her flat stomach. Nobody from my village wears such revealing outfits. She has full lips, dark green eyes and a pretty golden suntan. The guys all stare at her as if mesmerized.
Guards direct us to form a line, facing the mansion’s entrance. Master Gabriel arrives, accompanied by a short athletic-looking woman in her late twenties. He wears a white long-sleeved shirt, dark slacks and carries a holstered gun on his waist along with a knife. The lady is dressed in a simple gray t-shirt and pants, and casually holds a whip at her side. Master Gabriel points out a few younger servants, including Tanya, and commands the guards to lead them away. He then announces that all of us remaining will become his racers. He never explains what exactly that entails, but promises that the best performers will be granted their freedom within a year. All that we have to do is train hard and show excellent results while participating in six
