The Selection

Promise

Piper's POV

"That's Orion!" I say, looking at the constellation.

While our pleasant ride, we got hungry for food. Sparky got us down on the ground again and we grabbed some food from the nearby restaurant. I don't even know what time it is. Well, I don't really care, do I? 

Now, we are lying on the grass wetted by dew, staring at the vast expanse of sky, those beautiful stars. I turn to look at him, his arm under my neck. We are alone. No one to disturb us.

"Think about an animal." He says, quietly, almost inaudible. It takes me a while to figure out the words.

"Okay... a stag," I reply. 

"Let me show you a magic." He asks me to come closer and then he points towards the stars with his index finger and moves his finger in the air.

 "Look!" And there I see, the stars seem to have followed his trails and I see a drawing of a stag in the sky, shiny stars bordering the figure.

"Do it again! A rabbit!" I say, exuberantly. He smiles at my excitement.

"Here." He does it again, this time a rabbit appears out of nowhere in the sky. "That rabbit and the stag are always there. When I pointed it out then only you could see it. It's just about focusing. There can be a lot of things hidden in your environment."

I gape at him in amazement. He knows everything! But then I notice something.

"I can't believe you, a law-abiding person, actually stole a hot air balloon."

"Who said I stole it. I had paid for it." He says, turning towards me. "Do you actually think The Future King and an organised person like me, can not afford to make a reservation?"

"But, why were we running away from the guards then?"

"Well, it was a test," he replies.

"A test, what kinda test?" 

"That I am not going to tell you. It's a secret." He averts his eyes. I bite my lip. It must be related to the Selection and that's why it's a secret. I am patient enough to wait for the result. At least I think I'm or maybe I'm not.

"You know what you lied to me again," I say, quietly. "You don't even know how anxious you made me." It's time for revenge.

"Pipes-"

"I am deeply hurt," I say, standing up and turning away from him.

"I'm really sorry. But it was really important. Anyways, tell me what can I do to make you believe that I won't do it again." He says, sincerely. Well, I can become a good actress.

"Well, you have to answer my one question," I announce to him.

"So, we are going to continue the game," Sparky says.

"What was that paper in your hand which you were reading when I woke up?" I ask him for I have seen that paper before.

My words are met by silence. I follow his eyes, which seem to have come to a halt at a spot.

"So, you still have that paper in your paper. Come on, I want to see it." I say.

"And what makes you think that I will give it to you?" He asks, looking at me, grinning.

"Cause you said it," I say.

He pulls that letter out of his pocket, it was crumpled. 

"Where did you find this paper?" I ask. Did he sneak into my room?