The Deathly Scream - 𝟙

༒ Seventy-two ༒

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Two days later my father had urged us all to come to the Great Hall immediately. I thought something had happened in the village again but when I entered a whole camera crew was installing itself, which meant that another interview was coming up.

My sister on the other hand was nowhere to be seen and panic raises up in me slowly. Not even one candidate was present in the Great Hall. Elliott stood next to me, seeing the fear in my eyes but he kept quiet. We slowly walk towards the front row, taking our seats next to August who seems pretty tired. Under his eyes a dark colour had appeared, it seemed like he could fall asleep any minute. Once I look around to get a look at the other soldiers I see the same thing. They were all exhausted.

'August are you alright?' I whisper when his eyes threaten to close. He looks up quickly, getting himself together in a moment.

'The whole army seems exhausted how will we fight if ...' I try again but he keeps a hand before my mouth.

'We are alright, Rosalia. These soldiers have been guarding the village for two days straight, once they get some sleep they'll be alright.'

'Two days? Why not work more regularly?' I insist. He sighs a little, trying to see if no one can hear us. Madame Orsini was the only person nearby who possibly could hear the conversation, and she knew all of it.

'It is better for us not to move around too quickly. You never know when those soldiers will appear', he whispers and leans back again, telling me the conversation has ended. After a few minutes my father walks on the stage, the cameras focus on him immediately and the sound of endless counting that never seems to stop sounds through the hall.

Once the red light was on, my father smiled like he never had and for once it seemed like he was honest. Something did make him glad this time. Still my sister was nowhere to be seen. He stood there alone, everyone focusing on him.

'Good morning Ethura!', my father announces loud and we all clap. 'Today we decided to organize this interview because we have some great news to announce for the first time in months. Let us welcome in the Great Hall, crown princess Valentina Indira Martinez and our candidates!'

Everyone turns around in a rush to get a look of my sister. The double doors get opened by guards when she walks in, holding her long soft pink dress in order not to trip over it. A bright smile on her face seems even more genuine as my fathers' and only by the look on the candidates faces, I could tell something was going to happen today. Theodore was all nerves again when he walked to the front while Ezra seemed his confident self. Cameron looked more serious than normal as if he had no idea what he should do.

We clap again when the four of them bow for their King. The three young man take a seat at the side of the tribune, Cameron clearly ignoring my gaze when my sister joins our father. Both of them sparkling. Elliott looks at me concerned but I push him in his side with my elbow when I see a camera pointed at us. An immediate smile appearing on our faces. Everything was fake, it seemed.

The clapping stops when my father tries to calm us down in order to listen to what he has to say. But instead my sister walks to the front, followed by our father when everyone looks stunned for a second. It was rare that my sister would speak up, but after all that may be better at this point in her life.

'Dear friends, family and citizens. Today I stand here to announce that we are organizing another rather small event in the Selection', she starts way more confident than I expected.

'But don't be afraid. This rather small event has a big outcome. We have decided to invite the families of our candidates to the castle. I am proud to announce that I have made my choice. Our crown prince is chosen!' She announces.

Eyes widen, not only in the public but also the candidates don't believe their ears. They had no idea. I try to hide the pain and get a short glance of Cameron who still seems shocked. That is the moment my father walks to the front, holding Val by her shoulder proudly before he takes the word.

'The only persons aware of our future crown prince are Valentina and myself. Our family nor the candidates themselves know it yet. We want to get an impression of their families to get to know them better. We want to make sure we made the right decision'. Some of us clap, others clearly disappointed that we aren't finding out today.

'In only a few days the families will arrive and we can't wait to receive them!' The camera's shut down after that last sentence and I feel like I have a brick in my stomach. I decided to ignore it. I could ran towards my sister and ask her who she had chosen, but that would only make her more mad.

I still had no idea why she wasn't talking to me but I had to figure it out. We still had another war coming and there was a chance I wouldn't survive. Everyone around me stands up without saying another word. I look up at my father and sister who talk eagerly about what was coming.

The candidates mumble against each other, clearly trying to figure out who might be the chosen one. It is when Elliott takes my hand I stand up and follow him outside, completely lost.