Sunday, June 29, 2014

Under Banishment: Chapter 1

Everyone has a town. Every town is themed a single color. Once a month, the emperor of the world comes to each town and picks a wooden ball from one of those old-fashioned bingo ball generators. The ball has a letter, then a number. I, Shane Indigo, am J29. As you most likely guessed by my name, was born to blue town. We aren't actually blue. We just wear blue clothes and accessories. But my dad was Emperor of the World, so I wore rainbow things. I was dressed fancily because today was the day when the emperor picked a number. Oh yeah. Did I tell you what happens to the person that has their number picked? They... are.... banished.
I am extremely unlikely to be picked, and my family is likely. They put the elders numbers at the top, so it is likely they will be picked.....


"Shane!" My mother's voice calls from downstairs of our manor. 
Oh yeah. We live in one of the largest manors in the world. Since my father is the emperor of the world, we live it rich. He doesn't want our family to be picked, but it isn't.... wait.... well, the system is weird. 
"Yes, mom?"
"Come downstairs! Breakfast is ready and the ceremony is in an hour!"
I open up my bag and stuff a large, bright blue water canteen in, along with a few sandwiches and chips called HUNGER BLUES.
I go downstairs and wolf down my breakfast. Mom watches me.
"It would be bad if you were picked. You're only 14."
I sigh. "Mom. There is a 0.000000000001% chance I will be picked. Honestly!" I stuff a sausage in my mouth.
"Well, finish up your breakfast. We need to leave. Your father is waiting in the limousine."
I finished and went out with my bag, opened the limo door and went inside.
My dad was watching TV and drinking iced coca-cola zero in a crystal wine glass. I went to the snack stand and opened a bag of HUNGER BLUES and poured a coke into a crystal glass. I added ice. I sat on the couch watching TV with my dad. He put down the coke-in-the-wine-glass and stood up.
"Alex, start the limo." I suddenly felt it moving. I went upstairs and lay down on one of the fold-out silk beds.
I fell asleep.

"Wake up, Shane." My mom's voice says from downstairs. I wake up and walk down. All of my family is at the door of the limo, waiting for me. I go to the door and open it. Reporters and such crowd my family, including me. One asks, "What happens if one from your family is picked?"
My dad is speechless. "I--... I would... grieve, but deal with life."
"How would your life be affected?"
"It would change horrifically."
"Sir, do you plan on picking five people or one, today?"
"You do know I go in a pattern. This time is five people."
"Do you choose to banish and kill, or is it forced upon you?"
"It is forced upon me. No more questions, please!"
He walks to the arena, and the reporters follow him, babbling. I go and sit down in the first row. My father coughs, and silence falls over the entire world. It is incredibly crowded. Millions of people look up to my father today.
"World, my world. 1,000 years ago, in 2010, there were horrible things in the world. Horrible to everything. Humans and animals alike. Wars and fur farms. Plagues and killing. Mass was everything bad in the world, small was everything good. Then, the fate came along. I was born to the family of fate 34 years ago. Fate came, destroyed all bad, and widened all good. It had been a strict legacy, but it is what I live for. But the world is crowded. Too crowded. Millions fill the streets. Millions live on islands. Millions live in cramped apartments. I hate to do this, but many must be banished to the island Forbidden Land. Five out of 6,000,000 million will leave today."
He went to the gigantic, house-sized bingo ball generator. A-Z, 1-500.
He cranked it and a single ball fell out.
"The first that will be leaving.....  A 24."
A flustered looking toddler walked up and sat in one of the five chairs.
"Z 500."
A tall, buff basketball player came up. He sat in a chair.
"L 67."
A short, skinny 11-year-old with brown braids came up.
"Y 1"
A rather pretty golden-haired girl walked up.
"J--"
I held my breath. There were only 5 J's, and 3 were incredibly unlikely. But no-- I'm the main in this story. I would not be picked. If anything, I would save the people who were picked.
"J 29" My jaw dropped. It was me. I walked to the stage and looked at my father.
"I'm sorry," He said quietly.
"Don't be. It's fine." I responded much quieter.
I walked to the fifth seat and sat down.
The golden haired pretty girl said, "Huh. Emperor's son. Who would have guessed? Let me tell you one thing. You're definitely in for the ride of a lifetime."

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