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She nods again.
“You won’t have to beg. You’ll have them beggingyou.”
“Do you think I could win?”
I almost roll my eyes, but stop myself, because I realize it’s coming from a different place for Lily. “You doubt that you will, and that’s why I think you could. But you wouldn’t be here if you didn’t already think you could.”
“I think you’ll win,” Lily says.
I spin my ring again. “You hardly know me.”
“Don’t need to,” Lily says in a tone that brings me to look back at her. “I’ve got all I need to know from this conversation.”
“Good evening, ladies,” Iris, our version of a dressed-up handmaid who orders us around rather than serves us, drones as the other girls and I undergo our finishing touches of makeup, bringing mine and Lily’s conversation to a close. “You have all been specially selected to join us here on Caelum Island. Many of you are from different backgrounds, from different areas of the world. We expect each of you to adhere to our rules.” Her eyes flick to each of us in turn, something sinister in her gaze I can’t quite place. “The Advent Gala is your opportunity to shine. Who bids on you will be a determining factor in how far you will make it in the games, and the higher the bid, the higher your money pot if you win. Keep this in mind as you present yourself. This istheevening. Welcome to The Games.”
“Tilt your chin up,” my makeup artist instructs as she places a finger beneath my chin, raising my face to apply a brush of blush.
Despite feeling like cattle being dressed up for show, the glamour of her work is beautiful, and I’m finding myself impressed by the work done by the stylists, making each of the girls look stunning. I suppose that’s the result of hiring the best that money can get you.
Time filters through like sand through my fingers, slipping grain by grain down to the last second before we’re gathered to assemble in a line at the door.
On our way to the mansion, the sun setting in hues of lavender drenched orange and blue, stars flecking the clear sky and a crescent moon climbing to compliment the colors, I admire the equally beautiful women around me. Their dresses are just as diverse as the sky, all complimentary shades to their skin tones and hair. Lily is in a suitable lavender silk dress, snug against her thin frame, the plunging neckline nearly down to her belly button which accentuates her small but suitable tits. Her hair was left in a delicate twist trailing down one shoulder. Given nothing more than some light mascara, they were careful to maintain her delicate features. I want to lean forward and tell her she looks positively stunning, that she has absolutely nothing to worry about in terms of who’s going to pick her because they’re going to be scrambling to be near even an inch of her beauty, but I’m rammed into from behind—hard.
I stumble forward to catch my fall and my thin heel wedges in between the cracks of the stones on the path, snapping it in two. To stay in line, I hobble, but quickly find that’s not going to be conducive. I didn’t pay attention to who was placed behind me, but when I glance over my shoulder, I’m not surprised to find Stella in a royal blue dress pushing her obviously fake boobs up to high mounds, sporting an evil grin. She reminds me of a typical high school bully, with all the selfish, self-centered arrogance to mask something she desperately needs to work through with a high-paid therapist.
Stepping momentarily out of line, I stop to remove my heel.
“Hey!” A guard dressed in a black suit, with one of those earpieces like you see in an action movie placed in his ear, comes rushing for me. “Get back in line, Player.”
“My heel broke. I’m just removing it.” I wave my heel in the air for evidence. “Unless you feel like carrying me, I need to take the other one off.”
The guard gives me a scrutinous look and watches me intently as I slowly remove the other one. While bent down, I catch Stella glancing at me over her shoulder and snickering as the line continues forward. I roll my eyes and remove the heel. Holding up both, I look to the guard.
“See? All good.”
He nods toward the moving girls. “Get back in line.”
“Shouldn’t I get some different shoes?” I ask Iris, feeling a bit out of place having to go barefoot. Surely with all the outfits they’ve provided so far, there should be another set of shoes somewhere.
Iris just gives a challenging smile in return.
I guess this is where the games begin.
“Fine,” I say, shrugging, tossing my heels to the ground. “I guess I’ll track dirt into your pristine mansion.”
I pass Iris, shooting her a glare as I do, and follow at the back of the line behind a girl who’s name I think is Sarah, wearing a silken, off-white, knee-length dress with matching strappy heels.
“Careful of the rocks,” I lean forward and whisper to her. She turns toward me, slowing, eyes alight with curious observance. I point to my feet. “They broke one of mine.”
“Oh, poor thing. I saw that happen. That’s lame they won’t give you another pair. I hope it won’t affect the bidding for you, being barefoot.”
“That seems silly, if that’s the case. Surely my body is worth more than having my feet out. Although maybe someone’ll be into that.”
Sarah leans her head back, long, dark, wavy hair swishing at her back, and lets out one hearty laugh. “Ha! I hope so, for your sake.”
We approach a double set of French doors, the marble beneath my bare feet cool as we’re led into a hallway in the back.
Distant sounds of chatter come from a larger room, but we aren’t being led into it. Instead, we’re taken through back hallways. The sound of the girl’s heels echo around us against the marble as we’re led deeper down a dark hall. The anticipation is rattling my nerves. I can feel the varying levels of distress rising from the others, especially Lily, who looks stiff as a board a few girls ahead of me.
