[ E D I T E D ]

♕✿~♕✿~Chapter 3//: Surprise, Surprise ♕✿~♕✿~

It was Friday night. I had just slipped my pj's on and was now joining my family and Macy's family, who had come over, in the living room to watch the Report. They were going to announce who had been chosen to participate in the Choosing. I doubt that I was chosen and was just looking forward to eating popcorn and watching the prince's reaction to all of the chosen.

Grabbing a bowl of popcorn for myself, I plop down onto the old beanbag on the living room floor. Dad is sitting in the recliner chair he always sits in when watching the Report. On the three-seat leather couch, mom is situated with her own bowl of popcorn and a small blanket. Next to her, Macy's mom, Lisa, and Macy's dad, Simon, share one bowl of popcorn and have a blanket wrapped around themselves. On the floor, Macy sits with Sydney next to her, both of them giggling about something one of them said.

Seeing everyone situated, dad turns on the small T.V. we own. The only reason we own a T.V. is because the government makes it mandatory to watch the weekly Reports. Families who can afford one buy one and watch the Report for free since the news channel doesn't require payment to watch. Even Eights wandering on the streets with no money in their pockets and no place to call a home watch the Report on the T.V.s displayed in store windows.

When the anthem of Norta plays, signaling the start of the Report, mom shushes Sydney and we all watch the screen intently as we eat some popcorn.

The logo of the Report flashes by, and the screen cuts away from the navy blue background to the scene of the news room in the palace where they recorded the Report. The host, Josh Ritter, smiles brightly at the camera as it focuses on him. I hear Sydney squeal in delight as she sees him.

"Madi, if you get chosen, you get to meet Josh Ritter!" she tells me excitedly. I roll my eyes.

"Yeah, I know, Sydney," I respond distractedly. In the corner of the screen, I can see the royals sitting in stiff postures. The king sits in a proud way, tall and straight as a board. Next to him his daughter, Princess Juliet, is fidgeting a bit but settles down into a slightly slouched position. The queen sits in between her children, her posture different from the other members of her family. Where her husband sits with the air of commanding, she sits with the air of gracefulness. The queen has far more gentle features than the king.

And then there's him: Prince Ahren. His black hair is combed back neatly, his stormy grey eyes seeming to pierce the screen of the television. He's wearing a black suit with a red tie, showing his father's House colors.

He's very good looking. The thought crosses through my mind without me even realizing it, and I blush a bit as I eat more of the popcorn, avoiding the gazes of my family.

The prince may be devastatingly handsome, but he is a Silver and I am a Red. He and other Silvers are like gods; I and other Reds are just the ants that walk by the feet of gods.

On the screen, the prince turns to his mother and whispers something to her, who smiles softly at him. Her smile is motherly and warm, and she looks kind.

"Mom, what caste did the Queen belong in before she married the king?" I ask mom with curiosity. Mom smiles at my question, happy that I'm interested in the royal family. "She was a Three," mom answers my question.

A Three. Perhaps the queen was a writer, or a teacher. Maybe a doctor before she took on the role as queen and became the wife of King Oliver. I wonder what the queen was like before she was chosen.

"Good morning, Norta!" Josh says with enthusiasm. "I know most of you are probably watching tonight to see who has been chosen to be in the Choosing. But before we get to that, His Majesty will be giving you some important news." Josh gestures towards King Oliver, who stands up and walks up to the podium set up in front of the camera. He starts talking about the Scarlet Guard, and how they will not be a terrorist group for long since he was going to take them down, et cetera, et cetera. He's been promising that for way too long for it to be believable.

After discussing the Scarlet Guard, recent rebel attacks, a new road plan being put to effect, and other things, the king finally walks back to his family, and Josh Ritter comes back on camera. He flashes his signature grin, making Sydney sigh dreamily.

"Now, let's talk to the man of the hour. His Highness, Prince Ahren!" Sydney, mom, and Macy clap enthusiastically as Ahren hops up from his chair and strides over to where Josh waits for him. They shake hands and settle into two chairs facing each other.

"So, Your Highness. How are you feeling knowing that you will soon find out who the Chosen will be?" Josh asks. Ahren smiles at the question.

"Well, to be honest, I'm feeling a bit nervous. After the announcement, I'll be having 35 girls staying at my house!" Ahren exclaims. Josh chuckles at that, along with Sydney. I just purse my lips, keeping my opinions to myself.

"Is that all you're feeling, Ahren?" Josh asks.

Ahren shakes his head. "Of course, I'm quite excited to meet these girls. I hope I can find the one for me who I can love and dedicate my life to," Ahren tells Josh truthfully. Macy and mom 'aw' at that but I just continue eating my popcorn, not impressed by his words.

"Well thank you for talking tonight, Your Highness." Josh shakes Ahren's hand, and Ahren walks back to his seat with his family. His father whispers something to him, which makes Ahren frown a bit. But I can't dwell on this for long because Josh quickly moves on to the next business needed to be taken care of.

"And now, for the moment you have all been waiting for. We will reveal who has been chosen for the Choosing. One of these beautiful ladies will be the next Queen of Norta. Does Her Majesty have anything to tell these girls before they are announced?" The camera swivels towards Queen Rianna, who is a shadow, able to manipulate light. She smiles with warmth.

"Remember. Once you have been chosen, your lives will change forever. So enjoy this one night of normality you will have," the queen says. Josh nods at this, murmuring "excellent advice" before turning back to the camera with an excited smile.

"Let's get on to the girls who have been Chosen!" Josh exclaims before the screen goes back to the navy blue background of the Report. In the top right corner, Ahren's face is displayed so that we can see his reaction as each Chosen girl is revealed.

"Alexis Merandus of House Merandus from Summerton. Two." A picture of a girl pops up on the screen. She has ash-blonde hair and dull blue eyes. I think, a whisper. They could read minds and control a person.

"Fiona Samos of House Samos from Archeon.. Three." A picture of an intimidating girl with silver hair and black eyes pops onto the t.v. screen. A magnetron: one who could control metal.

"Yikes. Honestly, anybody from House Samos is scary," Macy comments. I nod my head in agreement.

"Rose Winters from Stilts. Red. Four." I sit up at the news of the first Red in the Choosing. She has flaming red hair and bright blue eyes.

"Ooh! I know her!" Macy exclaims. I laugh at her excitement, but quiet down to listen intently as the rest of the girls are announced.

Girls from House Osanos, Nolle, Gliacon, Eagrie, and other Houses are put into the Choosing. There are two more Reds who are put in, one who is a Five and one who is a Six.

"And finally, the last chosen girl." My family holds their breath but I lean back, grabbing some more popcorn and putting it in my mouth, thinking it will be another Silver girl.

"Madison Williams from Stilts. Red. Five." My picture pops up on the screen and I hear screams around me as my family and Macy's family realize that I have been chosen. I look at my picture in bewilderment. My smile is big because of the surprise from when Sydney had given me the music note necklace. I spend so much time staring at my photo in disbelief that I miss the prince's reaction. The only phone located in my house starts ringing and I know that the queen was right when she said my life would change forever once I was chosen.

♕✿~♕✿~♕✿~♕✿~♕✿~

Boom. Chapter done. Hope you guys enjoyed this one and don't forget to vote!

Glass_Sword