ASMEEN tripped.

She fell, rolling onto the floor, throwing her hands out to break her fall. She groaned as her back hit the ground, her chest aching.

Aven ran past her.

Asmeen closed her eyes, letting herself lie there. It didn't matter, now. It was done.

"Asmeen."

She opened her eyes. And then her lips parted. Because Aven was there, crouching above her, his face furrowed in concern, like they'd been in the infirmary, so long ago.

"Are you okay?" He asked, his eyes flying down to her ankle.

"What are you doing?" Asmeen hissed, quiet enough that only the two of them would be able to hear. "Go, you idiot!"

Aven blinked, a stunned expression spreading across his face. "What? But—"

"Go!" Asmeen exclaimed softly, giving him a slight push and an urgent nod.

His face still confused, Aven stood up hesitantly. When Asmeen gave him another pointed look, he turned and ran.

Asmeen sat up, watching him cross the line. He was immediately swept away by the others standing there, and one of the helpers came to her.

"Are you alright?"

She was a Child of the Night, Asmeen thought. She nodded at the woman. "I'm fine."

Still, the woman helped her up, even though Asmeen wasn't really in that much pain. She crossed the line with the woman's support, ignoring the sympathetic looks she was given.

She made her way back into the field, where most of the other trainees had already gathered. Aven was standing at the front, talking to some others who were standing. Sitting down in the field were those, presumably, who hadn't made it, given that they were wearing identical hopeless expressions.

Asmeen knew her sisters would be here, somewhere. Wylla had been ahead of her. She hadn't seen Elyn the entire time.

There.

Wylla was sitting down, her expression detached. She was staring into empty space. Asmeen limped over and sat down beside her.

Wylla turned to face her, looking startled. "Oh." She glanced at Asmeen, then at the front. When she spotted Aven, she turned back to Asmeen. "I see."

Asmeen only nodded. "Elyn?"

Wylla gestured at the front.

Elyn was standing there, her eyes roaming over the field. When she finally spotted them, she froze. Asmeen couldn't quite make out her expression, but she knew that Elyn was far from happy.

Asmeen and Wylla sat there in silence as the last few trainees came in, half of them sitting down. Some of the ones who'd failed were already crying. Some were near tears.

"Alright," Dara said loudly. Neither her nor Osoric were smiling anymore. No, they looked appropriately somber.

"First of all, congratulations to all those that have made it," Osoric said, glancing at the trainees standing around them. Then he looked at the rest of them. "And all of you, though you might be disappointed, we are incredibly proud of each of you, and we wish you all the best for the future."

"You have all done superbly well," Dara said, nodding. "We're pleased to inform you that each one of the trainees that has succeeded in the race will be either a Flower Child or a Child of the Night."

An almost audible sigh of relief went through the standing trainees. The ones who were sitting—Asmeen examined their faces, and there was no bitterness. Disappointment, and envy perhaps, but no bitterness. Not even on the younger ones, who she hadn't expected to be so mature.

"We do, however, want one more trainee to join," Osoric said.

The shock that rippled through the field was almost tangible, and though Asmeen held no hope, she could see that several of the other trainees did.

"Suri Laresh, please come forward," Dara said.

Asmeen's eyes shot to Suri. The dark-skinned girl stood up, her face stunned, and she walked forward and joined the trainees standing at the front, right beside her sister.

The rest of them slumped, Wylla included.

"It is very late," Dara said. "You all should go home," she said, looking at the trainees who'd failed. Then she looked at the successful ones. "You need to stay for only a few minutes more."

"Do not be disappointed. I'm sure you all will do well, and we are always here, should you need support," Osoric said sincerely. Asmeen could tell that he meant it. If they needed advice, she knew the leaders would be there.

The failed ones stood up and began trickling out of the field, most of them congratulating their partners. Asmeen looked at Aven, saw him staring right at her, and looked away. She gave Elyn a sad smile. Her sister's stony mask was broken for once, and she thought she saw tears in Elyn's eyes.

Asmeen left the field with Wylla, making their way to their house. The people from the neighborhood had come out. When they realized that they were the failures, they shouted words of encouragement. Asmeen couldn't pay attention to them, not when all her attention was occupied by the fact that her father was waiting.

They knocked.

The door was opened by Azol, looking at them expectantly, and their father behind him. Azol's eyes both looked for Elyn and turned to them, looking almost confused. But her father—oh, he looked angry. Had he already heard?

"Elyn should be along in a few minutes," Wylla murmured. She pushed the door so that it was closed. If they started shouting, at least the neighbors wouldn't be able to hear.

"Why?" Their father asked, his face darkening even more. Like he knew what had happened.

"She will be a Flower Child," Wylla said, offering no other explanation.

"And you will not," their father said. Asmeen couldn't look at his face. Her eyes dropped to the floor. Wylla stayed silent.

"Well," Azol said, his lips tight. "While this is disappointing, it's over and done with."

There was a short moment of silence. Asmeen's father's face was turning red, and she braced herself for the impact.

Then there was a knock.

Wylla, probably relieved, opened it. Elyn walked it, her face carefully set again, no sign of the tears Asmeen had thought she'd seen.

"Elyn," Azol said, attempting a smile. "Congratulations."

"Thank you, Papa," Elyn said simply. She glanced between them and their parents. "What's going on?"

"What's going on," Asmeen's father said, his voice remarkably calm despite the fury on his face. "Is that your sisters have failed. And—"

Elyn interrupted whatever he was going to say. "Yes, they have. There's no point arguing about it now, though." Her voice was soft, like she was trying to defuse some of his anger.

"While I am disappointed that they've failed," Asmeen's father said, his volume rising, "I am angrier about something else. Asmeen, come forward."

Asmeen swallowed, exchanging a glance with Wylla before walking in front of him. "Yes, father?"

"Do you know what I found missing this morning?" Her father said. "Look up!"

Asmeen flinched when he shouted, whipping her head up immediately.

"Your mother's locket."

"The—the one I was to get if I passed?" Asmeen whispered.

He glared at her. "The very one. Asmeen, did you or did you not, take it?"

Asmeen gaped at him. She certainly hadn't. "I—"

Almost in slow motion, she saw him raise a hand. She couldn't quite process what was happening as it moved towards her face.

"Stop!"

Asmeen took a step back.

Elyn stood there, between the two of them, holding her father's hand. Her face was the angriest Asmeen had ever seen.

"What are you doing?" Their father yelled.

"She didn't take it. I did."

Dun dun dun! If you couldn't tell by now, my favorite sister is Elyn. Who's yours?

See you next chapter!