An expectant hush fills the crowd as one of the King's messengers steps onto the raised platform. Unrolling a scroll, he clears his throat, and begins to read the speech that most everyone in the kingdom knows by heart.

    "Citizens of the Kingdom of Kyrilla, welcome to the Kingdom Center. By the power of the King, we hope you feel safe and respected during your stay. Just like years prior, accommodations for those who have a long way to travel are available within the Center and the town surrounding it for a hefty discount, thanks to His Majesty the King."

    I'm mouthing the words alongside him, the address familiar to people like me, who have heard it every year for our whole lives, who have longed to be one of the hundred names that followed.

    "Now, the moment has arrived for us to announce the one-hundred people, aged sixteen and above, who will represent their villages in...the Race!"

    The crowd explodes into cheers, children whooping in delight, families clinging to each other in hopes of the fame, glory, and money that comes with the Race. But there are somber faces in the crowd too: veterans, knowing they'll be chosen year and year again, and their families, who know that the Race isn't all fun and games, especially when the Hunt looms large in the distance. For most families, the Race is entertaining, but for families like mine, it's just one step closer to possible death.

    The cheering quiets down, the crowd waiting with bated breath for the reading of the names. The messenger unrolls another scroll, longer than the first, and begins calling names. As per tradition, the Hunters are called first. One by one, veterans step forward and make their way to the stage.

    "Cormac, Christian" makes his way to the platform amidst thunderous cheers; at around 40, he is one of the well experienced veterans, having survived the Hunt for eleven years. Before that, he had been in the Race for almost a decade and is a clear fan-favorite in the "sporting event" that the Race has become. The announcer moves on to those who have been in the Race previously, but never gone on the Hunt. These people also get cheers, and they are a lot more excited to join the Race than the veterans. After the last returning Racer ("Zhang, Taisei") makes his way to the platform, it's finally the newbies' turn.

    There are twenty-seven spots left. I just have to hope I'm one of them. The announcer drags on and on, calling names as the people make their way over to him. Some look excited, while others look downright terrified.

    Suddenly, "McNary, Katie" rings through the square. The girl next to me, who I'd almost forgotten about in all the announcing, stiffens, then slowly makes her way towards the platform. McNary, I think. That's not a common name. But then I realize the reason I could have never heard it before is that all others bearing the name were gone. That sobering thought nearly makes me miss the moment when "Sommers, Jamie" gets called.

    I swallow hard, dimly aware of Annie and my mother somewhere in the crowd, probably holding on to each other tightly. I set my mouth in a determined line and walk forward towards the platform.

    This is what you wanted, I tell myself, trying to find some semblance of reassurance. This is what you were made to do.

    But somehow, thinking it doesn't automatically make it true.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Written November 8, 2023

Word count: 586