Book 1: The Beginning of the End

Ainslee

My arms are sore. Every time I move one of them, it hurts. But I am home, sitting on the couch, drinking some warm water and nibbling one of the last pieces of bread.

I shouldn’t be. My family will need it when I’m gone. Though, my stepfather did remind us all on the way home that anyone who has a family member chosen for the culling receives an extra 100 vlads per week as a gift from the king. That’s probably meant to provide plenty of food to make up for that person’s absence, but as I discussed with Zeke, that’s not the case in our village.

“How are you?” Mom sits down next to me and lovingly strokes my hair. Standing outside in the damp weather has her coughing again. I should’ve insisted on holding Sinead, but my sister only wanted her. Now, Mom is not doing well, and I feel miserable.

“I’m okay. I thought they were going to kill me,” I admit.

She sighs. “You’ve got to watch that mouth of yours, my love. I know you come by