Steven Santos - The Culling

That settles it. I’m going to have to work doubly hard to convince everyone that Digory and I mean nothing to each other. We can’t. Not if either of us stands a chance of making it through this thing with as little scathing as possible.

Slade resumes her place front and center. “ Five Recruits selected for the Trials, but only four present.” She pulls a printed form out of her jacket pocket and eyes it eagerly. “That would make our deserter-”

“Ophelia Juniper here! I mean, present!” calls a voice that seems more suited to a squealing child. She practically skips, then trots, to the spot next to Cypress. Cypress doesn’t bother to conceal a snort.

Thinking better of her decision, Ophelia dashes past Cypress to my end of the line, her hair bouncing all the way, her eyes wide. One look at Slade and I can’t help but think that Ophelia reminds me of the prospective mate of a black widow spider, trembling from excitement over the empty promise of married life.

“Ophelia Juniper reporting for duty!” she proclaims. “Oh, you already know that . I mean that my name’s Ophelia.” She giggles, her hand pressed to her chest. “I’m sooo sorry I’m late. I have this habit of getting lost all the time. I must have taken a couple of wrong turns and ended up in the mess hall. Terrible sense of direction, ever since I was five. Mother thinks it’s that bout of … ” Her hand twists one of her curls over her ear. “Well, I was ill, you see, and my inner ear … my balance was very much affected … but here I am. I made it!”

Slade lets the quiet linger like a no-longer-welcomed guest. She wants us to squirm at the oblivious Ophelia’s expense. Despite my resolve to stay strong, I can’t help but feel sorry for this innocent girl and fear for what penalty the sergeant will inflict on her.

Slade approaches Ophelia with a smile. “You did make it. How fortunate for all of us here. We were so worried about you.” She reaches out and caresses Ophelia’s curls. “You have such pretty hair. I trust the accommodations have been to your liking?”

Ophelia’s laugh is coated in nerves. “Well, my cabin on the boat we came on was a lot bigger than my room back home.”

It’s the first time I’ve seen her hold still. Her eyes go vacant for a moment, as if she’s searching for a memory to warm the emptiness, a look that’s reflected on the faces of the rest of the Recruits. If anyone ever told me I’d long for the rat-infested hovel I share with Cole, I’d have thought they’d inhaled too many toxic fumes … I guess a home isn’t really measured by the flaking plaster or invading rodents, but rather if there’s someone there who actually gives a damn if you return each day in spite of those things.

Slade’s tongues slithers across her lips. “Recruit Juniper?”

I lean toward Ophelia. “You okay?” I whisper, which has got to be the most inept question ever.

Ophelia returns from whatever refuge beckoned beyond her eyes. It’s like someone has switched on an automaton. She blinks a few times, her lips forming into a smile. “Too bad I didn’t have one of those porthole things in my cabin to see where we were going, though.” She cocks her head toward me and a conspiring hand cups the side of her mouth. “Not that I’d have any idea anyway.” Another anxious giggle. “But it was nice having some stew. I can’t remember the last time I ate something other than a ration bar. Thank you so much!”

The grin on Slade’s face stretches so wide I’m expecting her lips to tear apart. “Actually, I wanted to thank you !”

My stomach muscles clench.

Ophelia presses the tips of her fingers to her chest. “Thank me ? For what?”

An invisible hand wipes away the grin on Slade’s face. “For providing a lesson on the importance of punctuality .”

The hand caressing Ophelia’s curls balls into a fist.

“Owwww!!” Ophelia’s hands reach up to grasp Slade’s, but the Imp is too strong for her. “Please, stop! You’re hurting me! Ah!”

“Am I, dear? I’ve got just the remedy to ease your pain.” Slade’s free hand digs into her tunic pocket, producing a flash of silver.

The sight of the blade glues me in place. This can’t be happening. This pathetic girl hasn’t done a thing except get lost.

Slade holds the knife directly in front of Ophelia’s horrified face, allowing her to memorize every single notch on its cutting edge. Then, dragging Ophelia by the hair, Slade dumps her at Cypress’s feet. “Will you try to prevent me from teaching this slacker a lesson, Recruit Goslin?”

Ophelia reaches out and wraps a hand around Cypress’s ankle. “Please! Don’t let her … please … help …!”

Cypress never looks at her. Instead, she just kicks Ophelia’s hand away as if she’s a pesky rat. “I will not try and help her, Sir!” Her reply is almost drowned out by Ophelia’s shrieks.

Slade smiles. “Very good, Goslin!” Then she grips Ophelia’s hair once again, yanks her to her feet, and pulls her in front of Digory. “What about you, Tycho? Are you going to try and help her?”

Digory stares straight ahead, but unlike Cypress, his face is twitching. His forehead looks slick, his eyes squeezing shut with each piercing shriek.

“I … I … ” He bows his head.

“ Help … me … ” Ophelia is squealing now.

“Speak up, Tycho!” Slade hisses. “Are you going to try to stop me from meting out justice, or not?”

His looks up, taking her in.

Ophelia reaches out to him. “ Please … ”

“I … I … can’t .” He turns away.

“I’ll take that as a no , Recruit.” Slade grins. “Interesting that you had no qualms about coming to Spark’s assistance.” Ignoring the bloody claw marks on her hand, Slade heaves Ophelia to Gideon’s feet.

“I won’t help her, Sir!” Gideon practically screams before Slade can even pose the question. He’s obviously trying to get this torment over with as soon as possible, not that I blame him. Except now it shifts the terrible burden onto me.

Slade hauls Ophelia right in front of me. Her feet drop out from under her, but Slade still holds her aloft by the hair. “No! Please … no!” Her legs flail, her body racked by sobs. Her eyes meet mine, pleading. “Help me. Please don’t let her kill me!”

Then it’s not her face but the guy in that alley, screaming as he was being torn apart while I did nothing. Nothing except turn away and flee.

My foot inches forward.

“Are you going to help her, Recruit Spark?” Slade bellows at the top of her lungs.

Ophelia reaches out a bloodied hand. “I know you won’t let me die. You’re not like the others. You’re good … ”

“Please. Don’t say that,” I whisper, more to myself.

Slade presses the glistening blade to the girl’s throat. “Answer, Recruit Spark! Help or not?”

My eyes trace the tears streaming down Ophelia’s face. “Don’t make me do this … ”

The point of the blade pricks the girl’s skin, drawing a drop of blood that knits like a poisoned thread across her throat.

“I beg you!” Ophelia’s voice quivers.

Spasms wrack my body. Could I be quick enough to knock the knife out of Slade’s hand before it finds its mark?

The blade digs in deeper …

“I don’t want to die,” Ophelia blubbers. “I want to see my mama … ”

And now it’s Cole’s face I see, reaching out to me, crying, begging me to save his life …

There’s only one thing I can do.

“No!” I shriek, drowning out Ophelia’s screams. “I won’t help you! I won’t help you!” I scream the words over and over again, my hands over my ears, my eyes closed, snuffing out any trace of this girl before she tempts me into sending my brother to his doom.