We were woken the next day by a trumpet.

Irena jumped up and started screaming.

'Calm down, they're probably trying to wake us'.

'Why?'.

'I dunno, let's go outside first'.

We scrambled out of bed and quickly changed our clothes not bothering to take our baths.

We came out of our room only to see others filing out too. We joined the group heading to the head hall.

I looked up to see Julia sitting on a chair placed on the podium, she looked like a fallen angel from the pit of hell.

'Good morning, hunters'. She greeted.

'Good Morning'. We said in unison.

She smiled her devilish smile. 'I'm sorry for waking you like that. I had something important to share with you'.

She took out a cigarette from the air and a slave behind her lit it for her.

She brought it to her mouth and puffed.

Her gaze travelled round the hall and it settled on me.

'The next batch is moving today'.

Murmurs rose around the hall, people were confused.

'Silence'.

Everyone went mute.

'I do not like being interrupted. The next person who tries to interrupt me next time won't get the chance to do that again'.

If we were mute before we became Muter.

'Good, I like that'. She smirked.

'As I was saying, before I was rudely interrupted, the next batch leaves today, because the hunters that left today were not....enough'.

'So, Alina will prepare the hunters whose names will be called out now'.

'Sia'.

'Penelope'.

'Lucas'.

'Adrianna'.

'Noah'.

'Levi'.

'Finn'.

'Irena'. I heard a gasp beside me.

'Adam'.

'And....'

She stopped for while and her gaze settled on me, her hazel eyes holding a dark secret which was promised to be revealed soon.

I had been praying to be called so I could go with Irena but right then I didn't feel like going anymore.

'Maya'.

'The names mentioned should go with Alina please'.

And with that we all turned and followed the purple headed dark girl to a secret room where I had the pleasure of being shown my first day here.

'She led us into a dark familiar place, which turned out to be Julia's office then we turned and entered a room that looked like a store room.

'Wow'. Collective gasps went up as they marvelled at the dangerous machineries in the room.

'Are we going to use that?'. A short girl who I think is Sia asked.

Alina threw her the same look she gave me when I asked a dumb question sometimes ago and she kept her mouth shut.

'Pick whatever you think will be useful for you and remember not to pick a knife or spear'.

People went all around picking random stuffs they thought would be useful for them.

'I don't know what to pick'. Irena told me.

'Hmm... I think you should pick something you think is suitable to kill a wild animal'.

'Is that what we're going to do?'.

'Yeah, what else can we do?'.

'Yeah, you're right'. And with that she walked towards where the the daggers are kept.

'What?'.

She cocked her head. 'What?'.

'I thought you'd go for a gun or any other machinery'.

'It won't help'. She shook her head.

'Why? Why do you think that?'.

'What if the 'predator' gets too close to get a good aim at it?'.

'And you think a hoe will be good for it?'.

'Yeah, think of it, she asked us not to use spear or knife and what does those two have in common?'. She asked.

'Well, they're both harmful'.

She hit her forehead with her hand. 'No, not that arrg'.

'They are both made with bronze in them'.

'Oh'.

'Yeah, so my guess it that bronze in some way harms the predators and makes the job easier for us and that's what she doesn't want. I think she didn't notice that these hoes too were made with bronze or she wouldn't have provided it'.

'But what if it doesn't get too close for you to hit it with the dagger?'.

'I can always throw it. I have good throwing hands or Someone else can get a good aim at it while I struggle with it'.

'Oh, I bet you're the smart type'.

'I try my best'. She shrugged.

I went to where the bows and arrows were kept and took one with a dragon drawn on it.

I noticed Irena giving me a curious look.

'I took shooting lessons for it back in middle school and between the arrow is also made of bronze'.

¶•¶•¶•¶

'I'm so glad we're going together'.

'Me too'.

She nodded and was about to say something but was caught of by someone banging at the door.

'Who's it?'.

'It's me Eleanor'.

I stood up and turned the lock.

She barged in and engulfed me in a hug.

'I heard you are going today'.

'Yes'.

'Oh my baby'. She hugged me again.

'It's fine, it's not like I'm going there to die'. She shook her head and looked down.

'I'm not going alone'.

She looked up confusion etched in her face.

I gestured at Irena and she started crying.

'Oh my babies'.

'My two two babies are getting shipped off at the same time'.

We pulled the both of us together and hugged us.

'Take care of yourselves, OK?'.

'We will'.

We heard the trumpet being blown.

'They really should stop blowing this damn thing, it feels like judgement day already'. Irena said angrily.

We all laughed at her and everywhere was silent.

'I think it's time'.

*****

We stood in a straight line facing Julian.

'Remember you are going to face predators, whom I will not say aren't dangerous'.

'Be your brother's keeper'.

'Did any of you take along any spear?'.

She asked.

'No'. We all said.

She closed her eyes and sucked in a breath.

'Good'. She smiled her infamous smile.

'I guess it's time for goodbye then'.

She looked straight at me and said. 'Don't get yourselves eaten'.

Then she turned and sashayed away.

We were ushered into the helicopter that took the last set.

I wonder what really happened to those ones.

I was about to go in when Alina stopped me.

'The heart'. She said and shoved me in.

We all settled down inside the helicopter and I looked outside as we ascended.

I spotted Eleanor far away and waved at her but she turned and entered the manor.

I Sat back down and looked at my hands entwined with Irena's, she squeezed and I squeezed back, trying to comfort each other where words are useless.

Everywhere was silent and we stared forward.

Awaiting our doom.

¶•¶•¶•¶