I took a deep breath, and then another. Sjin stood behind me, guiding my hands when it looked like I was making a mistake. I was pretty good and braiding my own hair without looking, but Sjin knew enough to help me along. I sat on an old rickety chair wearing the white shirt and black pants of the selected; the clothes were nicer that everything I've wore in the past two years combined and the fabric was soft against my rough skin. 

I was allowed to choose my shoes (my nicest boots) and my hair, but I was obligated to wear the providence flower that was delivered to me yesterday. It was a dogwood bloom, something our city's parks were littered with this time of year. I wasn't going to go out and buy new shoes or make up for today, but I did go and clip some buds off a dogwood tree, which I was currently weaving into my braid to add a bit of uniqueness. 

I pulled out a chunk of my bangs to cover my stitches and turned around, waiting for Sjin's approval. "How do I look?" I asked as he took in my full image. 

He snaked his hand behind my neck and the other one found it's way to my waist as he pulled me in for a kiss. "Absolutely beautiful Atlas," he said, daring to show his softer side today. 

I looked over at the clock hanging on the wall. We had 20 minutes before we had to be at the city square, and they were driving us in a limo for security reasons. I hadn't been in a car in a long time, and I can't ever remember riding a train. 

"I guess this is the time for private goodbyes," I shrugged, trying to laugh but ending up just seeming sheepish. I must have been the only selected that was depressed today. 

Sjin grabbed my shoulders and pulled me to him again, this time for a hug. "I'm gonna miss you Atlas, I don't need to rehash the subject, you know what I'm going to say," he muttered over my shoulder, reluctant to let go so soon. 

"I'll be fine. A month or two and I'll be right back here okay?" I said, leaning back so I could look at his face, "Make sure to take care of my brother." 

"What kind of trouble can a 12 year old get into?" he laughed, trying to lighten the mood.

"I'm serious Sjin," I said sternly, "He needs to keep doing his homework and he needs to eat right. And no fighting; you have to be disciplined, don't fall for his charm."

"But he's just so cute," he said smuggling, pursing his lips and grabbing my chin with one of his massive hands, "Just like his sister." 

"Get off me, you jerk," I said, but his teasing loosened me up enough to laugh, and I felt a weight come off my chest. I wasn't actually competing for the princes, so why should I be nervous? I'm already a three, if I get sent home today then I'll still be better off. 

Ari came scrambling down the ladder. I had splurged a little with our first check and had bought him a nice outfit for today. He wore a blue button up with khakis, and I had managed to wrestle him into a hair cut last night, because I knew he wouldn't get it cut again until I got home and he was starting to look like a sheep dog. 

"Hey handsome," I winked as he strutted towards us. 

"I love them so much! I look like a five in these!" he exclaimed, "Thank you Atlas!" 

"Hurry up Ari, we have to leave soon," Sjin said as he stopped in front of us. 

The excitement in his eyes dulled and his shoulders dropped at the statement. Sjin walked away to give us some privacy, and I took a knee in front of my brother. "Hey kid," I smiled, feeling the familiar swell in the back of my throat as I swallowed my tears, "You ready for today?" On my knees he was taller than me, so it was hard to hide his face from me; he was upset. 

Aristotle threw his skinny arms around my neck and I buried my face into his shoulder, feeling the tears threatening to spill over. "I don't want you to go," he whined into my hair, and I felt a sob wrack through his body. As tough as he tries to be, he was a still sensitive and clingy. I knew he wasn't happy about me leaving, but I didn't think it would bother him this much. 

I sniffled and bit back the tears, knowing I had to be calm in front of him. Pulling him away from me by his shoulders after I had composed myself, I forced him to look me in the eye. "You understand why I have to go though right?" I asked him, trying to sound earnest. 

"Yeah, but we've never been apart for more than a night," he said, wiping his eyes on his new shirt. Seeing him cry broke my heart, but I managed to hold it together. I often worried about Ari's development, and though he seemed alright socially with his friends and acted appropriately around adults, he still clung to me when in the privacy of the warehouse. He and Sjin got along well, but Sjin wasn't exactly the male figure he needed, and I made it a point to differentiate between a sister and a mother, even if I took care of him like one. He feared abandonment for obvious reasons, and having to leave him was a lesson I didn't want him to have to learn right now. 

"I'm not going to be gone for that long, and I'll be sure to write every day," I said, shaking him slightly, "You'll be okay, you're old enough now to start taking care of yourself." 

He seemed to be calming down. "I'm not ready to be an adult," he muttered, dropping his head. 

I cracked a smile at that one. We both had to grow up before we were ready. "That's what Sjin's here for. All you have to do is keep working on your school work and stay happy, deal?" I asked, tilting his chin up as I stood, "And no fighting. Understood?"

"Aw come on Atlas," he moaned, returning to his old self, "What am I supposed to do when you're gone?" 

"Maybe you should pick up knitting," I joked, stepping up to him and pulling him into a surprise headlock, not holding him tight enough to hurt him. "Besides," I laughed as he wiggled, "You don't want to learn how to fight from that scrub. You need to learn from the master." Ari easily beat my arms away, but he was laughing again.  

 Sjin just smirked at me and rolled his eyes. "Don't get cocky, I taught you everything you know kid," he said, motioning towards the warehouse doors, "Come on, the car's here." 

The car was even fancier than I thought. It wasn't a long ride to the city center where the train station was located, but there was a television and snacks for us. Ari was having a great time pushing all the buttons to see what they did, and Sjin pilfered all the mini packets of nuts under his jacket out of habit and spite. I sat trying to look out the darkened windows, feeling dread prick my skin like a chill. I was going to be on camera almost all the time, and I was expected to act with all the grace and formality a princess would, even given my background. I would be constantly judged, and I was already on a few gossip magazine covers and in newspapers that speculated what I would act like and how I would adjust to life in the palace. I was going to go down in history just for being an eight in the selection. 

The closer we got to our destination, the more people crowded the streets. The mayor had asked if I wanted to forgo the city send off for fear that people might be angry enough to throw things or hurt me and I had gladly accepted, but it seemed like people were still here to see me leave. I thought I would have at least had a train ride before I had to put on my mask of social literacy, but it seemed like the act would start as soon as I stepped out of the limo. 

Sjin squeezed my hand before he opened the door and stepped out, making way for me. A few cameras flashed as I got out, and I did my best to not grimace at them. 

You could clearly see the caste distinctions. The twos and threes, dressed nicer than I was, looked as if I had personally taken something from them, while the blue overall clad sixes and brown suit and dress wearing sevens looked at me with what only can be described as an elated hope in their eyes. I didn't think anyone would be rooting for me, but the lower castes cheered and clapped and blew me kisses as I walked past them. I saw a few fighters mixed in the crowd, and they seemed to be the ones to cheer the loudest. I assumed these people only liked me because I was their city's representative at the palace, so I tried to keep the flutter of pride in my chest in check. 

Two guards walked me through a tunnel of people towards the train platform where the mayor stood. Ari and Sjin trailed behind me and I instinctively took my brother's hand so we wouldn't get separated, which only made what was coming up harder. 

"Lady Atlas," Mayor Winchel greeted with a yellow smile. He was a fat man who probably ate more in one day than I did a week, and he was a slimy crook. I didn't like to get into politics, but with the little I learned, I knew he took payouts and bribes and cut whatever benefits he could if they helped the lower castes. "It seems like you have more fans than I thought." 

I put on a fake smile, my blood running hot. "It seems like we both have a lot of fans," I said, and then kicked myself. I really shouldn't be picking fights with government officials today.  He didn't catch the slight, or if he did he pretended not to be bothered by it. 

"Ladies and Gentlemen," the mayor called loudly over the crowd, quieting them. The press gathered at the edge of the platform by our feet, eager to record what he was saying and take pictures of the event. "Today we send off our beautiful Daughter of Illead, Lady Atlas Avery!" 

It was weird hearing my full name used so much during the past two weeks. The people who normally showed up to fights didn't even know my last name (until now), and it was better that way. The name just brought up vague memories of my childhood and the funeral ceremonies of my parents. 

The crowd cheered, and their cries and applause got louder as the train slide into view, right on time. The wave of air that hit us as it slowed to a stop ruffled my clothes and cause a few stray hairs to float around my face. I felt fear grip my chest to think that I was going to be on something that moved that fast, suddenly I was very sick as I looked at the hulking beast of a machine in front of me. 

"Quickly say your goodbyes Lady Atlas, we have a schedule to keep," the Mayor muttered to me before turning back to the cameras to answer questions about his thoughts on the selection. 

Ari tugged me down with the hand in mine and pulled me into another hug. He wasn't crying to sad this time though. "Good luck Atlas," he said over my shoulder, "I'll make sure to watch all the reports and write to you as much as possible." 

"I'll be back before you know it Aristotle," I told him honestly, kissing the side of his head, "I love you." 

It was Sjin's turn next, and I could see the pain and restraint in his eyes as he stepped closer to me. "We've been with each other every day for nearly ten year," he laughed quietly, pushing his scruffy hair back only for it to fall down across his eyes again, "What am I supposed to do without you by my side?"

"Learn to shop for groceries by yourself," I teased as I pulled him into a hug. He was supposed to be my father, so it couldn't be as intimate as either of us wanted, and with everyone starring it didn't last very long either. He did manage to sneak a kiss onto my forehead though. 

"I love you Atlas," he said, smiling sadly and taking a step back, signaling the guards that we were done. 

I felt my feet freeze in place at those words, and the guards had to usher me into the train with a little force to get me to move. The crowd cheered, unaware, and the doors closed in front of me with a hiss. I looked out the window, my eyes trained on Sjin for as long as I could before the buildings blocked my view. That was the first time he had ever said that to me.

Through my shock, I barely registered that it felt like I was standing on solid ground, despite the trees and lakes whizzing by me outside the window. 

"Um, hi," I heard someone say behind me.

I jumped and turned on this voice, raising my arms defensively on instinct, causing the girl standing in front of me to start as well. 

"Oh! Um, I'm sorry to have scared you, I thought you had noticed me," she said, and I looked to my left to see a chair covered in a few magazines and had a pair of tall heals in front of it. I must have not noticed her when I first got in here because I was so focused on what was happening outside. "Are you okay? You seem a bit dazed and you've been staring out the door since we left..."

The girl was taller than me even in her bare feet, and she was impossibly skinny. I would have mistaken her for a malnourished eight if it weren't for the color of her skin and the thickness of her hair and the brightness in her eyes; she must just naturally be that thin. She was pretty in her own way; her jaw came down to a sharp chin and her pale blue eyes were turned down so that she naturally looked a little sad, but when she smiled her face lit up and banished the thought. Her caramel hair was twisted up in the back and a white rose was behind her ear. 

"Yeah sorry, I didn't get much sleep last night," I lied, my voice sounding foreign and deep next to her light and airy  tone. "I'm Atlas," I added, sticking out my hand. 

"Beckii, with two i's," she greeted, giving me a genuine smile, "My real name is Rebecca Flint, but most people know me as Beckii Cruel. I'm kind of a big deal in New Asia right now." 

"Are you a performer?" I asked. That would make her a two or a five depending on her form of work. 

"I'm a pop idol and I do a lot of modeling," she said, the slightest hint of vanity in her voice as she talked, "And you're the eight right? I was memorizing everyone's name and portrait on the ride over here."

"Yeah, I'm the eight," I said, feeling dull next to this colorful character.

"You're pretty for an eight," she smiled. I knew she meant it to be nice, but it made me feel self conscious. I guess, for an eight, I was better than average.

"Thank you," I said, walking past her and away from the door, "This is a nice train." It was the only train I had ever been on, but something told me that this was better than average, considering it was nicer than the apartments in the poor district. It was all off whites and grays, with four plush seats facing each other and even thick carpet covering the floor. Each seat had a pull out table and there was a fridge embedded in one of the curved walls. 

"Yeah it's the nicest one I've ever been on," she said, following me and taking her seat again. I claimed the seat adjacent to her instead of across to avoid awkward stares. I hadn't thought to bring anything to do like she had, but there were a few magazines and newspapers folded neatly behind the chair.

"Are there any other girls on here?" I asked, looking at the door between us and another between the empty seats in front. 

"Yeah, we're the fifth cab from the front, but we're not allowed to leave our compartment," she said, picking up a magazine, "Trust me, I already tried it."

Beckii seemed nice enough, and I felt my fears that all girls were going to be at each others throats dampen. I have been surrounded by boys almost my entire life, and I felt awkward around this girl, as if I were of a different species. I hoped that all the stereotypes about girls only loving shoes and shopping weren't true, but seeing the expensive shoes and fashion magazines littered around Beckii did nothing to suggest that. 

"So what do you like to do?" Beckii asked after a couple of minutes, but then bit her lip, "Oh, I'm sorry, can eights afford to do recreational activities?" 

Such an ignorant comment stung, but there was no malice behind it, Beckii seemed genuinely unaware of what it meant to be in my caste. "We do," I said, giving her a small smile, "I'm a kick boxer." It was what I had put on my application, and it was almost true. 

"Really? That's so cool!" she squeaked, pipping up, "That explains why you have such a nice body shape, I would kill for thighs like that." 

I laughed genuinely. "Thanks I guess," I said, cracking a smile. I felt like I could really like Beckii, even if we shared almost nothing in common; maybe that was why I liked her so much, she was so interesting. 

We talked causally about our friends and family for a while and then went back to our reading. Eventually a servant came in and gave us lunch, and after about an hour after I had boarded, the world began to slow around us and the hills and valleys transformed into tall buildings and roads. "Ooo, were picking up the next girl," Beckii cooed, setting down her magazine and standing up in her seat to try and see ahead of the train through the window. 

We slowed to a full stop and we saw two girls standing on the train platform right in front of our compartment. We were in Kent, but I knew there was another girl from Tolster only a half an hour away from here, so they must be sending them off together. They both had their backs to us as they greeted the city and said goodbye to their families, but I could already see the differences between the two.

The one on the left was tall, and her heals only added more imposing height so she towered over her companion. Her hair was a fiery red and fell in waves down her back, and her providence flower, some kind of orchid, was pinned back with a section of her hair so it was swept away from her face. Her parents and brothers and sisters were all dressed very well, and even their hugs and kisses were very calculated and graceful. She had a very curvy figure and when she turned to the side I could see an even more flattering angle. She must have been a model, but she looked nothing like skinny Beckii.

The other girl was a lot less intimidating. Her blonde hair was pulled back into a tight circular bun and a few sprigs of daisies were inserted at diagonals. She had more of a boyish figure under our standard outfit and wore bright yellow flats to match the flowers in her hair. She was only accompanied by her parents whom both were misty eyed and looked at their daughter as if she were already the queen. 

"That's Albany Devon," Beckii whispered into my ear, even though they couldn't hear us in here, "She's like, one of the highest rated model in the entire country." 

I could tell that Beckii felt threatened by this girl, but I was completely calm. She would be competition if we were actually competing, but in my case, I wasn't interested in the princes and Albany wouldn't have to worry about me. And it was unfair to judge her from appearances and publicity alone; she could be really nice. 

"Who's the other girl?" I asked, nodding towards the small one.

"Umm, Anouk something," she said, still checking out Albany. 

We both scrambled to our seats as the girls gave a final wave and turned to the train. On cue, the doors slide open with a thud and the two of them stepped warily into the compartment. They didn't get much time to react to us before the doors were closing the the train whisked us away from the city center and the crowds. 

"Hi!" Beckii jumped up, being the first to initiate introductions. Beckii (with two i's) and I introduced ourselves to the newcomers, who seemed to adjust quicker than I had. Albany seemed alright, though there was something guarded about the way she talked and moved, and I knew I had to keep an eye on her the same way I had to keep an eye on edgy fighters. I felt like I was about to be body checked by her whenever I got too close. 

Anouk  Ryan was a lot easier to get along with. She was a four, and while Albany and Beckii talked about fashion and modeling, I listened to Anouk talk about school and her grades. She was top of her class and was going to go into some form of foreign relations before she was selected. I was already rooting for here to be one of the winners because of how intelligent she was and the kind of diplomatic actions she could make in the future. 

We kept easy and light conversation in between reading and some sleeping, and the stops were more frequent the closer we got to the capital. In no time at all we were told to collect our things by the servants and were arriving in Angeles, where the castle was located. 

I felt my heart hammering in my chest as we slowed to a stop in front of a crowd of people and the largest and grandest building I had ever seen. The minute the doors slid open I knew: The Selection had begun.