VEGA LOOKED UP AT THE SOUND OF SCREAMING. Screams weren't always customary on Alula unless someone had fallen into the water, but that hadn't happened since she was a little girl, not since the field was put up. It seemed counterproductive, what with the island's heavy emphasis on population control, it seemed as though accidental deaths would be something to look forward to.

Whatever her reasoning, the screams were clearly different than the ones of pain annually heard. They were screams of fear and excitement, which weren't often heard together on Alula. Excitement wasn't always a strong suit with the people.

She quickly set aside her work—a teacher for the younger children, she had to set up lesson plans and, with Emundationem infirma soon approaching, she needed to start on the history of the island—and rushed outside of her home, pausing when she caught sight of what had breached onto the shore.

She raced towards the scene, her barefeet slipping against the sand as her heart stuttered, her entire body grinding to a halt as she stared at the horrific beast that had breached onto the sand, just recently dead. It was five times the size of her home with a plethora of eyes covering its rubbery grey frame, its five fins unmoving and lifeless with sharp thorn-like horns jutting out from all ends.

"At least we got some food," a voice said, and she rolled her eyes at the sound of Triton, another teacher and one of her oldest friends.

She turned to her left, finding the blond standing there with his spear, leaning against it as he stared at the heaving mass of monster in front of them. The two shared a look, equally overjoyed at the sight of one of the fiends; they were horrifying creatures, but to see one up close without the threat of being mauled was thrilling.

"What do you think it tastes like?" one of the younger children asked, having rushed over at the sound of the commotion, and Triton made a face, shrugging.

"We'll just have to find out," he said, glancing towards the others circling the creature who all seemed apprehensive to touch any part of it.

"Which parts kill you once you touch it?" he asked, and everyone took a step back, eyes widening as they stared at various points of the beast, wary and unsure.

"Well, we'll just leave it and wait for the council to arrive," Triton decided, sighing as he flopped down onto the sand, motioning for the others to do the same, though most mumbled excuses as they went off, none too eager to meet with the council.

The council were comprised of the chosen of the island, picked at birth and designated until death. They were the only ones exempted from any and all forced competitions and cleansings and they, in fact, were the ones in charge of their formation. Hardly anyone spoke to the council and even fewer truly wanted to.

Triton, however, was an exception, having been picked to be a council member once one finally died. That was why most children steered clear of him when he and Vega were growing up, but the girl couldn't find it in herself to be too wary of a boy who liked to braid her hair and call her pretty, though he never wanted to pursue a relationship with a woman, which happily put her at ease.

Though ease was the last thing on her mind when facing the hulking beast.

"Shouldn't you be working on your lesson plans?" she asked, taking a seat next to him, and he snorted, looking up from where he was drawing markings into the sand.

"Shouldn't you?" he countered, looking off towards her home, the door still left ajar, yet no reason to worry about anyone going inside.

The homes on Alula were nothing more than small huts made out of the trees that littered the island, sand still finding its way through the cracks of the floor, everything made out of wood and other similar material. There was no fear of keeping doors open and free as the people had too much to worry about to think of anything else, and the population always stayed low enough so the people never had to want to stay alive.

Except on Picking Day.

Vega tried not to think about it as she sighed, tracing patterns into the sand next to Triton, the two leaning against each other as they waited. She had been worried about Picking Day ever since she turned of age—sixteen—and every year she was grateful for being skipped over all three times, always dreading the next three come the next year.

Triton used to tell her that, as a future council member, he kept her safe and, when he was on the council, he would make sure she would never be picked. She knew it was a lie. But it kept her optimistic, kept her motivated to be a productive member of society, to pull more than her weight to make sure they saw she was essential.

That was how she stayed alive: by staying essential.

"Hey," Triton said, nudging her arm and poking her temple, "Stop thinking so much. Your lesson plan isn't here, it's a waste."

"I'm not thinking about the lesson plan," she grumbled, nudging him back harsher than intended, and he paused, making a face.

"Are you thinking about Picking Day?" Triton demanded, scoffing and rolling his eyes, "Keep thinking about it and your brain'll kill you long before they even think of picking you. Stop thinking, it's a waste."

"It's a waste to you, because you never have to worry!" she cried, feeling anger rise in her chest, jumping to her feet, "It's a waste to you because everything is convenient. You might never have to fear about anything in your life, but all I do is worry, it's not a waste if I need to!"

She felt herself begin to cry, wiping furiously at her eyes as she started to sob, Triton sighing and rising to his feet, wrapping his arms around her. Vega was always more sensitive than the others, crying at the mere thought of death or pain, which she had to deal with more than some others on the island. She cried over the thought of being sad, and she fretted constantly, much to the chagrin of Triton who hated the idea of being anything but relaxed and carefree.

"Okay, okay, quit it..." he drawled, but he seemed more distressed, hugging her tightly, "What did I say, I'm not letting you get picked."

"I don't want anyone to get picked," she cried, shaking her head she sobbed into his chest, and Triton sighed, patting her back.

"I know you don't, you've been saying that since I met you," he said, pausing when he turned his head, "Shh, shh. Councilwoman's here, stop crying. Go on, stop it, before she sees."

Vega quickly swallowed the lump in her throat, falling into a coughing fit as she wiped furiously at her eyes, Triton loudly proclaiming to the incoming woman that sand had gotten into her mouth and eyes, nothing more, nothing less, and certainly nothing to worry. Vega choked at the mere thought of the councilwoman seeing her crying,

Crying was for the weak and the essential couldn't be weak.

"What should we do with it?" the councilwoman asked Triton in a flat tone, a clear trial on his part, and the man simply shrugged, unworried and uncaring.

"I say we take it back and see which parts we can eat and which parts we can use. It's a huge thing, it could offset our resources, less worries about population control so the next pickings won't be too extreme," he said, speaking carefully as he reached the part about the pickings, reaching out towards Vega who continued to stand rigid and as firm as she could.

It was true that, when resources were on the lower end, pickings could be rather severe and extreme, the choices more rash and less calculated than when resources were at a respectable or even promising level. Vega had learned quickly when she began to take up the trade schooling to be a teacher.

Her mentor had been a woman who had picked apart the very system of the island, pointing out its flaws and its follies and its misgivings, coming up with a new system. The council always dismissed her. Vega had learned all she knew from that woman, and the two had dreamed of when the current system was overthrown and a more realistic system was set in place.

The woman had been picked just before Vega took up her mantle. She still mourned her loss.

"You," the councilwoman said, turning her attention to the blonde who was struggling not to burst into tears, "Are you willing to help?"

"I am more than willing to do anything to aid Alula," she said immediately, not looking at the councilwoman, though she noticed Triton's shoulders sag with relief; to think he never worried.

"Good," the woman said, nodding to her, then to Triton, "See this as your task. You will be aided in bringing this to the main center, but you are to lead the task in separating the food from any other material that is either used or disposed."

"Of course," he said, nodding in understanding, and she nodded back, her nose turned up.

She looked at Triton, then at Vega, forcing the blonde to meet her steely grey eyes. "Then prove yourself essential and get to work."

º º º

Night had fallen hours before Vega and Triton were finally able to sit. The food had been distributed to the whole island, everyone coming out of the woodwork to eat together underneath the torches and converse about the behemoth that had breached the surface and died, theorizing over how one would be able to survive in the water for a moment should they be picked.

"I don't understand how a councilperson who has survived the cleansing could go and choose others to endure what they had," Vega cried, she and Triton sitting in a secluded area, the nearest torch not too close, the two hidden in the shadows of the towering trees above them.

"I hear the water changes you," Triton said simply, tearing a chunk off of the meat he had served himself, chewing roughly, "When you don't fear danger, you don't take seriously the fears everyone else has."

Vega paused, turning to take in the only person she had left in her life. She and Triton had always led very different lives, but she had never once heard him admit to his folly and privilege, being exempted from the cleansings. It was about time.

She sighed as she settled into his arms, closing her eyes. She hadn't stopped thinking of the picking the entire time she was helping skin the beast and determine which parts were safe, useful, and deadly. She thought of creatures like this one and worse coming to attack her, to maul her and rip her to shreds. She thought of others experiencing them. It made her sick.

"You're too sensitive for this place," Triton sighed, shaking his head, "You should find someplace out there. Somewhere else."

"As if we have the means to leave," she scoffed, "We're the only island on this planet and we don't have the technology others do. We're trapped here. Or at least I am, you're fine." She shook her head bitterly, continuing to eat her food, pulling away from him.

There was a pause. Then, "Just because I don't care doesn't mean I actually enjoy this, Vega. It's easier not to care about something that you can't fix than care and know you can do nothing about it. If you find a way off this place, I want in."

Vega felt herself begin to cry again and Triton groaned, wrapping his arms around her again. "Can we please stop with this crying, I swear, you cry over every little thing. We're going to be fine, okay? You'll be fine."

"No one can guarantee that, not the council, certainly not you," she sniffed, wiping at her eyes, "Sentiment serves no purpose on this island. You can't know that I'm going to be okay."

"Sure, I can," Triton said, nudging her softly, "You know how?" She shook her head petulantly, moving so her head was in his lap, her body curled up in a ball, as if they were children again, not adults.

"Because you are strong and essential. And there's no reason to be rid of you. And I would fight with everything I had if you were picked."

Once again, Vega began to cry.

AUTHOR'S NOTE

( 08.03.18 )

So here's the first chapter (I'm not super proud of it honestly but it's the best I could do), sorry it took so long, I was trying to figure out exactly how I wanted to show this, because I wanted to show a heavy contrast between Vega before the cleansing and after the cleansing, you know? So I hope you guys notice it. Also, Sam Claflin plays Triton and I have...no regrets.

Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoyed!