Hi readers! Please note that this novel is currently undergoing re-editing for grammar and clarity from chapter 1 onwards. If you notice slight updates, that's why. Thanks for your patience and support!
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Lightening flashed through the dark clouds, casting eerie shadows across Olivia's pale face as she pressed herself against the hallway wall, eavesdropping on her parents' hushed conversation.
"We cannot let Freya go," her mother whispered with trembling voice. "She can't fight those monsters." She broke down, wailing . "I can't lose her."
"Then what do we do, Sophia?" Her father William sighed, pulling her into an embrace. His face contorted with pain and confusion.
Freya, her twin sister sat close to the window, her eyes have become red and swollen from hours of crying, her gaze lingered at the storm outside, her face held no emotion, her knuckles whitened from her her fingers clenching tightly on her dress.
She had drawn the losing number, and now she was supposed to fight, but she knew it was a big death sentence.
"Olivia can take my place," Freya's cracked voice made both her parents turn towards her. "We are twins, although we are not that identical, it might work." She prayed in her heart for her parents to agree.
"Yes! That's it!" Sophia said, her voice rising slightly high. "Olivia will go instead!" Sophia held William arms, they have found the perfect solution to their problem.
However William hesitated, although Freya was their favorite daughter, and they couldn't bear to let her die, they can't just sacrifice another life for her.
He sighed before slowly cupping his wife hand in his, "You are right." He nodded in agreement, "Olivia will go in place of Freya," his fist curled into a ball. His heart wrenching from the pain of not being able to protect his family.
'I am sorry, Olivia,' he apologised inwardly.
This decision suddenly brought a smile to Freya's lips, she stood up crying, before embracing them.
"I love you guys, you are the best."
However, from the hallway, Olivia's heart sank in her chest, her throat tightened, as hot tears stream down her cheek, she couldn't believe her ears.
When Olivia raised her head up, she met her sister's gaze, whose lips curled into a sad satisfying smile, her eyes gleaming with something dark..something she couldn't quite name.
Feeling the sting of their cruelty, Olivia turned around, and ran back to her room, her shaking hand slammed the door shut. She leaned against it, her hands trembled, bile rising in her throat.
"I can't believe this." She cried bitterly. She knew it wasn't her sister's fault, it was just bad luck.
Because to maintain control over the monster's population, a Selection System was created. Every year, numbers were drawn, determining who would fight the monsters.
This year, her sister, Freya had drawn the losing number, but now, her parents are planning to make her take Freya's place.
Olivia stared blankly at the wall, her mind racing.
Monsters were ranked by difficulty:
Level 1 -3 : manageable.
Level 4-8 : Dangerous.
Level 9-13 : Deadly.
Level 14-18 : Almost impossible.
Level 19- 20: Impossible.
She rested her head on her palms, they were sending her to die. She sobbed, not knowing when she fell asleep.
Dawn arrived too quickly for Olivia, as she raised her head up, dark circles formed around her eyes.
"It's dawn," she exhaled shakily, staring at the ceiling. "I guess my demise is coming faster than expected."
Her raven black hair looked like a bird nest, her emerald green eyes tried to hide the pain, but it was still there, buried deep beneath the indifference mask she was wearing.
A knock startled her.
"Olivia," came her mother's soft, coaxing voice.
She hesitated, contemplating if she should open the door. But after some minutes she ended opening the door, she saw her parents wearing unreadable expressions.
" Mother…..Father."
"Can we come in?" Sophia asked gently.
"Sure." She replied, opening the door wider for them to come in.
She shut the door shut after they entered the room.
Sophia inhaled deeply.
"Olivia, my dear, there something your father and I have to talk to you about." Sophia began. Olivia leisurely rested her back on the wall, as if she had no idea of what they were going to say.
"The system has chosen your sister to fight the monsters… " she reached for Olivia´s hands, squeezing them gently. "...but you can go instead, right?".
A dark, suffocating silence settled between them. The tension in the air was so palpable.
" ….No." Olivia sternly replied.
Sophia's expression darkened hearing her answer, without a second thought, she pressed a cold blade on her own throat.
"If you don't go, I'll kill myself."
Olivia´s breath hitched. Her eyes darted to her father for help… but he looked away.
"Do you want to watch me die, Olivia?" Sophia's voice trembled.
"Why should I go? I didn't draw the number, don't I have the right to live? Why should I give my life away? Am I not your daughter too?" Olivia bombarded.
"I don't care Olivia, I gave you both life, so I decide which one I want to keep, it is up to me," Sophia wailed.
Olivia's knuckles turned white from all the emotions that were burning inside her. How could her parents be this shameless?
"My life is mine," her green eyes burned with defiance.
Sophia pressed the blade harder, a single drop of blood trickling down her neck.
"Then watch me die!!"
Olivia's eyes stung, it hurts her to see her mother in this state, and she knew she was the least important to them, but she never expected them to stoop this low.
She felt anger rising like bile in her throat, she knew she couldn't escape, because running away was like throwing yourself to the system to be a bait to the monsters.
She has no way out. Her parents, whom she had loved and looked up to, had discarded her like trash, with no remorse, or sympathy.
She was nothing more than a substitute to her twin.
She hated to be threatened by her own parents.
Tears pricked her eyes. ".. Fine. I will go."
Her voice cracked and her heart felt heavy.
Sophia sighed in relief and lowered the knife.
"Good girl. You leave in an hour." William Donovan patted her shoulder with a sad face.
They walked away as if nothing had happened, as if they hadn't just sold her life away.
Olivia stood frozen in her room, she had never felt so alone.
"If this is what it takes to make you happy, I will do it."
She resigned to her fate, letting the tears fall freely down her face. For the first time in her life, she wished she wasn't born into this family.
Her parents had always loved her twin more. But how could they choose Freya over her so easily?
She felt numb, but she was so angry, yet she could only swallow it.
An hour later, it was time to leave. Her parents clung to her, shedding crocodile tears.
Freya hugged her, leaning in close. "Come back alive," she whispered in Olivia's ear, before stepping back.
Olivia didn't bother replying.
As the jeep rumbled to life, she turned away, never looking back.
Olivia stared out the window as they passed through the higher sections. Everything was different. Their buildings gleamed, their people looked trained, armed. Prepared.
The world outside isn't what it used to be.
Thirty years ago, Earth had collapsed into ruin. The monster's uprising left the world in shambles, forcing survivors into divided sections, ruled by the strongest. Cities had turned to weaponized fortresses, reinforced to withstand the creatures lurking in the ruins.
Survivors lived in sections, the powerful ones in 1,2 and 3, the weak ones like her in 27.
A division at the bottom of the food chain, powerless, disregarded, expendable. Her eyes wandered to the towering buildings as they drove past.
Finally they arrived at the headquarters.
The people who live here are from section 1, 2 and 3. They are the boss, and every other section must listen to them.
Their descendants had trained since birth, armed with resources, power, and skills.
Meanwhile, people from Sections 15 to 27 have to rely on luck, if they are ever chosen to battle with monsters.
The jeep halted before a massive underground bunker
"Are you going to stay there forever?" the driver's gruff voice snapped her out from her trance.
"Sorry," she muttered, before she stepped out.
Her mouth went dry.
'This was it.'
"Come with me," the driver instructed, his tone firm.
Her feet followed his footsteps into a steel-reinforced elevator.
Chime.
The door slid open, revealing a bustling underground base. Soldiers, scientists, and combat trainees moved with precision.
She had heard whispers that only the talented could enter the headquarters bunker.
Her heart pounded, her mind screaming in her head she didn't belong here.
"Your squad is waiting for you in Room 105," the driver said.
Her feet hesitated to move.
His gaze softened slightly, sensing her fear. "Good luck."
The doors slammed shut behind her.
And just like that….
There was no turning back.