Chapter 3
3 Days After The Choosing
Reid
The journey to the Cria Zone was short and uneventful. After a truly heart-wrenching goodbye from Adrienne, and an indifferent wave from Mom, I was ready to be on the road and away.
Miya was mostly quiet on the journey, using our breaks to sketch and nap, which suited me fine. We’ve been living in the eligible dorms together, but we’ve never really hung out or talked much, just running in different circles. I noticed she chopped and bleached her hair though. Decided to make a splash at the Choosing, I guess, but it suits her. Makes her look less timid and more badass.
Upon arrival at the Cria compound we explored all the rooms, including the famous communal bunk room—a.k.a. the sex and sleep room—and stashed our stuff in the one set aside for the Derde Chosen.
It’s still wild to me they give us a bedroom with no beds where our stuff is and where we hang out, and then make us all sleep in one room together. Given the aim of the Choosing mandates, you’d think they’d give us a bit more privacy? But no, there is not one room where you get to be alone here. They even set up the bathroom to be communal, like a locker room, with multiple shower heads in one big shower.
It feels like you are always on display. I can’t say I love that, especially as more of a lone wolf myself.
I check the windows throughout the day for the telltale sight of a dust cloud announcing the arrival of more Chosen, and shortly before dinner, I am finally rewarded with one.
I head toward the front door to see who our new roommates—and possible partners—will be.
I open the door, and a short, golden-skinned woman immediately introduces herself as Ana and gives me her bag to take inside. I stifle a noise of surprise at her directness, and her male counterpart gives me an exasperated look, as if he’s at the end of his rope with her already.
He introduces himself. “Leo Afraad, pleased to meet you.”
“Reid Derde, likewise.” I gesture for them to follow me into the house, and then show them to their room. After which, I leave them to their own devices and head for the kitchen to scrounge up some food.
Shortly after I head down the hall, I hear more people arrive and decide to wait them all out before making a meal for one and looking like a jackass.
A new heavily tattooed male Chosen from Femte swaggers in like he’s lived here all his life and plops down on the couch between where Miya and I are sitting quietly in companionable silence. He immediately starts into a wild story that has us both hooked and engaged. Before long, I realize he is the extrovert to our introvert and might just be alright.
Ana joins us fairly quickly and makes dinner for everyone, so I make myself comfortable and let Enzo, the new guy, regale us with more tales from his life as a tattoo artist back home.
Ana sets the table and dishes out plates, and we all move to join her. Enzo gives her a massive grin and drawls, “Wow, you made dinner for everyone, love? What a gem!”
She flushes and mumbles something modest before sitting down to eat.
Enzo won’t let her off easily though and insists on making her blush some more. “Well, you’re a peach, thank you! Enzo, by the way. Pleasure to meet you!”
When the other Chosen wander back to the kitchen from the depths of the house a while later, Ana takes it upon herself to introduce everyone, and I decide to retreat before I’m well and truly overstimulated.