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Every year on December 31st, a child from each Major power is given to the Aliens to be slaves. There was no war but a threat, the Aliens blew up Neptune as warning, if we don't cooperate, well, there won't be any of us left. With the governments more focused on finding away to deal with the Aliens, what little attention they put on the people was gone. With basically no police funding gangs rule the streets, though they require protection tax, most are willing to pay.

I am Jessica , second eldest to the Roswells of New Louisville. My parents couldn't care less about their children, they try but they really don't care. Jamaica and I are responsible for the housework and cooking. Yes my parents work and drag us to help* do the grocery shopping, it's still hard, having no friends besides your siblings, no life. (By help I mean by doing most of it ourselves.)

Jamaica's girlfriend is a gang member, she gives a quarter of her pay to Jamie as we dont have time for a job. She would give her half but if our parents found out that she has some money coming in they might try and take it, "to help with the bills". So she puts it into a jar or something at her house for Jamie.

(Jamie is Jamaica's nick name)

December 30 2031

"Jimmy! Where is Jacky?" I waited for a response, but none came. I pounded up the stairs. "Jimmy, where is-" Jacky sat next to Jimmy on the bottom bunk of their bed. "Come on, we got to be there in case someone we know gets picked. They only have a day to say goodbye. "

The boys stormed down the hall and sat on the floor in the living room. Mom grabbed the remote next to my sleeping dad. An hour after the person who was picked was informed, their photo and name would appear on the news station.

Mom flipped though the stations until she found one that suited her. Jamie walked in after doing the dishes. She sat down daintily on the love seat next to me. She was perfect, flawless skin, hazel eyes, soft black hair.

I stared at our hands. I have a condition where my skin has patches of lighter and darker pigments, I just look different there is nothing actually wrong with me. In elementary school our classmates would ask us why Jamie never caught my disease.

A loud knock on the front door, Jamie sighed and went to go up. "No, sit, let me do it." I got up and made my way to the door. A sudden fear flooded through me, what if one of the boys were picked, we didn't have enough money to get a redraw. Slowly I turned the knob, two men dressed in suits were at the door.

"Jamaica Roswell has been chosen." My heart sank, no, not her. I slowly started to shake my head.

"No. T-take me."

"Ugh, hear that Zach, got a hero." The man tapped on a tablet. "Your her twin right?"

"Yes, Jessica." I nodded.

He tapped a few more buttons on the tablet then flipped the screen towards me. "There, your now chosen." They turned around and left.

I closed the door and made my way back to the living room trying to process what happened. I stood in the doorway for a moment. "Well, who was it?" My mom snapped.

"I'm.Chosen."

"Oh great, it was them." My dad piped up." They should really give us some sort of compensation for losing a child."

My siblings gathered around me hugging my legs. Though a flood of tears the boys were muttering about how I shouldn't go and it's not fair. Jamie hugged me so tight. After a few minutes they backed away. Mom was crying, in the back of my head I knew she had forced the tears.

"Oh my sweet, sweet baby." She muttered. Next came my dad, I'm actually surprised he got up instead of making me come to him. He hugged me, it felt awkward, as if he hugged me with the wrong kind of passion.

Jamie and I made supper as usual. We watched some movie and the kids were sent to get ready for bed. I could take a small bag with me, no guarantee I could keep it though. I packed a tube of toothpaste,an unopened toothbrush, a handful of granola bars and a water bottle.

I scanned our bedroom for what else to take. My eyes fixed on a family photo, I would take it to see my siblings. I quietly scampered to the mess of a study and grabbed a barely used school notebook, a couple of pencils and a sharpener. I may have been written out of my family's story, but now I can write my own.

The next chapter of my life would be in this book.