4 THE SELECTION

It was night time already, time for the important guests to show up. New clothes was sent up to me by Christine and a pair of new shoes, heels. It was strange to see Christine get me a dress, especially one as expensive as this. It was a white Satin gown that had green embroidery design at the top. When I tried it on, it hugged my body, tighter than I would have preferred. It was also cut so low, my breasts threatened to spill out of it if I breathed too much.

Another strange thing was that Rissa came into my room to do my makeup and style my hair. I had protested of course, but Christine came in my room and instructed me to sit still to look presentable for our guests. I didn't put up much of a fight after that, I sat still and allowed Rissa to paint my face. I had expected her to pull a prank and use too much makeup to make me look ugly, what I didn't expect was the perfect way she did it.

"Wow" I breathed out when she was done.

"Of course, I have outdone myself" Rissa praised herself but I wasn't listening to her, instead I was staring at the woman in the mirror.

She looked like me but felt different. The makeup was too much but I managed to pull it off. The dark pencil Rissa used to colour my eyelids made my eyes pop. She had also painted my lips a red colour, they were as red as the colour of blood. Rissa also managed to pack my massive red hair into a bun and pinned it at the back of my head.

"Alright, time to go" Rissa announced.

I looked up at her, "Aren't you going to get ready?"

"What do you mean?" Rissa asked arching a brow up at me, "I am ready."

I stared at the dress she was putting on. It was a white flared chiffon dress that fell past her knees. Rissa of course looks beautiful in the dress but it's just what not I had in mind she was going to wear for the important guests. I turned to look at the mirror to stare at our reflection, Rissa looked plain compared to me and it was strange.

"We need to go now" Rissa suddenly spoke up, "It's not polite to keep the guests waiting" She said and I nodded my head at her.

I walked towards my bed and reached for my scarf. But before I could grab it, Rissa reached for my hand, stopping me.

"Leave it" She says.

"But my hair..."

"You don't need it" Rissa says, more firmly this time.

"Um, okay" I agreed and together we went of my room without the scarf.

I walked down the stairs with Rissa following closely behind me. My father and Christine were already downstairs. Christine was dressed the same way as Rissa. A plain yellow dress, her face void of any makeup and it was the first time I would see her without any. She looked beautiful but with guests like this, I had thought she'd try and make herself more beautiful, not plain like Rissa.

Something was wrong! I thought to myself as I reached the bottom of the stairs. Rissa left my side and went to stay with Thomas, who was looking fine as always in a dark green suede coat and black trousers. I didn't know he was invited, I muse as I looked at Thomas who was smiling at me and I was about to return it when I realized it wasn't me he was smiling at, he was smiling at my breasts.

Fucking pervert! I thought to myself as I glared at Thomas who winked at me. I would have flipped him the bird if Rissa didn't choose that moment to look in my direction, so I settled for a small smile which she didn't return but instead, wrapped her hand around Thomas who placed a kiss on her forehead. I decided to look away before I lose my cool and turned my focus on my dad who was looking at me.

"Papa" I greeted, "I was told the guests have arrived."

My dad nodded his head at me, "Yes, they are waiting outside."

Outside? Why couldn't they come in? I asked myself and was just about to ask him when I was interrupted.

"Let's not keep them waiting anymore, we should go" Christine said and my dad nodded his head in agreement.

Together, we all went outside the house. On getting outside the first thing I noticed was the carriage and the men standing next to it. I couldn't see their face because they had a black mask draped over their mouths, so the only thing visible were their eyes but I could hardly make that out too.

They were four in number and each of them were dressed in long black coats with cap on their heads. They stood next to the carriage and the horses. They didn't move, nor did they acknowledge our presence at all, I'm guessing they were the guests!

My dad then suddenly stepped forward and bowed at the men. I arched a brow up at that, wondering what was going on.

"I, Massimo Fernandez, hereby offer my daughter, Arianne Rosalia Fernandez to the almighty Midnight pack!"

WHAT? I thought to myself in horror as I stared at the man I call my father. He was offering me up for the selection! He was offering me to the beasts of the Midnight pack!

"Grab her!" One of the men suddenly commanded and I looked up to see that two masked men were already making their way towards me.

No! I moved backwards as the men approached closer but I was suddenly being held still and I looked up to see Thomas and Rissa holding me still, they know! They both knew about it! Before I could question them, my arms were seized by the two masked men.

"No, no, no, Dad!" I screamed but my dad didn't say anything, instead he averted his gaze away from mine.

No! "Dad! Please!" I pleaded as I struggled against the men who were already dragging me towards the carriage.

"I'm sorry Arianne, it's for your own good" Dad said finally looking at me.

I shook my head at him, "No it's not, Dad please don't do this! Please!" I sobbed.

"Quiet girl!" Christine hissed at me and I turned to look at her, "This is for your own good, no one wants you in this town anyway" Christine said with a stern look on her face and I finally knew what was going on.

"You!" I spat at her, "It was all you! You put him up to this!" I accused her still trying to free myself from the men.

Christine scoffed at me, "I didn't have to put him up to anything, your father was happy to be rid of you, I mean who did you think we would offer? My daughter?" Christine asked in disbelief but I was looking at my dad now.

"Papa, is this true?" I asked looking at him.

They somehow knew our household was going to be selected and instead of offering Rissa, they decided to offer me to the beasts. They decided to give me away because I didn't fit in the town. No one would miss me if I was gone or ask about me. I was too much of a freak and Rissa was the perfect normal one, not to mention she was already engaged.

"I'm asking if this is true papa?" I asked tears welling up my eyes as I stared at my father who still couldn't look me in the eyes, coward!

"I'm sorry Arianne, I didn't have a choice" Dad said and I snapped at that.

"YOU ALWAYS HAVE A CHOICE!" I yelled at him and at this time I could see people peeping from their windows, no one dared to come outside but I didn't mind them and instead focused on my dad.

"There's always a freaking choice and you know it!" I yelled at my dad who closed his eyes as if my words hurt him but I didn't care though. He could have chose to protect me or keep me hidden! Instead he chose to protect Rissa. He chose Rissa over me, his own flesh and blood!

"Mom wouldn't have given me away" I sniffed with tears streaming down my face and that was when my dad snapped.

"WELL SHE ISNT HERE IS SHE?" Dad yelled at me surprising me, "She is gone and it's all because of you! You took her away from me!"

"Dad..." I gasped as I stared at my dad in horror.

My dad just shook his head at me, "Just leave Arianne, take her!" He ordered and the men began dragging me.

No! No! No! "DAD!" I screamed as I struggled against the men which was pointless because they had a strong grip on me.

I continued to scream for help as I was being taken to the carriage. I was still struggling when suddenly one of the men was whacked on the head, causing him to stumble to the side.

We all turned to see who it was and I smiled when I recognized who it was. A determined looking Cruzita armed with a torch and a stick stood next to the carriage. I smiled in relief as she began waving the torch around causing the men to let go of my arms and move backwards.

"Cruzita" I breathed out sobbing in relief.

"Cruzita! What the hell do you think you are doing?" I heard my dad yell from behind me but Cruzita ignored me and instead turned to look at me with wide fearful eyes.

"RUN!" Cruzita ordered me, I tried to speak but she cut me off. "Run Arianne, please!" She pleaded and I didn't need to be told twice. Hiking my gown up, I turned to the woods and fled!