Selected

The chill of the morning air was a familiar comfort against Emmary’s face as she walked through the quiet streets of Sector 16F. The sky was just beginning to lighten, painting the horizon in muted greys and soft blues. A faint hum from the distant Sector gate was the only sound disturbing the pre-dawn stillness.

Her mother had already left for work, a silent departure that had become the norm in their small home. Emmary had spent the night staring at the ceiling, her mind a whirlwind of anxiety and unwelcome anticipation. Today was the day. The day her life, as she knew it, would end and begin anew in a place she barely understood.

She reached the small, utilitarian station at the edge of the Sector, its concrete walls a stark contrast to the burgeoning light. A handful of other girls, all 18, all facing the same uncertain fate, waited silently. No one spoke, the weight of their collective journey hanging heavy in the air. Emmary took a shaky breath, the memory of Koontz's desperate plea echoing in her ears. She was leaving forever. And she had no choice.