Page 134 of The Order

I kick my foot into his shin beneath the table, urging him to watch what he says.

Xavier looks unamused, tapping his plate with his fork while fidgeting with his pocket watch.

“You're joining just in time. This year's Lottery is sure to be a thrill,” Adam says, pushing the conversation along.

“Lottery?” I question, cutting him off.

Xavier’s hand touches my leg, pulling my attention back to him, his voice whispering in my ear.

“I promise you; you don’t want to know what he's talking about,” Xavier says, piquing my curiosity.

“You haven't told her yet, Andrew?” Adam questions, watching my father move to stand.

“Maybe Forest and Kai should leave the room for this conversation-”

“Why do that?” Josh questions. "My father has been more than happy to share the details of the tradition with me-”

“That's because you are a vindictive fuck who likes the bloodshed,” Xavier snaps.

“And you don’t?” Adam throws back. Xavier’s posture goes rigid.

Kai is more alert, taking in every bit of information he can.

“What are they talking about?”I question, watching Fallan gradually move closer to linger behind my chair.

“I have no idea,”he starts, both of our eyes moving to Xavier’s hand still resting on my thigh, only squeezing the closer Fallan becomes.“I’m suddenly feeling rather inclined to take down everyone at this table and end this whole night.”

“Play nice,”I whisper in a rush.

“What's the Lottery, Dad?” Kai pushes, my dad yanking at his tie.

“It's a tradition amongst the Order. Newly inducted Officials get to participate alongside senior leadership. It's an honor to join. As you all know, if you reach red status as an Unfortunate-” Adam looks at Fallan, giving him a twisted grin. “You get sent beyond the ward to deal with the foreign entities… that is, of course, unless you’re placed into the Lottery.”

My father remains silent.

“It’s an alluring alternative to being thrown in the ash lands, really. Unfortunates who have no more room on their scorecard get the opportunity to fight for their freedom.”

Lottery.

I digest the information with closed palms, doing my best not to imagine people being forced beyond the ward. The voice from the solstice festival remains with me, pushing me to consider there was something out there beyond the ward of New Haven. Everyone had played off the breach in the intercom system earlier as a meaningless prank, though it felt far from being the truth.

“Bets are placed during the Lottery on which Unfortunate we see having the most promising physical advantages, and then they’re paired accordingly and thrown in the Pit. And I’ll tell you, when you put the Unfortunate pigs together with nothing but a blade, eventually, you see why we call them animals in the first place.”

Fallan clutches his tray. Xavier’s head is down in shame.

“You make the Unfortunates murder one another?” Kai questions, my own words stuck in my throat.

“I prefer to think of it as motivating them to show their true nature-”

“You fucking bastard!” Fallan snaps, his words turning heads from around the table towards him. Adam is on his feet in seconds, his hand instinctively reaching for his pistol. Instinctively, I move to wedge myself between the two men, caring more for Fallan’s safety than my own. My father snaps at me to sit back down, but my eyes are set on Adam.

“What the hell did you say to me?” Adam questions. Fallan holds his ground.

“You told us all those people were being sent to your sector for rehabilitation,” Fallan spits. Xavier moves to my side as I continue to stand between the two men hoping to stop Adam from acting on impulse.

“You’re a monster,” I say. Adam shakes his head, glancing between the three of us.

“If I didn't know any better, Xavier,” he says, pointing to me with malice. “I'd say you are gunning after an Unfortunate lover.”

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