Page 10 of The Stolen Tribute
The commentators were talking about the symbolism of the design of the stairs this year, blathering on about some up-and-coming architect that collaborated on the finished project.
I managed to climb the stairs in strappy heels without breaking my ankle, which had to be a miracle if I ever had one.
Inside the rocket, it was surprisingly plain. Rows were facing inward for us to sit, and we filed in from back to front, meaning I was still between my alphabetical partners. I found my seat and pulled the five-point harness into place. It reminded me of the rides in a theme park, except with more luxurious padding.
I was one of the last ones. I noticed Sue near the front of the rocket and waved.
She smiled back at me and crossed her fingers over her harness.
Seeing Sue instantly made me feel better as the last few Tributes were strapped into the rocket.
The doors whooshed closed, and a tension cut through the air. It was like that moment of anticipation before a plane hit the runway, but about a million times stronger.
I sucked in a breath as I heard the engines power up. It was a short blast to the ceremonial platform. We wouldn’t even technically be in space at that point, I told myself to calm my heart. It was all going to be fine. Everything was fine.
A deep rumble flowed up from the bottom of the rocket, making my teeth chatter and my bones vibrate.
My last thought before the G-forces made me pass out was,Heh, it really is a big golden vibrator.
***
Thankfully, I wasn't the only one who fainted from the sheer force that the rocket required to lift off. But, it did make the trip quick and painless.
A soothing smell woke me from my blackout.
I startled and shook my head, watching other Tributes file out of the rocket one by one. I followed, knowing my place well between Miss United Kingdom and Miss Uruguay. I glanced over my shoulder at Sue, who was still near the back of the rocket, because she was one of the first to board.
I stepped through the airlock and instantly felt as if my breath had been pulled from my body. The platform was incredible. It was a huge round space, resembling a fairytale ballroom with crystal clear windows from nearly every angle, showing the sky around us. We were much higher than the clouds. Water and air crystallized on the outside, making beautiful patterns on the thick glass.
Sue wormed through the crowd of women and latched onto me. “There, I told you we could be together again.”
I felt silly about being nervous about the lineup. “I’m glad,” I said.
Once everyone was out of the rocket, a tiny robot zoomed into the room. “Hello, Tributes! Welcome to the 2062 Tribute Selection ceremony. The ceremony will begin soon, so please follow the lights to your change rooms to prepare!”
Oh right, another outfit change. This wasn’t really my style, but the hype was undeniable. All of the pageant girls around me were squealing and beaming with their perfect smiles.
I glanced at Sue, who was almost as bright as they were. “Well, let’s go change and make those sponsors happy.”
“Too bad they couldn’t get you a hoodie, huh?” Sue said with a wink.
“That would have been preferable,” I agreed with a laugh.
Suddenly, a shiver passed through me. I glanced up at the balcony, noticing a few of the Zexian warriors had already begun to take their place to view and claim us. A giant brute of a Zexian looked down at me, practically drooling.
I turned away quickly and wrinkled my nose. All I could do was hope that I got paired with someone who had the decency to treat me like a person instead of a sack of meat.
