All eyes turned to the young man who was about to participate in this year's Star Game. The man looked strong with his muscular build.
"Felix .…" Verra's lips parted wide when she saw him. Rain was just as shocked as Verra.
The young man on stage then motioned for Felix to come up. "Come forward."
A cry burst out from Felix's mother. "No! Don't!"
All eyes turned to her. But a few people managed to restrain her.
"Don't, Felix! I beg you, don't!" she screamed, pleading for him to cancel his participation.
Felix quickly snatched the microphone from the young man before him. "Mother, calm down," Felix said. Then he took a deep breath. "Let me introduce myself, my name is Felix. I'm doing this for all of us. For Class F—so our class won't always be looked down on. All this time, we've been known as the lowest class, such as poor, stupid, and filthy. I want to prove that we're not as worthless as they say."
The people of Class F suddenly began whispering to each other.
"He's true, I agree with Edmund's son."
"True. I myself often get spat on by people from Class E whenever I collect scraps from their houses."
"That's right, we need to prove that our class isn't insignificant."
"But if you think about it, how could we possibly win? We're always the first ones to lose."
As the murmurs grew, the young man from the Elite Class raised his right hand, ordering his soldiers to control the Class F crowd.
The soldiers spread out and began restraining the people.
"Stay in your position and keep quiet! If not, I'll shoot your heads one by one!" shouted one of the Elite Soldiers standing behind the Class F crowd.
One soldier grabbed Anna—Felix's mother—by the hand and threatened her. "I won't hesitate to shoot you if you don't shut your mouth."
Seeing his mother threatened, Felix lunged at the young man before him, pulling out the pocketknife he usually used to help his father sell fruit. "Let her go, or I'll kill this man!" Felix threatened.
The young man nodded and shouted, "Release her! Now!"
The soldier released Anna and returned her to the crowd. Felix then released the young man as well.
The young man straightened his clothes and took back the microphone.
"The decision cannot be changed. If anyone volunteers, they automatically become the representative," he declared.
Anna could only resign herself to her son's decision. Though tears streamed down her face, her child would still be a participant in this year's Star Game.
"Next, who will be this man's partner?" the young man asked.
The crowd fell silent. Everyone lowered their heads, hoping not to be chosen.
After a long wait, no one raised their hands. They all remained frozen in fear.
"This is your last chance. Raise your hand and come forward willingly," the young man said. "If you win, you'll live more comfortably than before."
Still, silence.
"If no one steps forward, we'll have to choose randomly among you."
Still, they were silence.
"I'll count to three. One ... two ... three. Alright, now, choose one of them randomly."
The atmosphere turned tense. Fear swept through them as Elite Soldiers began seizing people ans dragging them up to the stage by force. Seven were brought up, six young women and one boy around Felix's age.
The young man's eyes scanned them before he quickly grabbed the boy.
"I choose you. What's your name?"
Terrified, the boy nodded weakly. "M-my name is Zein."
Without asking his consent, the young man made the decision on the spot. "Very well, it's settled. The players from Class F are Zein and Felix. The decision is final."
The people of Class F erupted in protest. Zein's parents tried to fight back against the soldiers. Meanwhile, Felix's mother could only fall silent at her son's fate.
"Damn you Elites!" Zein's father shouted. "Let my son go!" He stormed toward the stage, a woodcutting axe in his hand. But the Elite Soldiers blocked his path.
"One more step and I'll kill you! If you want a son so badly, just pick one up from the trash. Isn't your class full of cast-offs anyway?" mocked one of the soldiers.
"You bastard!" one of the Class F men shouted at the insult.
Enraged, the people of Class F began attacking the Elite Soldiers. Amid the chaos, Rain quickly pulled his mother and Verra to safety.
***
After the riot, those accused of provoking the attack were arrested by the Elite Soldiers and tried by the Elite Judge. No one from Class F knew what happened afterward. What was certain, Zein's father and the others never returned the next day.
***
"What were you thinking, Felix? I came home only to hear from your mother and sister that you volunteered for the Star Game," said Edmund bitterly. "I spent years protecting you, and you just threw yourself away like this."
Felix lowered his head before his family. He knew he had made the wrong choice by volunteering.
"I know, Father. But besides wanting to prove that our class isn't as worthless as people think, I also want us to live better lives. Especially since I'll soon be marrying Verra," Felix replied.
"And can you guarantee victory? What if you lose and never return?" his father asked.
"I've thought about it carefully, Father. If I lose, then so be it. After all, it's just a game," Felix said.
Edmund sat down in front of his son. "You speak so carelessly. Don't you realize? Everyone who loses never comes back. This is no ordinary game." He looked at him with pained eyes. "Do you ever think about us, who love you?"
Felix looked at his parents and his sister. "Then what do you want me to do? If I cancel, it won't just be my life at risk, it'll be yours too."
Edmund rose and faced the window. "Do as you wish, Fel."
"I promise I'll return with victory, Father."
***
Felix visited his beloved Verra before he was leaving for the battles.
"I thought you were joking, Fel," Verra said, taking a shaky breath.
Felix held her hands and pulled her into an embrace. "You know I never joke about things like this. I'm doing it for us and for the baby you're carrying," he said.
Verra sobbed uncontrollably. "Fel, I don't want you to do this. If you're gone, how will I raise our child?"
Felix wiped her tears. "Don't worry, Ver. I promise I'll return with victory for us."
Verra sniffled, his words like a breath of hope. "Promise?"
Felix nodded firmly. "Yes, I promise."
***
July 1st.
Edmund embraced his son tightly before the Elite Soldiers took him away. "Be careful, son. I love you."
"I will, Father."
Next was Rain, who clung to him. "Brother Felix, you have to come back safe."
"I will." Felix hugged his younger brother. Then he whispered in Rain's ear, "Rain, if I don't make it back, please take care of Mother and Father."
Rain froze at his words, nearly crying out. But Felix covered his mouth.
"Ssssh!" Felix shook his head and signaling her sister to stay silent and not tell their parents.
Rain nodded her head. He understood what his brother mean.
Felix and Zein then stepped onto the stage, saying farewell to their families. Dressed in rags, they were given flower garlands by the unnamed young man.
"Congratulations to Zein and Felix. May victory be yours."
The two waved at the Class F crowd before being ushered into a white luxury car, the one that always took Star Game contenders away.
***