I ran some calculations. Out of the ten-ish minds I’ve looked through, around three of them could be considered a threat to Vera and eight a threat to me. This meant that we could successfully go against most groups. “We should go to the church now,” I said to Vera. “The blonde girl over there is going to break the barrier.”
Vera nodded and pulled us towards the church with her gift. She flew us across the air with the speed and elegance of an eagle. The cold wind blew across my skin and I shivered. Vera gently lowered us to the ground as we approached our destination. The blonde girl and her partner arrived just as we did. The girl’s partner looked almost identical to her, with the same blue eyes and blonde hair. He, similarly to her, wore a simple black leather jacket. Twins, I realised. Alex and Alexandra. The girl, Alexandra, began to envelop her left hand in a glowing red energy. She slashed her hand down towards the barrier and it shattered with ease.
With a powerful burst of air, Vera sent the two of us flying into the church. Outside, I could hear the Guide announcing our entrance. Seraphina observed us with a hint of surprise. “I didn’t think you'd make it,” she said honestly.
I looked around the interior of the church. The walls were flaked with dried paint and were slowly falling apart. Blood from Annabelle’s Gift plastered the room, and I noticed Annabelle hanging onto the ceiling with tentacles of blood and frowned. Her partner stood in the opposite corner of the room talking to Lucas. Alex and Alexander glared at Vera and me as they came in but didn’t say anything.
The room was left in a thick silence only broken by the rhythmic dripping of blood from the ceiling and the quiet conversation between Lucas and Annabelle’s partner. I flinched back as a cat made of blood ran past me but I didn’t dare speak up against Annabelle. After a few minutes of tense quiet, Jason and Irene walked into the room. That’s five groups.
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The Ruler warped into the centre of the room and I flinched in surprise. He scanned through us with a thoughtful gaze. “Only two out of the ten of you will be eliminated. In the next stage of the Culling, you’ll be having a talk with the Seer.”
His words made it seem easy but I knew it was anything but. The Seer possessed eyes they could see the nature and future of someone. What you do or say won’t make any difference. It didn’t matter if you were charismatic if the Seer saw your future was bland. It didn’t matter if you lucked your way through the Culling if she saw your talent was low. I shivered.
The Ruler’s wandering landed on me. “You. You’ll be first.”
I swallowed, my throat dry. He told me instructions but I ignored them already having read his mind. I walked slowly to the door on the other side of the room. On the other side, I saw an old lady with kind eyes sitting on a chair behind a table. I took the chair in front of her nervously. “So, you’re the Seer,” I said shiveringly.
She grinned. “And you’re the girl who’ll try and kill him.”
Who? “Who?”
She smiled. “You’ll find out in due time. I think we need to address your biggest issue first.”
“What would that be?”
Her smile widened. “Your Gift.”
I froze. What about my Gift? I tried to peer into her mind but I was met with only darkness.
Her smile dimmed down slightly. “That wasn’t very nice.”
I nodded apologetically. “I’m sorry.”
She stared into my eyes and for a moment I felt like I was stripped bare; all my secrets and lies exposed for the world to see. She opened her eyes wider almost straining them. Her pupils began to glow white and I started to shiver under the pressure that started to bulid up around the room. She blinked and as suddenly as it had appeared, the pressure disappeared.
She opened her eyes again, a look of shock evident across her face. Then she laughed, a half-crazed laugh that echoed around the room. “Wow, aren’t you a special little girl,” she giggled. “You’re going to kill him. You’re really going to kill him.”