RYXA
Two weeks. That’s all we got to say our goodbyes, get our stuff in order and be ready for pick up. That asshole God who called me out in front of everyone, threatened to kill Eric if I didn't arrive on time to the school. He didn’t want to hear what ifs and he didn’t want to answer my questions, all he did was stare at me like he’d never seen anyone who was willing to ask questions before.
Once the “celebration” was over, we were escorted home by our extremely proud and happy parents. Both sets of which were so happy they threw a party the following night and we spent the entire night listening to people tell us how excited they were that we were going. You’d think our parents at least would have been worried or sad over the fact that we were chosen, but no, both sets just couldn’t stop smiling and beaming proudly at us.
Eric lapped up all the attention while I stewed in my misfortune. I’ll admit, I sulked in my room for the first week, then after my pity party, I emerged with determination. If I’m being forced to spend the next three years with Gods-in-training, then I’m going to use that time to investigate and find out the truth of what really happens to the chosen human students. Not without protest though, I can’t seem too eager after the confrontation with the Gods-in-training at the choosing assembly.
The last few days before we had to leave my parents began to act more like the worried parents they should have been the entire time. Both my mum and dad decided that now was the time to grill me on all things adult, including the most uncomfortable birds and bees talk ever.
I’d been staring out the loungeroom window contemplating the best way to tackle the no communication outside of the School of the Gods rule when they both came and sat down beside me. My dad’s face was paler than usual and at first I chalked it up to him being worried about me, but then he opened his mouth and the words pouring out of him were not something I wanted to hear.
“So you’re probably going to be spending a lot of time around boys over the next few years. We’ve heard that some of the dorms they have at the School of the Gods are co-ed, so we thought….” My dad trailed off, his face turning a dark shade of red as he ran his hand through his thick black hair.
“What your father is trying to say is that, you um… So your spices will be heightened and you might find yourself wanting to taste the different flavours out there.”
I buried my head in my hands and mumbled, “Are you trying to have the sex talk with me?”
“S-sex, yes. That talk.” My dad stuttered, his face going from pale to red then back to pale in a matter of seconds.
“You know I’ve been getting my period for years now, right?” I asked.
“Well, yes, I buy you thosethingsevery month.” My mum agreed.
“Do I need to have The Talk with the two of you? You know they say that if you can’t talk about it comfortably, then you shouldn’t be doing it. It’s a sure sign that you’re not mature enough to be having sex.” I laughed at that.
“Okay so you know what it is, but do you know the recipe for it? Like the fact that the man’s hotdog, goes into the woman’s doughnut.” My mum asked.
“Penis, Mother, it’s a penis and a vagina.” The look on my mum’s face as I said the words was priceless, but it was my dad’s snicker that broke me. I started to giggle and it took us a few moments to pull it together while my mum stood there glaring at us, all serious.
“Ok, yes theeggplantgoes into the peach.” Dad said as Mum mimed poking her finger through her circled thumb and forefinger. “Oh my God, Mum, don’t ever do that again.” I groaned.
“Eggplant goes into the peach,” my dad repeated firmly, “but not unless the eggplant has a cover on it. Don’t want any tadpoles finding their way to the promised land.” My father’s voice cracked at the end as he tried to hold back the laughter.
“Oh my God, just stop. I’ll use condoms and I’m already on the pill. I know all about STIs and how babies are made. Are we done now?” I groaned.
“There’s a bird in the tree. Such a pretty colour.” My mum sang as she got up off the window seat.
“Yes, dear, the bird is a pretty brown colour, just like the other dozen birds making a lot of noise out there.” My dad laughed, patting me on the shoulder before walking away. Right before he left the room, he called out, “And Ryxa, if any of those boys try anything, I’ll cut their eggplants off with a rusty bread-and-butter knife. Just saying.”
And this was our tearful goodbye. Tears of embarrassment.
It felt anticlimactic to board the plane and wave a final farewell to our parents, but at least Eric and I are together on this journey. Now here we are, both Eric and I, standing on the front steps of the School of the Gods. I clasp his hand tightly, wishing we didn’t have to take the next step. “Come on, Ryx, it can’t be all that bad or people would come back and warn everyone.” He has a point but I still think something nefarious is going on here. I just smile and nod like I agree with him for now, but eventually I will find proof that I’m right.
The school is huge; it’s a gated community in itself from what I’ve read online. There’s a set of stairs that lead up to the outer gate, which leads to a path that takes you to the inner gate and that’s all the information that’s on the web. What’s enclosed within the inner gate is the worlds best kept secret and one of the main reasons I don’t trust the Gods. I mean, come on, if they’re so powerful, then why do they feel the need to hide what goes on behind the gates of their school? “Have you ever seen anyone who’s come here and lived to tell the tale?” I demand, whirling around to face him before he can take a single step forward.
“On the news.” He answers half-heartedly. He knows as well as I do that the people who are chosen are never heard from again. Not once in the last century has anyone ever returned to the place they were chosen from. I’ve been trying to convince Eric that it’s because they disappear, probably killed by the Gods, but he won’t listen. He believes that they just don’t need to return to their original homes because they’ve moved onto bigger and better things.
Don’t get me wrong, the families of those who are chosen are rewarded for their child being taken. Usually it‘s money and higher social statuses, but occasionally you see on the news that some family has accepted a property or business as their reward. “Let’s face it, we’re cattle who have been sold off to the Gods and the only people benefitting from it are our families.” I grumble as we start climbing the stairs leading up to the main gate.
“At least we know our families will be well cared for while we’re away.” Eric says, making me roll my eyes to the sky. Yeah, sure, ourfamilieswill be well cared for, but what aboutus?
“Leave your possessions there, someone will be along to collect them shortly.” A deep male voice says through a speaker to the left of the gate. Eric and I drop our suitcases on the ground by our feet, I bend to grab my phone out of the case, but Eric shakes his head at me while giving me one of those‘Don’t you dare look.’I raise my brows wondering what the sweet hell is going on now. “Step forward.” We both move and the voice snaps, “The female first.” I walk towards the gate, but it doesn’t open. “State your name and purpose of entry.”
“Ryxa Day, Sacrificial Student.” I joke with a cocky grin. Might as well enjoy myself if I’m going to be stuck with stiffs for the foreseeable future.
“Come on, Ryx, you’re not a sacrifice.” Eric scolds, crossing his arms and stepping forward.
“Next.” The voice calls. Eric raises his voice, standing proud as he announces, “Eric Massi, Human Student.”