Thousands upon thousands of people of all ages were entering Salanda’s Grand Auditorium

Thousands upon thousands of people of all ages were entering Salanda’s Grand Auditorium, filling each and every seat. You could see everyone in the room were filled with anxiety and sweat. It didn’t matter if they were prestigious or poor. Everyone was frightened for their life and no money or status could help you avoid Sacrifice Day. Or that is what has been told.
Thea sat in the back of the room. Her blonde hair was styled in tight ringlets around her face. She let her eyes wander throughout the room as an escape of what is about to happen. She saw many people scared for their dear life. The most frightened people were the ones who tried to be as far away from the stage as possible. They were in the highest floor above the stage or near the exists. They hope that they can find this sense of safety even though it wasn’t really there.
Commander Valle then walked up on stage to the podium. His confident smile and waving to the people suggested that this was the best day of the year, which it was not. Commander Valle is said to be fifty-three years old and has been commander for over twenty years. Anyone who was able to live through Sacrifice Day for that long was seen as either lucky or is rumored to have an in, which allows them to hack the system. The large screen then lit up, showing an empty, numbered list up to one thousand and fifty. This was Thea’s greatest fear, and it comes back every year.
Thea glanced to the number on her left index finger which read 5388205. She’s had this tattoo since she was three years old. Everyone in the room had one too, even Commander Valle. Everyone had different arrangement of numbers tattooed on their left index finger.
“Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen”, said Commander Valle. His voice echoed throughout the entire auditorium. “Welcome to the twentieth anniversary of Sacrifice Day.”
Thea then gripped the armrests of her chair and began tapping her left foot on the floor. She began to fill up with even more anxiety than before. She began to feel so worried for her dear life. Everyone in the room didn’t think about anyone sitting next to them, they only thought about themselves.
“I created this enactment to ensure that we will grow to be a better country. Those who are chosen today will give us ability to grow and prosper.” Commander Valle paused for a breath and gave a reassuring smile to the crowd. As he continued his required speech with, “And soon, we will live in a country without the need for population control. So if your name is called, please come to the stage and accept your medal on becoming a part of the Sacrifice. Those in the audience, please applaud them as they walk on stage.”
At this point of his speech, Thea has become consumed with her own thoughts what would happen if one of her loved ones or herself were chosen. What would life be without them. The harsh reality that her future depended on that list and on this day. Thea always thought of these things every year during this part of the speech. It was one of those fearful thoughts in her head that is always in your head and you could not stop. All she could do is grip the armrests tighter, tap her foot more rapidly, and pray her fears would be just fears and not a reality.
“Number 4828777”, said Commander Valle. It was beginning.
Applause blasted from the people all around her. Thea’s hands clapped together, almost as if it was muscle-memory. Every piece of her rejected the movement, but her muscle-memory acted and not her mind. Kiran Celestine, age twenty-five by his description, walked to his death, and Thea Porter clapped.
Kiran reached the stage. He maintained a stoic expression all the while Commander Valle gave him a gold medal of sacrifice around his neck. Thea watched, wondering why her commander bothered with a medal as if this was a big achievement that you’ve earned. It would be decorating a corpse within twenty-four hours.
Commander Valle continued, “Number 3856117.”
Eighty-seven names were called, yet Thea was no less fearful than before. If anything, applauding dozens of people to their deaths had only increased her panic. It was eating her alive. She only hoped that she would be able to complain about this system when she returned home from this instead of dying because of it. She prayed to be able to live another day.
By the hundredth number called, she then started to guess how the next person will reaction to being called. There were only three reactions to expect. The first was a detached, sort of nonchalance reaction. The second was of both panic and tears. And finally, the third was one of resistance, which were people trying to run, fight, or even attempt to talk their way out of the execution. If Thea had to guess her category, the second seemed the most rational.
But, most reactions was not from the one chosen, but from their family. The guards often intervened by restraining family members as they reach for their child’s hand. Anyone who tried to stop or interfere with the ceremony would be penalized. Thea knew that didn’t matter, to her and to that person’s family. How could any punishment compare to losing a child?

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