Winnie came forward, giving me a large, tight hug. "She's right. Don't worry. After you find out you're not chosen, they give you a present to make you feel better. I got new shoes." She wiggled her feet. All around me, my friends began to mutter in agreement and comment on what gift they'd been given toease the pain of not being special. "You'll get something great, Eleanor. Maybe something to do with your art."
Everyone lined up to hug me, which was different from all the other birthday parties I'd attended. I supposed that being my group's last hope to have someone important in their midst was cause for a more personal touch. I finally reached the door and Isabel took my hand. Together, we walked down the steel halls and found the nearest elevator. She put a key into the control panel and then pushed the button for the top level. My heart began to beat rapidly.
That button never worked.
The elevator was icy silent as we rode up.
I'd never been this close to the surface before.
Eventually, the doors opened and we were greeted by two men in olive-colored military suits. Their clothes were freshly ironed and their lapels were heavily decorated with stars.
"Eleanor," one of them greeted me with a slight nod and smile.
I blinked. How did he know my name? Isabel pushed me along and we got out of the elevator. The soldiers escorted us through the pristine halls. Everything was so shiny and new. The air smelled different from below. This was... colder, more clean. We stopped in front of a door with no markings. I looked up at the adults surrounding me.
"Do I go in?"
"Yes, Miss." The other soldier grinned. My stomach was twisted so much it hurt. I thought I might throw up the cake I'd had just minutes before. I reached for the handle, inhaled deeply, and pulled the door open. I was pushed in so I tried to dig my heels into the floor, but it was no use. I slid into the room and the door shut behind me.
I tightened my lips and squinted as my eyes adjusted to the harshly lit room. Once I could see clearly, I looked around. It wasso quiet, I could hear my heart beating. It was a large mess hall with one single, round table in the center. The world went utterly silent as I focused on the present on top of it. Slowly, I walked across the room, my steps echoing against the walls. The present was wrapped in the colors of my dress. Carefully, I lifted the lid and found it wasn’t a box, but a shell. Underneath the prettily decorated cardboard was a matching cupcake with a lit candle on top. To the side, there was a folded notecard.
My hands shook as I reached for the card. My fate was on the other side. My stomach was twisting so hard I thought I’d vomit. Quickly, I flipped it over.
Eleanor, you have been chosen to join the Young Lady and DADDY program.If you’d like to help save humanity, blow out the candle.
I dropped the card and stared at the cupcake. What a loaded question. If I did this, I’d be giving up my freedom, but gaining so much in return. Did I dare blow out the candle?
Chapter 2 - Eleanor
There’s no place too small to hide.
9 years, 364 days later
"Oh, yeah, gosh you're so pretty, Eleanor," Milton groaned in my ear as he ran his hand down my arm, resting on my hip. "I can't wait until tomorrow."
I tilted my neck as he ran his lips down my hot skin, sending delicious shivers through my body. His touch was electrifying. Although it was too dark to see him in the closet, the knowledge that we could be caught at any time made everything more exciting.
"Tomorrow, after your party, I'm going to take you somewhere special to give you your real gift." He kissed me again.
"Does that mean I'll have two presents tomorrow?" I teased. Milton wasn’t just the highest ranked Daddy-In-Training, or DIT, in our class, he was also the most handsome, charming, and the best gift giver. Every year since I joined the Young Lady program, he'd given me the most special presents on my birthday. Each one was so personal and perfect, and it was the very reason I'd fallen head over heels for him. He cared aboutthe things I said and liked. I wasn't just a number to him. I was more than just my rank.
"You betcha. Eleanor, I know that DITs and Young Ladies aren't supposed to be more than friends, but gosh I can't take it anymore. Tomorrow, after we make love for the first time together, I'm going to the warden and asking him for an exception."
My heart thumped quickly at the promise of my deflowering. We weren't married, yes, but Young Ladies weren't allowed to marry. We weren't allowed to do anything that even remotely looked like romance or sensual pleasure. I'd heard of other girls doing things alone, but that was stuff talked about in private. With me being the youngest Young Lady, yet highest ranked, I never got told anything.
They were all jealous.
"You think he'll go for it?" Hope swelled in my chest, despite knowing how slim the odds were that they'd let me be with Milton.
"Well, you’ll have graduated, and I’ll be assigned my own Young Lady soon. We are both in the highest ranks in our class. He’ll have to hear me out.” When I didn’t say anything, he added. “He's my grandpa, I'll call in a favor."
He laughed and continued kissing me. He shoved his tongue into my mouth and swirled it around, hoping that mine would get the memo and work with him. The feeling was foreign, but... fun. I wanted him to like me as much as I liked him.
"And what if he says no?" I pulled away for a breath. "You don't know for sure if he's your relative. If we can't be together in public, will you go on and marry someone else?"
It was common knowledge that most DITs were married shortly after they were promoted to Daddies. Once they were officially out of training, they were assigned their Young Lady, and then they went down to Gen Pop and found someone tospend their lives with. The thought of Milton kissing and putting his tongue inside someone else's mouth made me sick. We'd been saving our virginities for each other. Would it be in vain?
"Eleanor, stop," he groaned. "You're the only girl for me. You know that. Do you know how many times Cal has tried to get me to go down to Gen Pop with him and hang out with some of those chicks? He didn't wait for someone to love him before going all the way with one of them, but I couldn't do that. I'm not like the other DITs. I don't want sex, I want what we have."
