Crown of York by Charlotte Byrd

Author:Charlotte Byrd [Byrd, Charlotte]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781632250353
Publisher: Byrd Books
Published: 2018-10-27T18:30:00+00:00

Chapter 25 - Everly

When there’s another elimination…

It’s hard to make plans when your life isn’t your own.

It used to be a state of mind.

I used to think I had no choices, but then I came to York and realized just how constrained my choices could be.

A prisoner.

A captive.

And yet, what if this is another house of mirrors?

The idea comes out of nowhere as we stand waiting for the elimination.

The rules are theirs.

The party is theirs.

We do as they say.

Like children, right?

But like children, we can rebel.

We can stand up.

We can fight for what we want.

And like children, we will probably fail.

I don’t know what standing up and fighting means quite yet, but for now the spark of the idea is enough.

I do know one thing, no matter what happens tonight, I will not go gently into that good night.

J comes out and gives us all a once-over. His lips actually make a little smile when his gaze meets mine.

Does he know something I don’t?

Just like the rest of the contestants, I don’t really know how the elimination is going to go.

I did make a connection with Easton, but will they use it against me?

Will it be my weakness?

My Achille’s heel?

Whatever is decided has been decided already, so I try to make the best of it.

As my thoughts swirl around in my head, I try to push them out by turning to Teal and continuing our conversation.

“So, where did you grow up?” I ask her.

She looks as surprised by my question as the rest, but answers anyway.

The rest of the women give us dirty looks.

I ignore them and we continue to talk.

I tell her about myself as well.

We talk in somewhat hushed tones until J asks us to be quiet.

“Why?” I ask him.

“Pardon me?” He gasps at my insubordination.

“Nothing is happening yet,” I say with a shrug. “It hardly seems to matter.”

“This is a very important event, Everly,” he says. “Very tense.”

“Yes, it is,” I agree. “A bit too tense actually. So, I thought why not make it a little bit easier on everyone?”

He doesn’t really have an answer for me so I turn back to Teal who giggles and tells me about her family.

The rest of the women follow my cue and start to engage in their own conversations.

And the ripple of change begins.

It’s not much, of course.

Just a few words exchanged in hushed tones.

But I feel proud.

What was previously an affair governed entirely by them and their rules is now slightly altered.

We do have power.

We do have the ability to impact change. They can’t get rid of all of us.

The door opens and Easton walks through.

His face is grave and expressionless.

A thought rushes through my mind.

They may not be able to get rid of all of us, but they could get rid of the trouble maker; me.

Doesn’t matter, Everly. That doesn’t matter. Chances are you don’t have much to lose anyway.

Just as before, Easton positions himself next to the podium and says a few words. They are forced, rehearsed, and required.

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