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“Let’s just go,” Theo said, glancing around worried about the scene I was causing. His fingers dug into my skin, and I glared up at him, yanking my arm out his grasp.

“There’s no one here to impress right now, Theo.

” He looked as if I’d just slapped him, but I couldn’t find it in me to care.

Not when he was acting so awful, and I was over his temper tantrum.

Too exhausted by the day’s emotions to have to cater to him as well.

“You’re right let’s just go. I promised Marley she could help me pack. ”

I turned on my heel and stormed off not caring if he followed me or not.

His cries to stop, fell deaf on my ears.

How could he be so selfish? Exiting the temple, I was greeted with the sight of the sun setting over the entire city.

It felt as if the whole of Paris was holding its breath, waiting for tomorrow and what was to come.

I came to a stop at the edge where a wire fence had been erected in a crisscross fashion, my anger rolling around tight in my chest. Lovers from all walks of life hung metal locks engraved with their initials on the fence, promising their love would be as eternal as the locket they’d fastened to the structure.

There were so many that the fence curved from all the weight.

My fingers clutched a random blue one and my thumb worked its way over the thin initials.

E+M, it read. I wondered who they were and if their love withstood the test of time.

Theo and I had never brought our own locket, and I’d never wanted to.

Now, as I stood here with the tangible weight in my hand, the thought of wanting more bubbled violently to the surface.

For the first time in my twenty-two years, I wanted something for myself.

I’d always slunk in the shadows of my family, being the diligent, quiet one.

With Marley constantly getting into trouble and Jean being the athletic star, I was content to watch them shine.

I did my duty of what was expected of me, going to school and being with a respectable partner.

Never asking or wanting for anything that would cause waves.

But now, I was singled out. Forced to examine the quiet life I’d become so accustomed to.

Maybe Marley had a point, I just wish I didn’t feel so utterly frightened by the prospect of participating in Nocturne.

Only one could win the games, but could that be me?

The odds were stacked against me, having never done anything remotely dangerous in my life.

And now I would be venturing to one of the deadliest places someone could go— straight into the God of Death’s dominion. The catacombs.

On the horizon, near the gates they’d erected far before I was born, movement caught my attention.

A procession of black clad carriages being led into the city by what looks like a host of military members walked slowly past the large portcullis.

I could tell they were military because of the distinct banners they carried with the gods’ sigil— a stark white rib cage against a black background.

I wondered at who was being escorted in with such protection.

Someone important most likely. Maybe even the God of Death himself coming in from the battlefields to revel in the games he created.

Knowing that all the gods would be invested in our progress set my already fragile nerves on fire.

“Dessa, please. I’m sorry,” Theo said breaking my thought process and sounding out of breath. “I’m only thinking of you. You mean everything to me, you know that. Please forgive me. Let’s forget I ever said anything.”

I turned to take him in and caught his earnest expression. He grabbed my left hand running a finger over the engagement ring and brought my hand up to his lips. “I can’t imagine a future without you in it.”

My stomach clenched at his words. Picturing any future without him seemed unimaginable.

We’d known each other forever. I’d always known that we’d end up together.

It was what was expected. Only now my carefully planned out future was completely blown up by one singular paper.

Perhaps it was the gods’ way of reminding me that no matter how much I wanted my life to be my own, they were still in control.

“Fine. Let’s get back before it’s dark,” I said as I reluctantly gave in to his pleas.

Theo smiled, his cheeks dimpling with a level of charm that could melt away a glacier, and he led us down the steps.

As we walked, I glanced back at the temple, watching the dimming light hit the tip of the spire feeling a chill in the air hit my skin and sent up one last hope that I would make it through Nocturne’s deadly game.

But even as I said my prayer, I couldn’t shake the feeling that even if I were to make it through the games alive, nothing would ever be the same again.

Marley was waiting for me in the doorway when I got back. I gave Theo a swift peck on the cheek, more so out of habit than anything. I was still so angry at him for the way he’d acted, but I was leaving tomorrow and didn’t want to go on bad terms.

“Theo,” Marley acknowledged with a chill to her voice.

“Marley.” Theo replied with the same tone.

Those two had never really gotten along, and it made things awkward for me every time we were in the same vicinity.

“I’ll see you in the morning. I’ll be waiting for you by the entrance to the catacombs,” he said before disappearing down the street. As soon as he was out of sight, I felt like I could finally breathe again.

“It’s about time, come on. I’ve already gone through your whole closet and mine to pick out your Nocturne outfits. I was thinking we’d go with something simple for the parade, and then you can borrow my new black dress for the masquerade,” she said, pulling me into the house.

Our home was a modest one, situated amongst a row of buildings that led up to the artist’s district.

It was rumored that long ago famous painters dwelled amongst these very buildings, but their works had been long lost to time.

Their names scrubbed from the collective memory along with many other truths about our past. We were conditioned from a young age not to question what we were told, and those that didn’t fall in line were punished for all to see.

Their bodies strapped naked in front of the Notre Dame, their hands and legs tied wide as the sun burned every bit of them.

Passersby would throw their garbage at them, or worse.

Some would urinate on them or spit as they were made to endure the humiliation.

The mayor held the public spectacles once a month to set an example of such prisoners.

I always avoided the area during those times, not wanting to see the horror the prisoners were forced to endure.

Jean was helping Father in his workshop and Maman had long been asleep. I followed Marley, who was chattering a million miles a minute about the games. My head was too fuzzy to pay much attention, and I only caught every other word that she was saying.

Upstairs in my room looked like a bomb had gone off. Clothes were strewn about everywhere, and in the center of my bed was a suitcase propped open with several outfits hanging out like limp spaghetti noodles.

I pinched the bridge of my nose in frustration as Marley bounced on the balls of her feet with excitement. “Ta-da!”

“Wow… this is?—”

“A mess, I know, but look!” Marley grabbed one of the dresses and draped it over my body, turning me to look in the full-length mirror. “Doesn’t it just make your dark eyes pop? Put it on! I want to see how it fits.”

Obliging, I turn to undress and step into the cumbersome looking thing.

Once it was zipped in the back by Marley, I marveled at my reflection in surprise.

Normally, I wore modest clothing. No frills or anything fancy.

But this? This was a dress fit for a queen.

Its sweetheart neckline plunged far lower than I ever dared to show.

The waist was trim about the middle, accentuating the natural curves in my hips.

The fabric flared out in a bell shape like I’d been plucked from the Notre Dame itself.

The bottom was covered in a fine lace and the black material glittered against the dim light as I moved.

My hands slid over the dress in awe. It looked as if the starry night sky had spilled onto my body in an array of twinkling starlight.

I’d never felt so beautiful in all my life.

“Marley, this is stunning. Where did you even get it?”

She shrugged her shoulder. “I found it at the thrift store and was saving it for a special occasion.”

“Thank you,” I said, taking her hands in mine. “Really, this is going to be perfect for the masquerade. Help me get it off though? I want to try and get some sleep if I can before tomorrow, and I still need to finish packing. You didn’t put any contraband in here, did you?”

Marley dramatically pressed her hand to her chest. “ Moi ?” It was typical of our city to speak in a mixture of English and French, sometimes melding the two in the same sentence. The elders, however, refused to adopt English, and spoke in French only.

“Yes, you. I don’t want to get in trouble if you slipped a knife in there. You know how strict the rules are.”

Marley rolled her eyes and patted me on the top of my head. “You’re so dramatic. My little rule follower.”

I glowered at her, and she put her hands up in surrender. “I swear. It’s just the essentials. Clothes, hairbrush, a photo of the family. Honest. Now turn around so I can unzip you.”

I did as she asked and tried hard not to worry that this might be my last night with my sister.

Thinking like that would only get me more anxious than I already was, and possibly killed.

No, I needed to focus on what I could which was putting these clothes away, finish my packing, and try to prepare myself for what awaited me tomorrow.