Begin

A hologram of a man in a green scarf filled the corner of the room repeating morning instructions. It startled the young woman sitting up in bed but did not wake her, she had been awake for some time. She came to the end of a journal entry. The last sentence reads, “Today I Begin”. She closed her little black book and felt a rush of emotion she couldn't place. Was it happiness, sadness, or fear? Perhaps it was all three. What she did know is despite those feelings she was ready.

The moment her feet touched the ground the entire room lit up and the hologram retreated. Following the morning instructions she combed her hair back into a tight bun and gently placed her green scarf over her head. Wrapping it around her shoulder she stepped toward the entrance of her room and the door slid to the side of the wall. She looked in awe as a quiet river of scarves passed her door. No one acknowledged her. If she hadn't opened the door she would have thought she was alone. The young woman took a moment to find an opening in the crowd and joined them. As she stepped forward the door closed behind her.

The stream of scarves poured out into a large atrium. The room wound upward, lined with shadowy figures. It was almost silent if not for the occasional clearing of a throat or shuffling of feet. Steps began to form from a balcony near the top of the atrium. A man made his way down the steps. Each one disappearing behind the other. Remembering to stand confident and strong the young woman adjusted her posture. The man stood in front of the crowd and removed his scarf.

It was the same man from the hologram. He stood short in stature and strikingly handsome. “All of you, welcome. Each and every one of you is a champion! A brave warrior for the people! I am proud to call you a comrade in this fight. With your sacrifice our communities may once again thrive. Let us Begin!”, he shouted over the crowd. His voice echoed throughout the room mixed with thunderous applause. He paused, taking in the excitement before speaking again, “For your loyalty a gift of money in the sum of 20,000 dollars will be given to each of you.” The young woman stood still with no expression as the crowd cheered once more. Let us Begin!, the man yelled. With the crowd in a frenzy the man turned and steps reappeared taking him back to the balcony.

Back in her room the young woman removed her scarf and sat on the edge of her bed. She had been preparing for this moment for as long as she could remember. She was the perfect candidate for the program. She had no extraordinary skill or high IQ and she was sure most of the men and women she saw were the exact same way. In the past these might have been sacrifices for the greater good but not anymore. She had been like a calf raised for the slaughter described as the literal prize of the family.

The entry door slid to the side of the wall and one of the shadowy figures lining the atrium was now standing in front of her. The mysterious person did not speak nor did he or she show their face. A simple gesture was enough to signal the young woman to follow. Together they walked down the corridor into a blinding white room where a woman in a green scarf was waiting. “This way”, the woman said. The mystery person bowed and slowly walked away. The young woman was led to another room. It shined with stainless steel. A metal chair with white cushions in the middle of the room. “Please take a seat” the doctor will be right with you.

The doctor finally arrived with a small knock on the door letting himself in. He quickly sat down on his swiveling stool eye level with the young woman in the room. He removed his green scarf. The woman began to feel uneasy trying not to make eye contact. It was not his deep green eyes that kept hers bouncing around the room. It was the way the life in his eyes threatened the lifelessness in hers. Another knock and a nurse let himself in carrying a single pill and a sealed needle on a metal tray. Getting a cue from the doctor the nurse gently strapped the young woman to the metal chair. The doctor stood turning his attention to the young woman. He looked down and gently said, “I am not authorized to stop treatment.” she slowly closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and whispered, “Begin”.