Valentina's Victory

Flash.Flash.Flash

Bu-bum. Bu-bum. Bu-bum.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

“The results are in, everyone! Let’s find out who has won this year’s Magenta Tournament!”

Whoops. Shouts.

The presenter holds a fluorescent pink envelope, and shows it to the crowd. He smiles and slowly starts opening its contents.

So, so slowly.

“And the winner is…..”

Breathe. Breathe. Br--

“Everyone, give it up for Valentina!”

The crowd goes wild. I am frozen. What am I going to--

Before I can collect my thoughts, the presenter comes up and drags me into the centre. The combination of her bright pink eyeshadow and red lipstick makes her seem like a lifeless doll.

I can’t help but feel a flood of fear wash over me as her cold blue eyes connect with mine. Her veneers sparkle under the artificial lights, but they do nothing to distract me from her empty eyes.

“Now the moment of truth! Valentina will have to choose between two amazing prizes. Go ahead, Rhonda! We’re all desperate to know what’s in them!”

Rhonda cackles and brings over two gold boxes. I can feel my heart in my throat.

“The first prize is…. 20,000 dollars!”

I nearly burst with emotion. That would change everything. Then my eyes go to the other box. If there’s 20,000 dollars , what will the other prize be?

Rhonda tears open the other box.

“And a little black book!”

My brows furrow in confusion. I look to the audience for reassurance, but then realise there’s nobody there. Just empty seats.

“Which is it going to be, Valentina?”

The choice is obvious, yet I can’t stop feeling like I’m missing something. Like I’m at school again and the only child who doesn’t understand the joke.

“20,000 dollars.”

“Are you sure?”

I bite my lip, then images of my family come to mind. “Yes.”

***

As the signature limo pulls up in front of my small home, I can’t help but smile wildly. This is the moment I’ve been waiting for my whole life. I’ll finally be deserving of something.

I step out of the limo, butterflies in my stomach as I see the crowds --

No.

There aren’t any crowds.I furrow my eyebrows in confusion. Where is everyone? Do they know I’m back?

I rush to the door, and knock loudly. Why aren’t there news reporters? Friends? Fans?

The door swings open, and I come face to face with my cousin. “Oh” He rolls his eyes. “It’s you.”

“What’s --” Before I can get the words out, my brother stomps upstairs. I make my way into the living room and see my grandmother, sat in her chair. I wait for her to register my presence. Minutes pass, and I grow more and more anxious.

Finally, she looks up and makes eye contact with me. “Yes?” She asks.

“Erm--”I swallow. “I’m home!”

Her face fills with displeasure. “Did I ask?” She spits.

“I---” I close my eyes, and breathe in, “I won 20,000 dollars. On the game show! I can hel--”

She slams a glass on the table. “20,000 dollars!” She laughs. “What is 20,000 dollars, you foolish girl?! Nothing!!!”

“I--”

“You handed the true prize over to the runner up like an idiot! I always knew you were downright stupid, but I never took you for an imbecile!” She screeches.

“I don’t understa--”

She throws a bright pink paper at me, the only colour in this house. “Get out.”She spits.

I stumble out of the living room, grasping the pink paper to my chest. I run out of the house, and go to my shed in the forest. I slide down the wall, and open the paper.

Black book is confirmed to be “priceless”

This year’s winner is “a complete and utter disappointment”

Winner hands black book over to runner up, making them the richest person in ___

It dawns on me. Why would they just use a simple black book as one of the prizes? It’s clear that it was a test, and I failed.

This was my only chance to save her, and I failed.

***

I can still remember the day. It was cool, like their eyes.Our fingertips were going numb, but we didn’t care. We were stargazing, as we always did. It reminded us that we weren’t alone, and that one day, we’d be able to leave.

The red capes surrounded us, and I kept screaming “Leave us alone!We haven’t done anything!” over and over and over.

They stepped forward and clutched Aurora. “Let my sister go--”

She clasped my face. “I’m sorry.” Her eyes filled with sorrow and regret.

“No! No!” I screamed. The tears streamed down my face as I watched them drag her away. The look of resignation on my sister’s face confirmed what I feared.

It was her.

***

I walk into the black building. It’s crumbling, but nobody cares.

As soon as I step into the building, everyone turns to look at me. I hear hushed whispers. I speed walk to my usual station, and get to work.

As I’m turning the large wheel, Pru appears. “A wants to see you.” She whispers to me. The hairs on my arms stand up, and I gulp.

I knock on the pristine white door, and it swings open. I enter the room and see A sitting at her white desk, with a pink paper in her hand.

“Valentina.” She says.

“A.” I reply.

She glances down at me, then says “You’re dismissed.”

“Sorr-” I start, but she silences me with one look.

“Out.”

My shoulders slump, and I turn around.

“Everyone is talking about the black book you practically handed over to the runner up!”

“It’s worth a fortune! Priceless, they say.”

***

I am escorted into the sterile white room by two burly men dressed in all white. My grey dress stands out - a symbol of my change in circumstances, but still not enough.

“Name?” The woman asks.

“Valentina, B26791.” I respond.

Her hand glides over the screen as she delicately adds my details. Then she looks up and makes eye contact with me. “You won the show?” She inquires.

“Yes.” I nod.

Her lips tug upwards into a small smirk, before they drop back into her usual emotionless expression. It was quick - but I saw it.

“Your sister will be out shortly.”

The doors open and I see my sister for the first time in three years - but all I can think about is that mocking smile.

***

“I can’t believe you did it.” My sister whispers to me, her eyes welling up with emotion. We’re back in the place that started it all, our little patch of freedom.

I smile back at her. “Of course I did. It’s us against the world, Aura.” I grasp her hand.

She pulls me into her arms, and I feel my body relax. This reunion is the only thing I’ve thought of every night for the past few years.

“I know most of the money was spent on my release, but we have enough left over to purchase permanent B-citizenship. Who knows - maybe we’ll even be able to buy a quaint little cottage in the countryside, like we’ve always dreamt of!”

I sigh. “You know only the Liberated can access the Outside, Aura.”

She smiles weakly. “Yes, I know, but I’m sure we’ll find a way. You won the competition, Val! We can do anything.”

As soon as I hear “competition”, my heart sinks. If I had that book, maybe we’d have true freedom. We wouldn’t just be B-citizens, or even A-citizens. We’d be truly free.

***

The next day, a pink piece of paper slides under my door. I pick it up, and there,in large letters it says:

Black Book Winner is rumoured to be “Liberated” and leaving for the Outside tomorrow

My hand falls open, and I watch the words fall to the floor.

Liberated

Liberated

Lib--

A feral cry escapes my lips as I rip up the paper, until the letters are scattered all over the room. It’s at that moment that I know what I need to do. I grab the bag with my money in it, shove some essentials in it and sneak out through my window.

Loser.

***

I run through the forest, branches tugging me back. I can almost hear them telling me “Don’t go forward. Turn back.”

But I won’t turn back. I need to keep going.

The silence is almost deafening- a reminder that I am crossing into forbidden territory. The forest is untouched

As I near the barriers, I see the real winner. She is standing near the edge, and the guards have their backs turned. Without thinking, I cover her mouth and drag her back until the guards are out of view. It’s not until we’re finally hidden that I realise she didn’t struggle.

“Valentina.” She says, her voice void of emotion.

“I-” I gasp for breath, worn out. “I need the black book.” I beg.

“Really?” She raises an eyebrow. “Why?You already have enough money for you and your sister to live comfortably.”

“I-I-” I stutter. How does she know? I shake my head. “Yes, but - please. I’ll do anything.”

She stares into my eyes, a determined look on her face. “I don’t know if you’re ready for what it contains.”

“I am!” I plead. “Please - I need it.”

She nods. “Ok. Just give me the money and I’ll give it to you.”

“I don’t have everything, I used half to help my sister-”

“Look.” She stands up. “I don’t have time for this. You clearly don’t deserve the black book.”

“No!” I shriek. “I can’t live without it - you have to help me!”

She turns around, and nods. “Ok, but first give me the rest of the money.”

My shaking hands reach into my backpack, and I place the wads of money at her feet.

She picks it up, and then puts the black book on the floor. My eyes bulge at the sight of it. It’s finally mine.

I slouch down, my entire body on edge. I barely notice the faint shadows closing in on me.

This is it. Everything I’ve done, lost and won has boiled down to this very moment.

With shaky hands, I open the black book.

As an army of white surrounds me, my eyes focus on the bright pink message embossed into the page.

'You win.'