Blind Sight

“Where did you say you met him again?”

“My cousin’s wedding in Fremont last month. It was totally unexpected, but you know I love a man in uniform.” Celeste could hear Claudia rolling her eyes over the phone. “Stop overthinking it. Sean is a good guy. I can tell.”

“I just think it’s weird that he’s picking out clothes for you. He’s only known you for a month.”

“He isn’t picking out my clothes, he just selected my dress for a banquet that he invited me to. Isn’t that what they do in all of the rom-com movies we love so much?” Celeste joked.

“I guess,” Claudia relented.

“Well, I’m here at the boutique. I’ll call you later and I’ll send plenty of pictures,” Celeste reassured her overly-cautious friend.

“You better,” Claudia replied, but not before sucking her teeth in a way to communicate that her disapproval remained.

***

The saleswoman at the boutique placed a small black book on the counter. The stitching on its leather cover revealed its repeated use. “I just need you to sign here,” she instructed while pointing to a blank spot amongst the book’s weathered and torn pages. “The league has taken care of the bill in advance.” Celeste hurriedly signed her name, barely noticing the other words on the page.

“I still can’t believe that he knew my exact size. This dress squeezes me where it needs to and lets loose where I want it to,” she marveled while smoothing the white, sparkling material across her abdomen. Celeste admired herself in the mirror while standing in the sitting area of the plush dressing room. “It’s absolutely perfect.”

“Officer Harris definitely has an eye for detail,” the saleswoman agreed. “I hope you enjoy yourself tonight. I know quite a few young ladies have had their lives changed when asked to attend these galas.” The saleswoman knowingly winked at Celeste.

“Well, I certainly hope that’s the case for me,” Celeste replied while exhaling a breath full of anticipation for her night out with Sean.

***

“You look beautiful. I knew that dress would be perfect on you,” Sean remarked as he stepped into Celeste’s living room. His eyes followed the curves her body caused in the dress he had chosen for her.

“What are these for?” Celeste asked while stroking the medals on his lapel.

“Let’s just say they’re for my wins,” he smiled. Sean snaked his hands around her curvaceous hips pulling her towards him. Celeste arched her neck towards his face just enough to inhale his intoxicating scent and asked, “Is that the reason for tonight’s affair? To celebrate soldiers like you?”

“Well..yes and no. Soldiers like me certainly make tonight possible, but it really serves as the annual fundraiser for the league. It’s a lot of fun and they give away really good prizes,” Sean explained. “But look, I’m ready to show you off. Are you ready to go?”

Celeste couldn’t help but to admire his obvious affection towards her. It feels good to be desired, she thought. “I’m following your lead, Officer Harris. Let’s go.”

***

Sean opened the door to the SUV stretch-limo and grabbed Celeste’s hand to escort her to the entrance of the banquet hall.

“Officer Harris!”

Sean and Celeste turned their heads to notice an older gentleman making his way towards them. “Admiral!” Sean exclaimed before embracing him into a hug. “Admiral, this is Celeste. Celeste is the Admiral.”

“Pleasure to meet you Celeste,” the Admiral said as he extended his hand towards hers.

Celeste reached her hand out. “Thank you for having me. I feel so lucky to be here.”

“Oh trust me, we’re the lucky ones,” the Admiral remarked as he took her hand and kissed it. “Tell her Sean. We look forward to all the new names and faces we get to gain for our annual fundraiser. These events don’t happen unless we have people like you,” he stated. “She’s a looker Sean. Beautiful eyes.”

“She definitely is, sir. Her eyes were the first thing I noticed when I met her,” Sean replied. As the Admiral walked away, Celeste noticed the small black book tucked under his arm. “What’s up with that book? It looks like the one that I signed at the boutique earlier.”

“That’s how the league keeps track of the names entered for tonight’s fundraising raffle and activities. This way we know it’s fair and only guests are selected to receive prizes. It also eliminates the no-shows,” Sean explained.

“That makes sense,” Celeste reasoned while nodding her head.

***

The tables were decorated beautifully with a half-dozen clear vases of water carrying floating candles circling taller centerpieces that were created with white orchids. The entire room filled with ornate chairs and white tablecloths twinkled under the soft light that the candles emitted. “It looks like we made it just in time for the raffle,” Sean said as he took his seat. The Admiral stood in the middle of the stage that gleamed under the glow of the stage lights. “We will now announce our $20,000 winners!”

As the crowd erupted into applause, Celeste tugged excitedly at Sean’s arm. “$20,000?! You didn’t tell me the prizes were going to be that good!”

“I thought it would be nice if it were a surprise,” Sean smiled while touching Celeste’s hand. A server came to the table and poured two glasses of champagne for the couple. “Let’s toast to good luck, eh?” Celeste reached out her slender flute to meet Sean’s with a soft clink. She had just finished her drink when she noticed the saleswoman from the boutique in the cluster of people who were standing listening to the Admiral call out names.

“Hey, isn’t that…” Celeste started to ask before she heard her name being called.

“Celeste Davis! You’re a winner!” The Admiral was pointing towards Celeste. His face held a smile that was as cheerful as it was cunning. Celeste looked at Sean’s face for confirmation that she heard what she thought she heard. “It’s you babe. You won!” Sean stood up to face her clapping along with the audience.

As Celeste made her way to the stage, she felt a little light-headed, but she couldn’t stop smiling. The Admiral continued calling names from the little black book until the final winner was welcomed to the stage. “Let the tradition of the league continue for now and years to come!” the Admiral shouted into the microphone he was holding while plunging the little black book into the air with the opposite hand. The crowd continued to stand on their feet and cheer. Celeste looked down the line of winners on the stage and realized that all of them were wearing white.

She whispered to Sean behind her, “Why are we all wearing white? Isn’t that a little weird?”

“I guess it would seem that way if you didn’t know it was planned,” Sean nonchalantly replied.

The Admiral was directing the crowd’s attention towards the stage. “Let’s give another roaring round of applause to all of our winners tonight! We appreciate your sacrifice.”

“Sacrifice? What is he talking about? What do you mean planned?” Celeste directed her frantic inquiries towards Sean. She suddenly felt her body grow heavy and hesitantly leaned backwards against his chest.

“That depends, Celeste. Every winner is different.” Sean began to point down the line of participants on the stage. “Hers may be her kidneys, she may give her lungs, hers might be her heart. Like I said, it depends.” Celeste began to notice that she couldn’t feel her legs or arms. She opened her mouth to scream, but her voice couldn’t escape. Sean ruthlessly looked into her eyes as her irises widened in panic. “But you’re special. We’re just going to take your eyes. The champagne earlier? It contained a body-numbing sedative and memory eraser. You won’t feel a thing or remember anything about tonight,” Sean calmly explained while holding Celeste. He stroked his thumb against her right cheek as he curled his lips around the words that he spoke. “You see sweetheart, the league is an organ harvesting syndicate for the ruling elite, and I’m one of their top recruiters. You signed an agreement for us to surgically remove your organs when you signed the little black book this afternoon.” He kissed her forehead as the narcotics coursed their way throughout her body. Celeste’s eyes began to close. “All of the documents explaining that are in the front pages of the book, but you girls get so excited about a free dress, that no one ever flips to the front.” A single tear began to roll down Celeste’s face. “Don’t worry, Celeste. We only employ the best doctors and you’ll be delivered safely home in the morning, $20,000 richer.” He gingerly laid her on the wooden stage floor parallel to the other winners in white dresses. Sean towered over Celeste’s seemingly tranquil frame as the Admiral approached placing one hand firmly on his shoulder. “This year was a pretty impressive haul Officer Harris, wouldn't you say? Now you can add another medal to your collection. Let’s do it all again a year from now?”

“Yes sir,” Sean affirmed as both men descended the stairs of the stage to rejoin the party.