Free The Killing Jar by RS McCoy

tragedy, that each child was like him—a prisoner in space with no idea of the life they’d never know.
    Then again, maybe it was better this way. Maybe it was better to never know what else the universe could offer them.
    Maybe someone robbed him of his life to save him from that.
    Abraham lowered the sleeping toddler into his bed in the boys’ room and covered him with a thin blanket up to his chin. He admired him one last time before he moved on to the older boys, getting them into bed and pulling up their blankets. Sander and Berk were already asleep by the time he got to them.
    “Good night, sleep tight, see you when the sun is bright.”
    “Good night,” replied Ellicot, his voice already relaxing.
    Last, he turned out the lights and closed the door, filling the corridor with evening quiet.
    On the far side, Charlene walked from the girls’ room back toward the kitchen, though she stopped to wait for him.
    “Why do you always say that?” she asked.
    “I don’t know. What are you supposed to say?” Abraham worried that had unknowingly violated some aspect of her routine.
    Charlene pursed her lips and stomped down the corridor. “I was just curious. I should have known you wouldn’t tell me,” she huffed as she trailed away.
    Abraham sighed. This was going to be a long rest of his life.
     

 

     

THEO
    LANCASTER CENTRAL HALL, LANCASTER, NORTH AMERICA
    AUGUST 7, 2232
     
    Theo stood his place in the single-file, alpha-order line awaiting the announcement. Of the seventy eight Youths who would become full citizens today, only fourteen would select Scholar. Still, it was higher than the national average.
    “Ready?” Allen Lefruene asked from behind.
    “Yeah,” Theo lied. Now that he’d done it, slid the card into the slot and sealed his fate, he couldn’t help but feel he’d made a terrible mistake.
    “Folks here?” Allen continued, oblivious.
    “Yeah, probably.” In the spiraling tower above, Theo had no doubt Howard and Cheryl sat in a room of their peers watching the ceremony on their tablets. The final Kaufman to become a prominent Scholar. It would be a proud moment for them.
    But not for Theo.
    He fought the urge to run back to the Selection room and find his card, change his future. When he looked back toward the curtains, he saw Nate.
    Near the end of the line, he didn’t look near as bad as Theo feared. His eyes were down, but the sadness had left them. Nate had accepted his fate.
    Maybe he’d had a last conversation with Casey, at least enough to get some closure. Or maybe he’d made his peace with it.
    Theo would have to wait until after the ceremony to ask him. Before he could say a word, the microphones emitted the introductory music.
    Dean Norway began the speeches the same as always, though Theo had never heard them from backstage before. “Good afternoon and welcome to the Selection Ceremony for Youth Class 14925. Today, we are honored to have representatives from the three classes. The Northeast Sector Leader and Craftsman representative, Ms. Samara Russo. To her left, Artisan and local favorite Mr. Gage Vilchis. And, may I ask for a very warm welcome for the esteemed Vicereine of the Scholar Class, Dr. Indra Masry.”
    Theo choked and coughed as he heard her name. The Scholar Vicereine? Of course, he would have to select his class in front of the most powerful woman in the Scholar class, one of the three most powerful people outside the Global Council. Why couldn’t it be the Artisan Viceroy? Or the Craftsman Viceroy? Why did it have to be her ?
    What had he done to deserve this?
    Like an overplayed song, the Dean continued his usual speech. “Our society is a great one. It thrives on our system of three classes, each an integral component of our success.
    “First, there are the Craftsmen, the foundation. They work hard in a variety of trades—culinary arts, carpentry, fabrication, and mechanics—each with particular focus in their area of talent.
    “Next, there are