"Do you wonder what happens after one gets chosen?", I asked my father. "Do you think it will be me today?"


    My father hushed me and stared into the crowd, his mind definitely thinking of something deep. Meanwhile, I scanned the square, searching for my friends.


    And there, I saw Timothy. And Edward. And Argon.


    "Hey! Come here!", I shouted but the voice of the crowd was too big. All of a sudden, the crowd became silent. My friends heard my voice but their parents wouldn''t leave their hands.


    My mother patted my head, signalling me to be silent.


    This is my only chance. It''s now or never. I heard that once you turn 13, they would not choose us. My birthday is in few days, I can''t go with them the next year.


    I freed my hand from my father''s grasp, making my way to the front row. There, I saw them. Tall men with black cloaks. There were at least ten of them, I couldn''t see more as the night had begun.


    Starting before all of them was the chief, or theHollow Lordas the villagers say. He was taller than all of them, and as far as I can remember, he was the only one who would talk during our annual Square meeting.


    As usual, he made his speech, pretty boring if you ask me. He was stating the rules and whatever, I couldn''t care less. After a long time, he finished his speech and gave our village chief a large chest, full of resources. What were those resources? Who knows, they won''t tell me, because I''m a "child".


    Then, it was the annual living nightmare of all the parents. TheHollow Lordwould choose a child to take with them, to train that child, and make him aHollow.


    I never understood why they would not choose a teenager or even, a young adult. But my mind was not thinking straight, all I wanted was to be chosen this year. I even trained with my uncles at the edge of the forest.


    Oh, those were the days, after returning from my classes, I would run to the edge of the forest. The uncles would give me sweets, from the Mrig island, or so they would say. I wouldn''t know. No one could leave the island.


    Those sweets were the only thing I knew came in the chest.


    Finally, theLordpointed his finger and began scanning through the crowd. As his speed slowed down, my heart rushed.


    I closed my eyes in fear of rejection. Suddenly, the crowd began their noise. Someone behind pushed me, making me almost fall down.


    A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.


    I wanted to use the swear words my uncles taught me but I shouldn''t say those while theHollowsare here. I looked forward. Seeing the finger point at me made my heart skip a beat.


    I ran towards them, without making myself look like a fool. I stood beside theHollow Lordhimself. He was very tall, much taller than my father and more taller than even the tallest person in the village. he was as tall as the half giants we heard in those "scary" stories.


    I could see the murmur disappear as I heard the cries of my parents. My mother was wailing, sitting on the grass, my father hugged her as he was trying to hold his tears.


    All I could do was wave my hand towards my father. He couldn''t wave his hand back but his hand raised a little. I couldn''t bear the tears of my parents but I couldn''t cry in front of theLordhimself. What would he think of me? Would he drop me if he saw that I was a crybaby?


    The otherHollowsinstructed the villagers to leave, my parents were the last to leave. They wanted to run to me and hug me but they were scared of theHollows.


    I began walking behind theLord, the otherHollowssurrounding me and him. I quickly glanced back at my parents, my mother looking back at me while my father grabbed her hand, trying to stop her from reaching me.


    We began walking towards the forest. I could finally see where theHollows''tower was. All my life, I tried finding the tower, with my friends, with my uncles, and even with the village chief''s grandson one day. That was cool. But here I was, the reality happening, and I was hoping that it would not be a dream.


    After walking for more than half an hour, we were there. We had been going left and right at a random order. My legs were tired but the excitement was still screaming within me.


    I was disappointed in seeing the tower. It seemed old, and there were moss everywhere. The whole area smelled like wild mushrooms.


    Why would theHollowslive in such a poor and dirty place? My home was better looking, even though we were not rich.


    The main door slid left, opening like I had never seen before. After all theHollowswere in, they began removing their cloaks.


    I was again disappointed. They were not like any mythical creatures as the village rumours told. They looked like normal humans, just tall and rough looking. TheLordtoo removed his cloak but he had not removed his mask. The mask was more scary than the cloaks. His mask made it seem like he was headless.


    But how could his head look invisible? The others'' masks were similar but not as real looking like theLord''s.The Lord asked, "What is your name, boy?"


    His voice was rough, almost scary. "Alfred Steele, sir"


    "Alfred? Now, you are aHollow, boy. You are not Alfred until you pass our tests" He moved towards me, making me flinch. He approached me, a mask on his hand.


    As he put the mask on my face, my mask gripped itself to my mask. But I felt no pain. Rather, I felt dizzy and I was light headed.


    I almost felt asleep. I shook my head till my brain hurt. I looked at theLord,his face watching me.


    "You are officially recruited,Hollow one",one of the men spoke to me. I could barely see his face, my eyes heavy. Before knowing, I passed out.


    I woke up, the mask still on my face, with my body covered in the same black cloak as them. Finally, I am one of them now.