Chapter 1 - Eleanor

Always wish your final ghoul a happy birthday.

8 years old

" H appy birthday!" Winnie leaped onto my bed and tugged my blankets back. Pauline took my pillow and in a team effort, they pulled me out of bed. My feet hit the steel of the orphanage floor, sending a cold chill through me.

"Come on, it's the biggest day of your life!" Pauline was bouncing up and down excitedly. "You're going to find out if you're a Young Lady!"

"Well, maybe. They technically have to ask, and you won't be a Young Lady right away. You have to go through the program. That's 10 years." Winnie's face turned up matter-of-factly.

"Yeah, but they're still called Young Ladies," Winnie argued. "Stop being a Debbie downer just because you didn't get chosen."

"Stop," I whined. "Can we not think about that stuff yet?" I grabbed my toiletry case and went to the group showers. My best friends in the whole wide world followed me to the door. I turned to them before shutting it. "Let's get ready, put on our most fanciest dresses, and have cake."

We didn't have a lot to celebrate in the orphanage. There were so many of us and so few adults to care for us. We were often left to our own devices. So, after school, we explored the tunnels and other floors in the bunker. Winnie, Pauline, and I had been to every single floor, even Suds, the adults-only level.

Well, every floor but the ones they used for the Young Lady program.

I showered quickly and prepared myself for today's festivities. I brushed my dark brown hair until it shone, then slipped on my ruffle socks, day-of-the-week panties, and birthday dress. In home economics class, we learned to sew our own clothes. Year seven girls were tasked with creating our own birthday dresses. I was always jealous of the boys; they were just given their special birthday clothes. Although, theirs were much simpler.

We were allowed to pick the color of our fabric, and I'd gone with a pastel pink. I sewed cap sleeves and spent a lot of time on the ruffle skirt. I added white ribbons, tied into bows all over it, and made sure to save two ribbons - one to tie in my hair, and the other to use as a necklace. I took my time getting ready, all the while, my friends chatted excitedly behind me on their beds.

"What if they pick you? How exciting that would be!" Pauline gushed.

"Yes, but the odds of an orphan getting picked over a housed girl?" Winnie, my normally upbeat friend, was sour today. Every time Pauline brought up what would happen after my party, she grew visibly agitated. "Are you ready? Let's go."

They escorted me down to the rec hall, where the smell of yellow cake filled the air.

"Happy birthday!" The room shouted at me as I entered. I grinned as everyone clapped for me. I took in the scene with excited eyes. I'd never had a real party before.

Gary Lewis was playing on the record player. Children from my school were on the makeshiftdance floor, twisting their hips and singing to the music. Amongst the treats laid on the table, were fruit and vegetables grown from the gardens on the lower floors. Just like in the movies, there was a huge bowl of punch with a ladle resting on a stand next to it. Someone had made a variety of finger sandwiches. However, the main event was the cake. My mouth watered as I stared down at the beautifully crafted dessert. No one had ever put this much effort into something for me. I was nearly in tears.

"Happy birthday, Eleanor."

I turned to see Arnold, one of my friends from school. His birthday had been about a month ago, and he hadn't been chosen. Everyone had thought, out of all the boys in our school that were of age, he'd be picked, but nope. He'd returned to school the next day with swollen eyes and his head bowed. That would be me tomorrow. But today, I was going to celebrate.

"Thank you, Arnold. Would you like to dance?" I reached for his hand and dragged him to the carpet, and we did the twist to Frankie Lymon's song, "Who Put the Bomp".

"I love this group!" I shouted over the music. Arnold nodded and soon we were joined by others in our grade, all of whom hadn't been chosen to become a Young Lady or DIT. I was the youngest in our grade, and after today, we'd all know where we stood in our society. There would be no more pressure to act a certain way or perform. After tonight, once I hadn't been picked, we could all breathe a sigh of relief and be kids.

We danced, played musical chairs, and got to pop balloons which had candies or other goodies inside. I'd gotten one with an eight-pack of crayons. There were presents stacked on a table as well. Everyone sat on the floor as one by one, I opened up the handmade gifts everyone had brought. I received paper flowers, wooden dice, an embroidered handkerchief, and lastly, I opened a paper booklet.

"I know how much you like art," Pauline called from the floor. "I made you a coloring book." Inside were drawings of things around the bunker. Our school, the gardens, the people. It was such a thought-out gift, I was brought to tears. I wiped them away quickly and put my gifts aside.

"Thank you, Pauline. Now, should we dance some more?"

A thin, adult hand fell on my shoulders. I looked up to see Isabel, our den mother. "Why don't we have cake? It's getting late, and you still have people to see."

I gulped and nodded, before leaping off my chair. I ran to the cake, forcing my nerves down. How much longer did I have before my dreams were crushed and I was told I was a nobody? That I was unimportant and just another person stuck below the surface, destined to live a boring, ordinary life. I looked at the clock. The birthday parties always ended at nine. I had 30 minutes.

Everyone sang me happy birthday and I blew out my candle.

I wish that no one will be mad at me for wanting to be chosen.

I opened my eyes and saw all the smiling faces of my peers.

"Eleanor, it's time." Isabel's hand fell heavy on my shoulder. I looked around, desperate for an escape. No! I wasn't ready yet! "It'll be okay." She attempted to soothe me.

Winnie came forward, giving me a large, tight hug. "She's right. Don't worry. After you find out you're not chosen, they give you a present to make you feel better. I got new shoes." She wiggled her feet. All around me, my friends began to mutter in agreement and comment on what gift they'd been given to ease the pain of not being special. "You'll get something great, Eleanor. Maybe something to do with your art."

Everyone lined up to hug me, which was different from all the other birthday parties I'd attended. I supposed that being my group's last hope to have someone important in their midst was cause for a more personal touch. I finally reached the door and Isabel took my hand. Together, we walked down the steel halls and found the nearest elevator. She put a key into the control panel and then pushed the button for the top level. My heart began to beat rapidly.

That button never worked.

The elevator was icy silent as we rode up.

I'd never been this close to the surface before.

Eventually, the doors opened and we were greeted by two men in olive-colored military suits. Their clothes were freshly ironed and their lapels were heavily decorated with stars.

"Eleanor," one of them greeted me with a slight nod and smile.

I blinked. How did he know my name? Isabel pushed me along and we got out of the elevator. The soldiers escorted us through the pristine halls. Everything was so shiny and new. The air smelled different from below. This was... colder, more clean. We stopped in front of a door with no markings. I looked up at the adults surrounding me.

"Do I go in?"

"Yes, Miss." The other soldier grinned. My stomach was twisted so much it hurt. I thought I might throw up the cake I'd had just minutes before. I reached for the handle, inhaled deeply, and pulled the door open. I was pushed in so I tried to dig my heels into the floor, but it was no use. I slid into the room and the door shut behind me.

I tightened my lips and squinted as my eyes adjusted to the harshly lit room. Once I could see clearly, I looked around. It was so quiet, I could hear my heart beating. It was a large mess hall with one single, round table in the center. The world went utterly silent as I focused on the present on top of it. Slowly, I walked across the room, my steps echoing against the walls. The present was wrapped in the colors of my dress. Carefully, I lifted the lid and found it wasn't a box, but a shell. Underneath the prettily decorated cardboard was a matching cupcake with a lit candle on top. To the side, there was a folded notecard.

My hands shook as I reached for the card. My fate was on the other side. My stomach was twisting so hard I thought I'd vomit. Quickly, I flipped it over.

Eleanor, you have been chosen to join the Young Lady and DADDY program.If you'd like to help save humanity, blow out the candle.

I dropped the card and stared at the cupcake. What a loaded question. If I did this, I'd be giving up my freedom, but gaining so much in return. Did I dare blow out the candle?