The Choosing by Rachelle Dekker

head. “Don’t worry, Carrington. I found you.”
    “Warren, Warren,” a voice shouted, and Carrington didn’t dare look up. She heard the voice gasp and could feel the woman turn cold.
    Larkin pulled Carrington up from the ground and Carrington met her mother’s eyes   —icy, tears brimming, fists balled.
    “Mom, Mom, look   —I found her,” Warren said. He rushed to his mother’s side and she quickly snatched his tiny arm. His face turned in pain. Something snapped inCarrington’s head and she stepped forward. The woman she had called Mother didn’t love her, and she didn’t love Warren.
    Remko stepped in front of Carrington and conveyed with his expression that the next move she was contemplating would only end badly.
    Carrington glanced around Remko’s shoulder and watched as her mother lifted Warren off his feet and into her arms. With a final hard glance and without a single word she turned to leave.
    “No, Mommy, stop. What about Carrington? Stop!” the boy screamed.
    “Warren,” Carrington whispered.
    She moved to step forward again and Larkin pulled her away toward the alley.
    “Stop,” Carrington said, ripping her arm away from Larkin. “Warren!” she called louder. She couldn’t let that monster take him. Their mother loved only herself, and Warren deserved more than she could give.
    “Carrington, you can’t   —” Larkin said, but Carrington was already three steps away.
    “Warren,” she yelled. She couldn’t stop the tears, wouldn’t have had the strength to even try.
    Remko slid in front of her and pushed her back. She tried to sidestep him, but he was twice her size and easily twice as strong. He gently but forcefully gripped her arms and escorted her toward the alley. Every eye watched as Remko and Carrington stepped out of the main flow of city traffic and onto the dark side street.
    After another moment, the city transformed back into its vibrant normalcy as if the scene between a lonely Lint girl and a silly little boy had never happened.
    Carrington fought against Remko’s hold, but his grip stayed firm. He searched her face, but she tried desperately to avoid eye contact. Her entire body was begging her to race after the woman who had stolen the person she loved more than anyone in this whole terrible world. Carrington’s brain fought to remind her of the place she now held in society, but as her body overpowered her logic, she yanked at Remko’s hold with a rising fury.
    “Let me go,” she cried.
    “Carrington, there is nothing   —” Larkin started.
    “He is my brother!”
    “Maybe by blood, but that is all,” Larkin said.
    Carrington stopped resisting and gaped at Larkin’s words. “How could you say that? You don’t even believe in the Authority’s rules!”
    “You’re right; I don’t. But my disbelief in the rules will not save you from getting punished if you break them.” Her words were strong but kind; her eyes pleaded with Carrington to calm down.
    Whatever had snapped inside Carrington seemed to settle back in place. She relaxed in Remko’s grasp. She was losing her grip on herself, allowing her mind to surrender to her emotions. Only trouble could come from where her heart was pushing her.
    Remko slowly released her and she stepped away fromhim. She turned and steadied herself against the brick wall since tremors were still coursing through her body. She drew in sharp, painful breaths and focused on not pooling into a puddle of mush in front of Remko and Larkin.
    Larkin extended a comforting hand and touched Carrington’s shoulder. Carrington received the gesture and the tears she thought had abated came in another torrent of misery sliding slowly down her cheeks.
    “I’m so sorry, Carrington,” Larkin said and turned to Remko. “I’m going to go get the vents. Can you stay here with her?”
    Remko must have agreed because Carrington heard Larkin’s feet quickly shuffle away.
    Carrington couldn’t face him, not after the mess she