The Culling: Book 1 (The Culling Series)

by Tricia Wentworth

  “What we start today could potentially be used in the real world. You will work in groups of five, except for the one group of six, and will be assigned a city that has yet to be cleared after Trident. Don’t look surprised either; we just haven’t had the time or resources for every single city, town, and village. The bigger cities are of course already done, but some of the smaller ones we aren’t using were left as is. So you will create a plan of action for cleaning the city. The idea is to find what is useful or valuable, if anything, and go from there. You will be graded on your group’s work as well as the time and resources used to clean your city. The winning group will also receive a prize.” He pauses to let us think on that for a moment but doesn’t enlighten us as to what the prize is.

  “Now. I have selected the nine group leaders. The group leaders will choose their second in command and the second in command will choose the next in command and so forth. So who you chose is very important. The only requirement is that the groups have both male and female group members. Though I am sure you are excited about that part, I should warn you this test carries a lot of weight. We are not here to flirt.

  “The following nine people please come with me into the hallway to the neighboring classroom while the rest of you await their first round picks. As you wait, think about the teammate you will choose.” He pauses a moment and adds seriously, “You will be graded on every aspect of this assignment. Good luck.”

  He lists off nine people but I am not one of them. He does call Bronson, Lyncoln, October, and Benjamin though. Four of the nine people I know. This should prove itself interesting. I feel like I’m in recess getting picked for kickball all over again. I wasn’t ever picked dead last because I was too competitive, but I didn’t get picked first either. I have a feeling this will be a lot like that.

  “I bet you five cookies at dinner you go first round,” Trent smiles and nudges me.

  “If they are smart, I will go second or third round. Deal.” We shake even though we know it’s an empty bet. We can have as many cookies as we want.

  Ten minutes later, Professor Zax comes in looking excited. I have a feeling who we pick is just as important as how we do on this project. It’s just another test within a test, but this is one that’s out of my control. I can’t decide who picks me and when. I can only decide who I pick next.

  “Will the following nine people please come with me…” Professor Zax calls off nine names, my name not included.

  Trent pouts and I smile victoriously.

  “I win,” I laugh.

  Not surprising, Henry and Knox both go first round. What is surprising is that Marisol does too, and I have a hard time not being jealous. I understand why the boys will pick another boy first; they know them better. But I don’t understand the logic behind picking Marisol. Who would pick her? Someone who must know how cutthroat she is apparently. Someone trying to use that to their advantage.

  Ten more minutes pass and Professor Zax walks back in and again says, “Will the following nine people please come with me…”

  Trent is called first this round and to my own surprise, I am the last name called. I get up and walk to the next room wondering what group I will be a part of. Hopefully not Marisol’s, or we might as well just forfeit now. I’m not sure I have it in me to work with her civilly.

  Please, any group but hers.

  Since I’m the last one in the room, there is only one group standing around a table in the corner without a third person. Much to my dismay, that group is consisting of only Lyncoln and Henry at the moment. They are laughing about something and I realize they must already know each other, and by the looks of it, quite well.

  Well isn’t this just peachy?

  “Hey, Reagan,” Henry greets me while Lyncoln just stares me down in his dark and mysterious way.

  “Hi,” I say even though my thoughts are screaming, “ARE YOU FREAKING KIDDING ME?”

  “Choose wisely, you have our next pick.” Henry gestures to the names on the wall.

  “What pick do we have?” I ask and kind of ignore them both as I focus on the task at hand and read the names.

  I try my hardest not to be distracted by the fine male specimens before me. Henry is dressed in a sweater, jeans, and cowboy boots. Lyncoln is in a tight v-neck t-shirt with jeans and military grade boots. Both shirts fit too good on their muscles. What sort of fitness regimen have these Denver boys been on? Lyncoln is just a bit bulkier in muscle mass than Henry, but both are tall and lean and look like they are in amazing shape. Like can run for 12 miles non-stop, or do 200 one-armed push-ups, good shape.

  “We just went first, so we will be last,” Henry informs me, looking me in the eyes affectionately.

  Lyncoln still hasn’t said a word, just stands there.

  “Are you serious?” I look at one in the eyes and then the other. They picked me first pick of the third round?

  “Quite serious.” Henry grins this time, using the phrase from last night, and shows off his dimples in the process. You would think they would make him look more childish, but they offset his muscles and lean build to make him look more approachable. I mentally slap myself back to reality and the task at hand.

  FOCUS.

  My pick? This is just dandy. I better not screw up. I better pick someone way more capable than I am, or we are doomed. I will be no help in this entire exercise because I will be too distracted. What are the odds that I would be in a group with the both of them? Really, there are 20 other boys here besides them. Hormones. These hormones will be the death of me. Or at least the end of my being in the Culling unless I’m careful.

  I look at the list of available names and know I’m screwed. Attie is still on the list, but if I pick her, it will be to save our friendship, not because she’s my ultimate choice. If I don’t pick her, will she be offended and think I’m just boy crazy? Two picks later, she is erased off the board. I no longer have to feel guilty about it as choosing her becomes irrelevant. I quickly look around the room and am shocked to see Marisol and October in the same group with Maverick.

  Again, it’s defying all logic; I just don’t get it. That means October picked Marisol? Why? What was her motive there? It reminds me of Lyncoln telling me to “keep my enemies closer” last night. Maybe that’s October’s angle?

  As two more names are erased off the board, I’m getting more nervous. I don’t have time to think about October and Marisol right now. It doesn’t help that my two companions are just watching me think and fidget and not saying a word.

  “Any suggestions?” I ask, looking at the names of available people again, avoiding looking at either one of them.

  “Can’t. Professor Zax says picks have to be made without help.” Henry shrugs. “Sorry, beautiful.”

  “Ugh,” I groan and try not to blush at Henry calling me beautiful.

  I look at the list. Logically, I should pick another girl as I know them better, but every last one of my friends are already in the room in groups already. I look over the remaining names once more and decide what I will do. I’ll pick Oliver. He is quiet but very intelligent, just like Marcia told me. Of all the boys left, I would trust him most. Better to pick someone a friend trusts than to just blindly pick. And as an added bonus, I’m not attracted to him at all romantically, which is nice in comparison to the other two.

  “Ms. Scott. Please come forward with your pick,” Professor Zax states.

  Without hesitating, I walk up to him. “Oliver George, please.”

  “Thank you. You may return to your group,” he dismisses me and erases Oliver’s name from the board. I can tell he’s a little surprised with my pick, though he doesn’t say anything more.

  Back to my group in the corner, Henry smiles and nods his head up and down in approval. “Good choice.”

  I choose to stand by the window as I am a safe distance and across the table from them both. They both smell so good and their smells colliding are giving me high blood pressure. I look at Lyncoln who has y
et to say a word, but has his half-smile smirk thing going on. This annoys me more than anything and I feel my temper start to flare.

  “Cat got your tongue this afternoon, Lync?” I ask sarcastically, using my nickname for him.

  “Dude. She called you Lync. No one does that. That’s great,” Henry busts out laughing and slaps Lyncoln on the back while Lyncoln just glares at him. After trying to contain himself, Henry turns to look at me and says, “Reagan Scott, you really are a spitfire. No one in their right mind talks to Lyncoln like that.”

  With fake confidence, I smile at him and lie, “I’m not afraid of him.” My rapid heart rate and sweaty palms would indicate otherwise, so hopefully they can’t tell how nervous he really does make me.

  They both look at one another, smile, and at the exact same time say, “You should be.”

  ****

  Much to my dismay, I end up being the only female in the group. Although I’m thankful for the opportunity to talk to Henry without five or six different girls butting in, I’m very certain that I’ll now have a huge target on by back, especially where Henry is concerned.

  My group along with three others move back to the tables in our original classroom while the other half stay in the room where we chose teammates. At least now I have half as many daggering glares to ignore. Professor Zax bounces between rooms and we have a military chaperone in each room as well. I’m not sure what they think we are going to do in a room full of our peers, but whatever.

  Our group decides to split up. Lyncoln, Joshua, and Oliver are discussing safety precautions and trying to prioritize the to-do list on the cleanup for our city. While they do that, Henry and I brainstorm places that need to be searched and things of value that we would need to locate. We sit at one corner of the table with some maps of the town. I purposefully turn my back to Lyncoln so that I can focus on Henry and our project without hyperventilating or wondering if Lyncoln is ever looking at me, or worse, catching him looking at me with that weird “I know you” look. Henry sits closer than he needs to and our legs brush up against one another often.

  An hour later, I’m happy with Henry and my list, especially since he makes it rather hard to focus. Our city is about halfway between Omaha and Denver, so I’m pleased that I know the basic terrain of the area. Having finished our part while the others are still deep in discussion over more maps, Henry and I make small talk as they finish up.

  “So who do you miss the most?” Henry smiles at me while leisurely leaning over the table with a hand tucked under his chin and asks me questions about Omaha. He looks entirely too good in his jeans and sweater.

  “My brother Ashton. I only have one brother since my parents couldn’t have any other children after me. We’re pretty close.” I look off into the distance as if looking for Ashton.

  “You’re fortunate, Reagan. I have two sisters but we don’t get along that great. We don’t hate each other, but we aren’t very close either. When mom was sick, we all kind of just grew apart while we each dealt with it in our own way,” he says, bringing my attention back.

  “I’m sorry.” The way he says it makes me want to reach over and give him a hug, partially because I feel bad for him and partially because I have hormones and like being close to him. “How was growing up here? I’m sure it wasn’t easy,” I ask, trying not to blush at my own thoughts.

  “No, but it had its perks. I have so much respect for my dad. He would do anything for this country. Sometimes I wish I could be normal. Half of these girls would leave me alone if I were.” He laughs kind of embarrassed and runs a hand through his light brown hair. “But normal just isn’t my dad. I’ve lived my whole life wondering who is my friend because of the presidency, and who truly likes me for me. I try to do it with a good attitude though because I would do anything for my dad.”

  “That sounds awful.” Always having to be suspicious of other people’s motives? How exhausting. Though kind of sad, I feel glad I get to have a one-on-one conversation with Henry like this. I have a feeling there won’t be too many chances. He’s a hot commodity.

  “So how about you, beautiful?” He smiles and lightly elbows me. “Do you like me because I’m the heir or do you like me for me?”

  “Who said I liked you?” I blush and he laughs before I add, “I don’t know you well, Henry. But, what little I do know, I very much respect.”

  “Then I can’t wait for you to know more,” he says seriously while looking me in the eyes. His eyes are a very distracting color of green. I have green in my eyes but they have specs of brown too. His are just all that smooth emerald green color. It’s kind of remarkable.

  As if sensing the seriousness of our conversation, Lyncoln rudely interrupts with, “You two done snoodling over there?”

  I look at him and roll my eyes. “Snoodling? Really?”

  “Jealous, much?” Henry jokes with Lyncoln, and surprisingly Lyncoln just grins over at Henry.

  Well, this is nice.

  Poor Joshua and Oliver sense the lighthearted tension and try to keep serious faces but they aren’t doing the best job of it. I can tell that not many people fire back at Lyncoln, which is probably why I keep doing it. I’m glad Henry doesn’t seem to be afraid of him either though he does seem to really respect him too; it makes me wonder how it is they know one another. Must be a military thing.

  I reposition myself so we are facing the group again and I feel Henry’s hand on the back of my chair as he scoots closer to the group also. Across the room, Attie sees his hand and looks like she’s about to cry. I feel a little guilty, but it isn’t like I asked for him to put it there either. I’m completely novice at this whole flirting and dating game. And for all I know, he could be doing this stuff with all the other girls too.

  As our group leader, Lyncoln starts in about things needing to be cleared and threats to the area. Henry pitches in with priorities of materials we need to find and use. Then starts the big debate about the area and how much we will need to destroy. Joshua tells us destroying everything after we remove the valuables would be cheapest and easiest, but definitely won’t win us the competition.

  We are all looking over our budget and rubbing our temples wondering how we can use what little resources we have and fix the town. It just isn’t possible, especially since there wasn’t a focal resource in our town. None of our ideas seem to help. If we prioritize, we can fix some of the nicer and bigger buildings, but then buildings next to them will remain in ruin. It has been at least a hundred years since anyone has stepped foot in the town. We really don’t even know what we are working with. And having a fixed up and nice building next to one that is eroding away seems a bit wasteful.

  Suddenly I think of an idea but don’t know if it’ll truly work. Construction just isn’t my forte.

  Henry notices my head snap up and smiles. “Reagan has it.” Both seeing and hearing the affection in his tone causes my heart to skip a beat. He gives my shoulder a squeeze for confidence while Lyncoln seems to be staring me down.

  “This ought to be good,” Joshua playfully jokes while Oliver rubs his hands together preparing for my spiel.

  I avoid looking at both Lyncoln and Henry and look at our information so I can get my thoughts together before I begin. “I’m not entirely sure this will work so just hear me out, but what if after doing numerous and extensive sweeps of the area, let’s completely demolish the north side of town. We can salvage what materials we can and use that to completely restore the southern side of town from the interstate south, or at least a decent portion of that area. Doesn’t it make sense to have a smaller town that could be fully functional if we ever need it? Like an emergency or backup township of sorts.” I turn and look at Joshua. “You’re the demolition expert. Am I crazy or does that make sense?”

  “Actually, it’s genius.” Joshua shakes his head. “I’m just mad I didn’t think of it first. Duh.”

  “Plus, all the other groups on this same budget will be revitalizing one certain area of their t
own, maybe only recreating what was once a street or two, or a resource within the town. By destroying part of the town that isn’t used anyway, we can make a smaller functional one.” Oliver nods in agreement. “So we clear out and build up simultaneously. It’s magical.”

  Before someone else does, mainly Lyncoln, I argue against my own idea. “But to truly do it, we need to go all out. The bad news is, the buildings will need swept top to bottom before we destroy everything. Anything and everything found will be used in revitalizing the other half of town. A huge portion of our time and resources will need to go towards that, which isn’t exactly logical. Our project will need the most time overall.”

  “Not logical, but still worth it.” Henry smiles and looks to Lyncoln for final approval. They both exchange a look like the two of them know a secret and then Henry shrugs with a grin.

  In looking at Lyncoln, I see he is smirking. He glances at me then towards Henry. “It should work as long as…” he stops himself a moment. “But with the safety precautions…well, we can make it work.” He looks at me again. “And just like that the woman makes the men look like idiots.”

  The others nod and laugh at that. I just feel relieved he likes my plan.

  We discuss timeframe and budgeting our resources and are so lost in our own group and our idea that I barely notice the girls in the room looking like they want to murder me. And what was with the look between Henry and Lyncoln?

  The only thing I’m not confused about at this point is that I know I have absolutely no idea how to handle these boys.

  ****

  Though everyone seems excited and geared up for the rest of our day with the boys, afterward we have a break and then all meet back with Professor Zax to view a case study on Trident, which pretty much kills the mood. We have to watch footage of someone with Trident on a time lapse. So basically, we have to watch someone die. It only takes a few hours, but is still pretty gruesome.