The raeiki trials were coming up, and all the teens were afraid that they might be next; in the end, the winners would be Gods, but the losers would be dead. And possibly there would be family and friends against you, of course, it was killed or be killed.

It was going to begin in five days from now, so that was the countdown, and no one could prepare for it. Yusra Ahmad and her cousin Karrar Bachir sat on the back door steps thinking that their lives might change soon, and hoping that it wouldn't. The raeiki trials for most were their way out of poverty, but it meant that your bond with your family was broken. It also meant that there would be no turning back..

"If you keep staring at the ground like that, you're going to start a fire," Karrar said, leaning back on his elbows.

"That's not a real thing," she replied, rolling her eyes.

Yusra didn't look up from the ground, watching the ants move a piece of bread was better than thinking of what might come.

"They are really trying with that bread crumb, maybe the Gods for the raeiki trials should choose them, and not us mortals," Karrar sighed, before laying his head down on his arms.

"Why us?" She questioned out loud.

"It's probably just a game for them; they pick us off for their amusement." Karrar looked up from his knees and arms.

"I wouldn't be surprised," Yusra answered. "I wish we didn't have to deal with them; it's not fair."

"We don't know if we are included yet Yusra. Let's not speak like we are."

"I just have a bad feeling," she frowned, thinking about the possible future.

Yusra felt the foreboding as if a storm was coming that they would not be able to avoid, and she wished that she didn't. Especially, since most of her feelings seemed to come true.

Yusra's mother left the house early in the morning the next day to head to the market. Yusra stood at the door to see her off, when her mother noticed a letter by her feet. She bent down and picked it up, ripping the envelope open without noting the insignia on the wax seal. Yusra watched her empty the contents out and skimming over it, before her eyes rolled to the back of her head like some mad animal and she dropped to the ground without a sound.

"Maman!" Yusra raced to her mother's side, lifting her head up onto her lap and lightly smacking her cheek to wake her. She called for Karrar, who had begun working in the back of the house, and yelled at him to bring a cup of cold water. He sprinted to Yusra, gently placing the cup into her hand. The cold, smooth metal rubbed against her warm palm in the humid air, sticking to her as she tipped the water over her mother's face.

Maman's eyes immediately fluttered open, darting to and fro before settling on Yusra's face. Upon seeing her daughters' stricken face, and her nephew leaning over the two of them, she began heaving with sobs, opening her mouth wide and wailing with anguish. Yusra felt a pit settle in her stomach, and she lifted a hand to her forehead to wipe off the sweat collecting on her brow. She knew what was in the letter.

Her mother didn't end up going to the market that day. She stayed home and refused to explicitly show Yusra and Karrar what the letter contained. But they could tell from her reaction; it was their death warrant. Signed and officiated by the High King, who consulted with the Gods Above in their palace. That meant they were specifically chosen, though Yusra was yet to understand the particulars in what made teenagers qualify for the Raeiki Trials.

In four days' time, Karrar and Yusra would be battling to the death. Against each other.