Fallen

chapterONE

"The news had been delivered to me a few days prior to the penmanship of this letter; that you had confessed your love for her, she who will reveal herself in the morn of our return. I believe I had witnessed it, felt my gut wrench there and know that my chance, however minuscule, had be whisked away with the cool breeze of the winter day that it was, and the largest imaginable barricade had then been formed between truth and what I wished could be true. It feels, every time you walk past, she and you shall be walking upon shards of my heart that had been of broken glass. Strange to think of a heart made of something so delicate as crystalline for it is the essence of what keeps us all alive, but regardless, I can do nothing but have it weighed down by the insurmountable truth - it is not me. Some part of me, an irrational being deep down still hopes it will be me, if not now, then maybe in time's counting, but my mind is intelligent enough to scrutinize every thought and reprimand it for being so foolish. I sometimes wish that I may return to the time when I could freely dream and fantasize about what could become in my unconfined, joyous solitude and secrecy, but alas, some places are of Ogygia's nature - once visited and never returned. Maybe the consequence will be fortunate; it will never be known until the occurrence.
Until then, hope and hope and hope. Hope for joy, hope for luck, hope for love. "
-Excerpt from the diary

I felt the wind rustle my hair; I could almost hear it as everybody stood stick still, not a sound. There was no need for reminders to be obedient; we all knew what the punishment for disorder entailed. Rows upon rows of young girls stood side by side, backs erect, posture uniform. We were all standing before a large concrete wall that served the only purpose of being daunting. Anyone could tell the distinction between us all; our sector had been subconsciously split into those who believed it was not just important, but necessary to be physically fit, physically prepared for Training, while the others believed that ample amount of factual knowledge should be crammed into the time before Training so we would be mentally prepared. It was obvious my parents were of the latter; I had believed they were right for the entirety of existence, but now, looking at the crowd of girls around me, I was beginning to doubt that. It wasn't hard to distinguish who had exercised before; I had never been particularly athletic; I had been the curvy girl who was not short enough to be called "petite", but not tall enough to be called "lanky" either.

"Ladies," a strong voice said, interrupting my thoughts. In my peripheral vision, I could see a tall, dark skinned woman walking between the rows. Her voice had a commanding tone, seeking, no, demanding attention from anyone and everyone.
"Today," she began, "is the first day of your Training." I imperceptibly rolled my eyes. Why would it be Training? All of us just decided to stand in perfectly ordered lines, alphabetically, because this obviously happened to be a high source of entertainment.
"As you all are aware," she continued, "Training is essential to not just your well-being, but to the fate of our society. Each generation must be equipped with the necessary combative skills lest there be a threat to the safety of this community. Your Training will consist of specific phases and there will be an assessment in accordance to each and will be thereupon decided by your instructor.
"In precisely four minutes, you will be split into groups so there is an equal balance of a diverse group of body types. You are required to remain in your sector's dormitory that will hereafter be determined. You are not permitted to stray from the parameter of the Training area.
"If you have not read the regulations for Training as you should have already, an extra copy will be distributed to you and others who have acted likewise. You are required to complete it promptly and submit it with a signature of consent to the mentioned regulations. The purpose of this is to ensure that each of you understands the regulations and will, therefore, accept any consequence that will be observed if disturbance is caused to it. These regulations will be implemented throughout the duration of your Training.
"This concludes the introduction to Training. Any question will be addressed by your instructor. "
It was as if she were reading this information straight from the copy. I could imagine her, pacing in her quarters, rehearsing this speech time and time again, assuring that each line was meticulously memorized and annunciated. A small smile lifted the corner of my mouth at that.

"The beginning of training will commence in ten seconds," an automated voice echoed between us, "we request of all of you not to move for your safely." As if anyone would dare to move now.

I risked a glance downward. I had read every book available about Training, yet that hadn't halted my astonishment at the sight before me.
Hovering lasers of red, green, and blue spread across the stone floor, creating a map. I was mesmerized by how the beams of color wove and interconnected around us.
Then, the lasers sunk through the ground. I nearly jumped at the booming sound of grinding stone. Dark, neatly cut fissures webbed between us. Soon, the small, perfectly cut blocks holding each girl slowly gravitated away from one another until there were gaps of the same size as each block between us. I tried not to fall; physical balance wasn't exactly a strong characteristic of mine.
Every head swiveled to the side as the large concrete divider split in half, the upper part rising into the ceiling and the lower sinking though the ground. Bafflement clouded my thoughts of rationality; what lay on the other side of the wall?

My eyes widened. What came into view was shocking. They too were assembled in rows of seemingly floating bricks themselves.
Boys.

It had been forbidden to come to contact with a male of the same grade for the last two years, immediately after Memory Dissolution. They seemed to be just as surprised.

I began to understand as the individual stone pieces on our side of the room merged with theirs until there were alternating lines of boys and girls.
We stopped. I tried to keep my breath low, look forward, and keep my chin up as I wondered what they were to do now.
I had barely noticed the screen of lasers that had scanned the entire room.

Then, the same monotonous automated voice echoed between us again, "we advise you all not to panic." As if that were possible now. "An explanation will be given by your instructor. The individuals for each group have been determined and will be descended in order. Please promptly step off your platform and make your way to the designated area as indicated. Your patience is appreciated."

Confusion was clear on their faces as set of both girls and boys slowly descended.
"Group one." the voice rung out.
Then again, except with another group, only this group seemed more composed as they knew what was to be expected.
"Group two."

Then I felt a rumble under my feet. Oh no. Panic ran through me as I tried form a nondescript expression on my face. My platform moved down and I was surrounded by four concrete walls, not including the brick beneath my feet. I wasn't claustrophobic, but I felt trapped and confined. I touched the walls. A ring of light appeared at my feet and gradually rose around me until I was surrounded by open air again. In front of me, several of my grade were in the same position.
"Group three." I heard above me.
The bricks finally came to a stop and two laser induced arrows pointed forward. I stepped off of the platform and began walking in that direction.

A seemingly discreet sound pricked my ears. It came from behind me. I kept forward, but my mind raced.
I knew that sound...
It was the treading of footsteps, but not just any usual ones. There was a familiar swiftness and pace about them that made me wonder, what if...

Then a tall, unforgettable silhouette walked around me.

My heart stopped in shock.
No.
It couldn't be.
No.
Yet undeniably....
No.
No.
No.

It was him.