In Your Dreams

Chapter 1: Juniper (Lillian's POV)

Lillian's POV

 

I found myself staring out the train car window. My forehead was pressed up against the glass, as I stared out onto the countryside that flew by. A new chapter of my life had just begun, and it wasn't one I particularly liked. A bump in the track caused my head to smack against the window, probably creating one heck of a bruise. What was my luck?

My family had never been particularly wealthy. There was the usual struggle when it came to taxes or debts. But in the past year, It had become chaos. After my parents divorce, and my Mother losing her job. We found ourselves living in shitty apartments. Until one fateful day, which just happened to be today.

There were always policemen searching the streets for people struggling in poverty. They said it was to pay off debt. That was the reason they arrested innocent people, and shipped them off to labs to be tested like lab rats. Even if they had owed billions of dollars, no one deserves to go off to those camps. The program had only begun a few years ago, and it seemed to rip the country apart. At least for those in poverty.

My mother, younger sister, and I had been hiding. Like most whom should be considered "poor". I knew it was only a while before we were taking to the camps ourselves. The only friend I'd ever had, Paris, her family had been sent to a camp only months ago. I'd found a note she'd left. Scribbled last second, before she was hauled off.  It wasn’t too sweet, or poetic for that matter. Just a simple: “Got shipped off to hell. Good Luck.”

Sweet shy Paris. She would never even think about harming even a fly. We couldn’t have been anymore opposite, with her olive skin tone and dark locks. Not to mention her quiet and timid personality. But there was one thing we’d always had in common. She had a addiction to adrenaline. From creepy stories, to crazy stunts. We’d always enjoy being in one others presence.

If only we still had a way of communicating... I would tell her that we in fact did not have very good “luck”. Considering that we had gotten ourselves “shipped to hell” only a few weeks later. And that the trains were actually nicer than I expected...

I felt the train screech to a stop. Causing my body to shift forward and hit the chair of the person in front of me. I cringed as the girl ahead of me turned around to give me an evil glare, before turning back around. So much for making friends, I thought sarcastically.

I saw policemen leading people off of the train, and I gradually made my way outside. When my feet made contact with the concrete, I immediately wanted to dash back inside of the train. In front of us was a very intimidating looking hospital building. Or at least what used to be a hospital building, and was now transformed into a camp.

I followed the mass of people into the building, looking around at my fellow residents. Some looked as young as ten, others as old as sixty. None of them seemed thrilled to be entering the camp. Some has scowls or frowns, but no one protested. They all knew better than to make a fuss.

As we entered the building, I felt an immediate rush of heat.  Great, I thought, they keep this place at like eighty degrees. The hallways were painted a light shade of violet and had a few painting scattering the walls. It was no different from your average hospital. Doors and new rooms every couple feet. Each had a identification number, because they didn’t bother learning your name.

Shoes squeaked against the tile as we silently made our way through the hallways. We finally reached what seemed to be the front desk. One after one, people would exchange a few words with the lady’s at the desk, and then be handed a number. My turn was rapidly approaching as I waited.

“Hi.” A little voice called behind me.

“Hi?” I said turning around to find a girl who looked no older than nine.