It's the year 2038 and a deadly virus has consumed the world for more than 14 years.
In Denmark, an unknown politician took it upon himself to create a safe space from the infected. As long as you abide by the 8 Obligations, you are allowed to live...
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Unlike other teenagers, I really hate when classes are cancelled. I watch as my fellow classmates shout and celebrates the fact that Ms. Grey are out sick for the day. Its only noon, so that means we are off from school three hours early. My heartbeat quickens and I can feel my skin getting damp from sweat. Anxiety sweat. While my classmates run out the doors on their way to freedom for the day, I hurry towards the nearest bathroom. Wanting to escape. Freedom isn't waiting outside those doors. Only fear and pain.
The only sense of freedom I have, is when I'm here. At school. Far away from home. Or with my best friend. But my dad doesn't want me to hang out with him. So, he punishes me if he finds out we have seen each other. He says that my friend is a bad influence, but I don't know why. I mean, I get why my dad thinks we are from different worlds, but I don't see him as a bad influence. Sure, he likes to push boundaries, but he is a really great guy.
My sister usually says that it's because our dad doesn't like the fact that my friend's father is a politician. That he hates authority figures because he knows that if someone notices what goes on in our home, he'll go to jail. But I don't know if that's true. I'm not sure it's that easy. And I don't think that she truly believes that either. Otherwise, she would have turned him in years ago.
I know she won't do anything now. Not anymore. Not after one of the guys in school forced himself on her, and she somehow got blamed for it. She's scared it will happen again. Now that she is seen as the girl who falsely accuses people of rape. I get it. I wouldn't want to say anything either. I'm afraid too, that people will say that it is her own fault that our father goes into her room at night.
In the end she had to move to another school. She couldn't live with seeing him every day, knowing that she probably wasn't the only one he had done It to. And I hate that I can't protect her. Not at home. Not in school. I feel useless to her.
Staring into the mirror above the sink, I notice that my face is burning red. I have to calm down, so the teachers don't notice and assume I'm sick. They will call my parents, and that's the worst thing they can do. Normally I can sneak in and hide in my room until mom yells for me or my sister to cook dinner. But not after yesterday. I'm sure he's waiting for me to come home. To continue my punishment.
My body shivers visibly and I splash some water in my face and try to shake off the feeling of fantom leather against my skin. Striking down and cutting into my flesh with every lash. The freshly wound on my back begins to ache again as if It's happening right now.
I have to get out of here and go somewhere else. I won't go home early. It just gives him more time to punish me for sneaking out to see my best friend yesterday. I know it was stupid, but he told me he needed to talk. Unfortunately, my dad entered my room just as I climbed out the window, and for a second, I wanted to jump. I knew the fall would hurt less than what he would do to me. And I was right. He is going to beat me with his belt every day for weeks. And every time he thinks I scream to loud or winches too much, he'll add ten more lashes to the count.
Still staring at my reflection, I make a decision. He isn't expecting me home for at least three hours, so I will go over to my friend's school and sneak in. I need to see him anyway. Not just to explain why I didn't show up yesterday, even though I'm pretty sure he knows why. But also to warn him like mom warned me.
Taking a deep breath, I hide the fear and terror that reflects in my eyes and leave the bathroom. I hurry outside and grab my bike. My best friend doesn't go to school here. He's a private school kid. A rich snob, according to my classmates, but that's just because they don't know him. He is nowhere near a snob. He's funny, and sarcastic and a complete badass, which is one of the reasons I love to hang out with him. Hs isn't afraid of anything, and he does whatever the hell he wants without fear of the consequences. I wish I were more like him. I admire him.
Once I arrive at the school, I send him a text. Telling him where I am and to come find me. And he does. Within minutes. No other kids are outside, which leads me to believe that he was skipping a class before I wrote, or that he left his class to come out here.
"Hey dude. You left school?" He walks up to me and offers me a beer that he pulls out of his backpack. Alcohol on school ground. You've got to love this guy.
"Yeah. The teacher is out sick. And I didn't wanna go home."
"That bad?" he opens the beer while watching me with a lifted eyebrow.
"Yeah... pretty bad..."
"I'm sorry, man. I shouldn't have asked you to come yesterday."
"It's okay. It was my own fault. I should have been faster." I smile and try to laugh, but no sound comes out.
"No, seriously. I'm sorry Mags. It was stupid."
I grab his shoulder and gives it a light squeeze. There's nothing I can say to make him feel better. Not when he's like this. When he takes my problems on his shoulders. I hate when he does that. And I love him for it too.
For a moment we sit silently on the grass, sipping our beers. Occasionally, he shoots a glance at me, like he's debating to say something. Something he doesn't think I want to hear.
"Dude!" I turn towards him when he stars at me for the fifteenth time. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing... it's just..."
"MR. LIGHTWOOD!" He is cut short by a voice behind us. "That better not be alcohol in your hand!"
He downs his beer quickly and places the can on the grass before lifting his hands to show the teacher behind us.
"No Mam. Nothing in my hands." He burps loudly afterwards as if he tries to indicate it's in his stomach now. I can't help but laugh.
"Get up! You are coming with me to the principal's office. Let's see how fun you think it is when we call your parents." The woman grabs him by the arm and pulls him up. "And you, too." The women gesture towards me, and for a second, I consider fleeing. But I decide to go with them. At least it will take them a while to figure out who I am. Especially if I don't tell them my name.
I stand up and follow them. She isn't holding his arm anymore. He is just following her with a grin on his face. We can hear the teacher muttering under her breath.
