Two Worlds (Two Worlds #1)

Two Worlds

In a bright classroom one summer's day, a loud sigh was heard. As if that wasn't enough, it was soon followed by yet another one. The complaining sighs reached all the way to the teacher's desk, but no one bothered anymore. Everyone was familiar with young Romeo's opinion about class.

He sure was a peculiar boy, that Romeo. The rest of the boys were always eager to learn new things about the world, and it had almost turned into some form of competition. The most popular subject was 'Women', that appeared in both social studies and biology class. Women were known for being substantially different from animals, yet they weren't at all like men. The two species were supposedly able to communicate without larger problems, but for as long as man could produce memories, they had been at war with each other. "The World" was divided into two parts; Land of Men and Land of Women. That was what marked the beginning of their truce, and since then, no real war had occurred between the two species.

However, that was all Romeo knew. No one his age had ever encountered a woman. Truth was, most men lived and died without ever even taking a glance on the infamous women species.

Women had always been their sworn enemy. As soon as a boy was born, he was raised to hate the land of women and its inhabitants. It was natural.

Yet for some reason, Romeo wasn't born with that hatred.

The teacher threw a glance at the clock on the wall and shut his book.

"Class is dismissed", he said with his austere voice. "You're free to do what you want."

The boys obediently rose from their seats and put the books back in their bags before bidding their goodbyes. Most of the guys had already left the classroom when Romeo was finished, and that was when their educator took his chance to ask the boy to wait a bit. Romeo sighed again.

"Romeo", the old man said with a patient voice. "Are you really that displeased with class?"

His weathered face took on a kind expression when facing his defiant pupil. Romeo hated that look.

"I really do not have anything against learning, mr Mortimer", Romeo said. "But I do find it a tad bit tedious to spend my days by a desk, listening to what other people has to tell me."

Romeo's rather formal way of speaking often surprised people at their first encounter, especially when compared to other boys his age. It was something he had learned from his guardian who was a bit old-fashioned, and it was excessively rare for him to depart from his way of speaking. It was a part of him, after all.

In front of him, Mr Mortimer had an obscure expression.

"Then tell me boy, how would you prefer it?" The educator tried to act understanding, but his irritation was a clear matter. Even so, he had been the one who told his pupils to always speak up for their own opinions.

Romeo spent a few seconds thinking before answering the old man's question.

"I would like to experience them", he then said. "Mr Mortimer, do you not think that it is a whole lot more exciting to learn about the world through experience?"

A faint light had been lit in his otherwise so apathetic eyes. He thought that maybe, maybe someone in this world would be able to understand his desires.

However, that light wasn't allowed to burn for long.

"Romeo..." The teacher straightened his back and looked at the boy with serious eyes. "I assume that you've heard the expression 'living beyond the frames'...?"

Suddenly, the young boy almost stopped breathing. He didn't think he'd cross the line. If he was suspected for treason, what would they do to him?

Their world had frames designed for a moderate lifestyle. It was all they needed, nothing more. Men who tried to step out of the frame were unwanted in their society. To act against the Decisions, the laws of their world, was like asking for a death sentence.