Dystopia

Chapter 2

Alex smiled in relief at being back in her own body. Her ratty shoes with the white tips labeled, "Converse  All-Stars." She had found these things years ago while living on the streets. She loved them. She even went out to find another pair that was entirely black that she wore on night-ops. She looked at Elijah and realized she had underestimated his height. He was a good six to seven inches taller than her with a lean yet muscled body. He looked sickly pale. "Elijah, are you okay?"

"No. Yes. No. Not really. Who are you?"

"My name is Alex. I work with Sector 18. Come with me. I have an old hideout that I made a pit stop by to drop off my stuff. I have food."

He looked around at the barren, sand-filled land around him nodding as he realized he had no better idea or plan. He nodded at me and she saw the gratitude in his eyes. "Thank you. For taking me with you," gratitude coated his words and his face.

Alex looked down. "Come on ," she said, " we need to get to that city." And she pointed into the distance. She saw Elijah nod wearily. "It isn't as far as it looks, I swear."

Elijah looked at her with complete trust that disarmed her as he stated," I trust you."

They began their trek in silence. She pondered his words. How does he trust me? He doesn't even know me. She was mystified and glanced at the boy out of the corner of her eyes. He was looking better. "Have you ever thought about getting red tips on your hair," she suddenly blurted out.

He looked at her, baffled by the sudden question."I've thought about it. I just never had the chance to do it." He stated this plainly as if it were simple enough.

And really, it was that simple. In Dystopia, kids do not always have it easy. A lot are abandoned. Left to fend for themselves or die trying to. Alex looked down unsure of what to say. They contiued their journey in silence, neither one sure of what to say. Out of boredom, Alex practiced changing certain features of her appearance. She gave herself a peacock blue pixie cut, and glancing at him from the corner of her eyes under her long blue bangs asked," So, watcha think? Blue my color or nah?"

Elijah looked at her and then burst out laughing. After a moment Alex joined in too. "It looks great, but it is a little flashy don't you think?"

"Maybe a bit," she remarked as she winked at him and began changing her hair back to its normal dark brown.

Before long they reached the city. The city was rather old and run down. Old building crumbled while others had collapsed completely and lay on the ground in piles of rubble. A lot of the building were abandon, but Alex did not want to let her guard down. She knew the people who lived in Sectors like this were not above attacking travelers. Anything was food. Alex looked back frequently to make sure Elijah was still there. She made a couple dozen turns left and right before turning down an ally and beginning to climb up a stack of old crates and boxes to a window. "Come on. This is it," she announced as she worked her way through the window before helping Elijah through. "We can rest and eat here."

Once she got Elijah into the building, she helped him over the lonely chair in the corner of the rather gloomy room. He fell into the chair and took a deep breath and closed his eyes. Alex wordlessly stepped away to the packs on the floor and began rummaging through them for food. After a bit of digging, she managed to produce some crackers and a few granola bars. She stood up and brought the food to Elijah,"Here, eat this."

"Thank you," he mumbled in exhaustion. "Do you have food for yourself?"

"Yes, but we cannot stay here too long. Not all of the locals are friendly. And I am expected back at Sector 18. Well, we are if you want to come with me."

"How did you end up working with Sector 18? I know that is not your home sector."

Alex just stared at him. She had no clue what to say. She had no clue if she wanted to tell him. Her story was the same as just about everyone else's in Dystopia. Her's was not special. "You are right," she began hesitantly," 18 is not my home sector. When I was young, my dad left. It was me, my mom, and my brother. But my brother disappeared too. I have no clue what happened to him. One day he was there, the next he wasn't. After that year, my mom died and it was just me. I stole to eat. To have food. I had wanted posters for my thefts. And my new ability was coming in. I was eight. I really hate talking about this, just so you know."

"Just keep going."

"I left my home. Which was Sector 7. I left. And I did that for years hopping from sector to sector while learning to use my ability and learning how to fight. When I was ten, Sector 18 military found me. I was in bad shape. They told me they would give me food, water, protection, and training if I would work for them. As a ten year old living on the streets I was not really in any position to refuse that offer," she silent wiped the tears leaking from her eye away.

Elijah looked at her intently. "That took a lot of courage. To go through what you did and make it."

"It is Dystopia. Kids don't really have a choice," but even as she said this she knew she had not told him everything.

He nodded in agreement. " I guessed you came from one of the sectors farther north. Your too pale to be from further south."

"Will you come with me?"

He leaned forward with mischief sparkling in his eyes," I wouldn't  miss it."

She smirked back and began changing her hair back to peacock blue with long bangs and choppy pixie cut. Then she gathered up her pack with food, water, maps, and a small computer. "We have to get moving."

Elijah nodded and grabbed the other pack. Alex walked over the wall and moved an old frame stirring up dust revealing a small door. She opened and grabbed her knives and gun fastening them to her pants. Then she walked across the room to a bricked wall.

"What are you doing? I'm guessing your super power of changing your appearance doesn't allow you to float through walls."

"You are a lot less sassy when you are tired."

"I hear that a lot. But what are you doing?"

"We are going through the Tunnels. It's a network of underground roads. Fastest and safest way to get around. Only a select few know about them because no one was told when they were made. Sector 18 had to have its secrets too you know."

Alex pushed hard against the spot on the wall, and it groaned open letting a damp, musty smell fill the air.