Decoded

Prologue

I live in a "Utopian" society, called Shelmonlon. My town sucks. I don't mean this as a typical seventeen year old high school girl. I mean this as in the fact, that on November 23rd 2017, they decided to implement a new idea of order and rule. I was in the third grade and I had just turned seven, I had skipped second grade, when our dear ruler came on the the giant wall of a backboard and said,"As of now, a new proclamation has been added to our declaration. The first part states: That once a citizen of Selmonlon has reached the age of seventeen, they must go before the town hall, and receive their specialized barcode, that shall become apart of their bodies.". The second part is what made all of us go silent, especially our teacher.
" The second part states: Once receives their barcode, they are automatically drafted into the new International Military. They do not get to choose what branch; International Army, International Marines, International Air Force, or International Navy, they will go into what branch needs new recruits. I regret to inform you all, that those who are drafted, will not be able to choose the career that they desire. They shall receive a career in the field that has the available space. Thank you for your time. Please return to your daily lives."

The screen went blank. Ares was my best friend, also my secret crush, had an older brother that was turning 17 tomorrow. He had this look of complete and utter devastation. "Athena, did he really mean that? Bubby just can't go. I need him!", he started to cry and i let him use my shoulder, literally. As the day came to a close, our teacher had typed us each special notes for us to keep in our rooms to remind us when we needed to go to city hall. She had a tear in her eye.

Ares and I were walking home in complete silence. I had to wait ten years to the day, but Ares had just turned eight yesterday, only nine more years. I felt sorry for him. The barcodes weren't there to protect us, they were put into action because our ruler wanted tract us, and monitor us, and force us to become mindless drones only capable of one thing and one thing only. It was pointless. The more I thought about it, the more it made less and less sense. "Ares, I refuse to do it. I refuse to become so mindless, that I don't have a say in my future."

"But, Athena, how would you escape it?"

"Easily, I just won't go to city hall in ten years. I'll hide out somewhere. Not that complicated, Ares."

At least that is what I hoped....