Decoded

Chapter 1

"Athena, can I please kiss you, I've wanted to for so long" Ares said as he started to lean into me, his dark blue eyes were so comforting, his dark chestnut hair was that perfectly fixed-messy look, and his plump lips were coming closer and closer, they were right about to make contact when *BEEP* *BEEP* *BEEP* I jolted awake. Why couldn't I stop dreaming about my best friend in that way? Oh, maybe has something to do with the fact that I was in love with him since I skipped second grade and went directly to third. He just has this way about him, so soldier like. Then again, his name was the Greek God of war.

"Ena, come down for your birthday breakfast, you have to go down to City Hall soon." my mother shouted from downstairs in the kitchen. Ten years ago to the date, our "amazing" leader decided to add a proclamation to our declaration that stated every person, on their seventeenth birthday must go to City Hall and get some stupid barcode thing and is automatically drafted into the International Military. Awesome.

Reluctantly, I rolled out of bed and went to my closet; sure I could have just used my my phone and use the closet app, that lets you go through your closet and you just tap whatever you wanted and then BAM you were magically wearing it. I thought it was just a reason to be even lazier. I grabbed my skinny jeans, my turquoise cami, and my grey cardigan. Ares was taking me. I put on a bit of base, eyeliner, and mascara.

As I walked down stairs, I could smell the freshly squeezed orange juice, the homemade biscuits and gravy, the homemade hashbrowns, and the farm fresh eggs. The table was set for five, my mom, my dad, Ares, myself, and my older sister who was in Eden as an Airman. Ares had taken his usual place, since he was here for both breakfast and supper, he didn't really get along with his parents too well, especially when his brother went AWOL. My dad, was behind his tablet reading, my mom and I didn't like tablets, we preferred the real things. My mom was setting out plates, and as I took my place --next to Ares-- I noticed the white box with the red, white, and blue ribbon, I think it was the colors of this old place called America, there was also a note that said, " Happy 17th Birthday Ena! I love you. This was mine when I joined the military. Now, it is passed on to you. Love always, Granny Meggers."

"What did Granny Meggers give you, Ena?" Ares asked. I slowly opened the box, because Granny Meggers died a few years ago, I wanted to keep the box and note in one piece. It was her St. Christopher's necklace. She loved it so much. A tear escaped my eyes. I held it up to show Mom, Dad, and Ares. My dad dropped his tablet. It made a loud bang on the floor. I think it might have cracked honestly. My mom gave him a funny look as she gave me my food. He had this look of confusion and a mixture of anxiety. What was his problem?

"Aw man. Thats so awesome! I'm jealous. Granny Meggers gave me her old rubber band bracelet thing." Ares said. He wore that bracelet religiously, even though the colors have faded, you can still tell that it was worn, not because of force, but because of free will. My sister had gotten her old high school graduation ring. She kept the ring in her box upstairs in her room. She didn't want it to be lost in battle.

I slipped the necklace on as my phone vibrated. It was a text. It was a text from dad. Thats weird, it said, " Ena, please keep that on you at all times. Granny Meggers said it was for the one like her, a fighter. DO NOT LET THEM SEE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" I knew exactly who he meant. I looked at him and nodded in agreement. The necklace will be hidden by the ribbon I will have to wear at City Hall.

An hour later, Ares and I were in his car on the way to City Hall. We were about a good forty-five minutes from there. " What did ya get last night?" I asked, and he knew exactly what I meant.

"International Marines." he replied. I kept looking straight. "I made your dad a promise. I promised him that if we were to get into the same branch, I would keep you safe...... Even if that meant sacrificing my own life. And I mean it Ena."

I was shocked. Ares grimenced. "Did it hurt? Ya know, them putting your barcode in your forearm."

"Hurt like hell. Yours will be sore as fuck tomorrow though. Mine is. For a two by three rectangle, hurts like a mother fucker."

"I'm sorry Ares. This is bullshit though." I said hitting the dash, right where there was a taped picture of him and Adonis. His ex-girlfriend. She drove me insanely jealous, because she somehow found out that I was in love with Ares and she was all over him every damn second of every day they were together. I hadn't noticed he had pulled the car over.

"Here, good luck Ena. I'll be back here in 3 hours."

"But I thought it only takes an hour and a half?"

"It does, but I know you too well Ena haha" and with that he drove off. I stood there, shaking like there was an earthquake, and only I could feel it. I could easily run away, but Dad was right, Granny Meggers wouldn't give me her necklace if it didn't mean something to the International Military. I had to figure it out. I walked up those fifty-eight steps, and told the lady outside by the ribbon table, "Athena Megan Ryan reporting in. Date of birth, November twenty-third, two thousand and ten." I stood at attention like the way high school had trained us.

"Here is your ribbon, wear it at all times. Follow the signs, they tell you where to go. You will be drafted into the International Marines. You may go inside and fill out the paperwork. We thank you for your services in advance." she handed me a plain white ribbon. I walked inside and follow the signs to the recruiter's office. I was Private Ryan now.