The Eradication Construct

Chapter 4

Chapter 4

Vanis is the shape of a large arena. The wall circles around to the other side of the city. The stairs led to the top of Vanis; I could see trees and tall buildings for miles. I held my breath, absorbing the moment. We begin to walk down another flight of old – looking stairs to get to the ground.

"Come on-we don't have long." My mother instructs, I savor the moment once more and followed behind. The stairs lead into a forest on, what looks like, the outskirts of town. They are dark and have a smell of dew emanating out. Vines hang low sweeping the muddy ground whenever the wind blew. The trees are a vibrant green and the grass - a deep, dark shade. Leaves rustle when small, furry animals run by our feet. I observe the forest, jaw-widened, admiring the lively colors. "We're in the outskirts of town and it shouldn't be long before we reach civilization." She was reading from a map that her nurse gave to her.

"How big do you think these woods are?" I ask, not that I'm afraid of being here – which I'm not – I just wanted to make conversation.

"I don't think we should be walking much longer – another five minutes, maybe."

"Where is your assigned housing?"

"House C, Section 7." I sigh in relief – at least we weren't separated; I'd heard about President Krimmley doing that once in school from my teacher, but I think she was just trying to scare us.

"I was assigned the job of being house patrol. All they do is maintain the house and make sure everything goes smoothly; nothing I haven't been doing for the past sixteen years.

"They have Isonine plugged into their brains. It's a drug used to put people to rest. She is fully alive, just resting. The drug virtually rewires their brain to make them believe their awake and fully conscious - when they're not. They see themselves walking and talking and making friends, whereas we see them hooked to a monitor."

"Do you like it here?" my mother asks.

"I'll let you know a little later." I reply.

"Yeah – I feel the same way."

The forest comes to an end as rocky flooring begins. Theres a series of box cars linked together, winding around each other like the chains on a bike.

A burning orange ray reflected off of the marble floor as we made it into the housing area. "The outskirts are over; welcome to paradise. I bid you peace, purity, and prosperity." She says, mocking Nurse Jennings – I giggle.

I walk upon the solid floor tipping slowly, staring at my reflection in the floor. Tall, white buildings stand in the distance. Large homes stood sturdy, on either side of the broad road we walked on. The concrete was painted a shimmering white, gleaming incandescently with the sun. The air smells of daisy and freshly cleaned linen – it reminds of new years when our new clothes were distributed. Vanis is beautiful. The street was quiet and stiff, peaceful even.

A single bell rang, high pitched, echoing wall to wall through Vanis.

People file slowly out of their front doors with stern faces and into street where my mother and I are. They remained silent; the only sound being made was the ruffling of their white clothes and the subtle click of their shoes against the mirroring floor. We were shoved into the crowd by people joining together in a herd. They all walked in rhythmic footsteps in the same direction. Out of a seemingly large home, came three teenagers, walking formally down the steps of their front porch. The only young man of the three walks with a fierce look in his eyes, filled with anger and irritation. The two young ladies walk hand-in-hand into the flow of people.

"Where are we going?" I ask a young lady walking near me. The young man walks closely to me, facing forward.

"Where are we going?" I ask again, louder to get anyone's attention.