Falsely happy shades of blue, emerald, yellow, red, and fuschia color this messed up world we all call home. Here, in the United Colonies, newborns are edited to fit this so-called perfect world we live in. Exactly 500 years ago the government celebrates the anniversary with an elegant party every year since a French scientist, Monsieur Alex Kuzibidon figured out how to genetically edit a human. He used a technique called CRISPR where something called CAS9 acts like scissors and can cut out unwanted features in a person's DNA and replace the cut DNA with a new and desired clip of DNA. When this was figured out the public was infuriated about the idea of the government having the ability to genetically edit people without needing their permission. Anyway, the public decided to riot, and eventually they lost to the Republic. The rest is history.
Now, all children must have a name starting with a vowel, and they are edited to have blond hair and blue eyes. The girls of one age must be exactly the same height and the boys of one age must be the same height. You need to have exactly five freckles on your nose, you need to be tanned so you're in between the shade of beige and a subtle oat color. You must have an IQ number of 140 exactly, five or more points off and you must be banished to the Outside. School kids must wear a peppy blue skirt or pair of shorts, bright green colors the button-up tee shirts the children have to wear, and the boys must wear a yellow bow tie while the girls tie a yellow bow in their perfect blonde ponytail.
My name is Justine, and I'm hoping to change this world.
I was born 15 years ago and was one of two that was not genetically modified at birth. I have dark brown hair, way more freckles than only five, silver eyes, I have more of an eggnog look than a beige or oat complexion, and I'm taller than what's considered ok.
Since I wasn't genetically modified I was instantly living with my mom and just running around, trying to stay hidden from the government. The first four years were easy. My mom was still alive and helped me learn to survive in both the Outside and the Inside. But then, one night, she died. I try not to think about it.
I've been on the run my whole life, and I know the ropes by now. I know how to run up buildings, I'm great with weapons-both homemade and weapons made by the government. And I'm pretty great at eavesdropping on the government leaders.
Recently, I learned about another person who wasn't genetically modified. Apparently he's in the top two of most wanted in all of the
Colonies. I'm the other wanted person. I've been trying to find him since. No luck so far.
YOU ARE READING
The Unusuals
SciencefictionI wrote this in 7th grade, so there are a few cringey parts but I do think it's really good other wise. Also, there was a word limit so it's a fairly short read. This is a dystopian novel about genetically editing humans with a fair portion of roman...
