Stargazer (Write Awards 2013)

Chapter 1 (Write Awards 2013)

As the rain decided to let up over the city, I watched outside through our window. Large chunks of machinery moved throughout the black streets, searching. Searching for one rule breaker to punish. One was all it took before hell was unleashed upon us all.

"June pulled back those blinds!" My mother snapped as she entered the kitchen, wiping her hands on a used dishcloth. Yanking the blinds shut, I swivelled around facing our small lounge room. A single white lounge sat in front of a TV that was built into the thin wall. My mother was busy cleaning the spotless room ready for inspection. They were due at any moment and my mother knew that but still she wasn't dressed, her simple dust covered dress was torn and her hair was loosely tied at the side of her face in an attempt to get it out of her eyes.

"Rune!" she cried upstairs. A small thump later followed and my sister was bounding down the staircase and toward my mother. Her black hair straightened down over her shoulders. She wore exactly the same as me. A single white dress with delicate lace sown into the seams.

"What?" she questioned, her eyes darting to the door. Just because she was ten didn't mean she didn't know what was coming. My mother was busy polishing the glass on our wall. It was a single picture of us as a family. My mother and father were hugging each other with genuine smiles on their faces. Me, Rune and Storm were laughing at something the cameraman said long before everything turned to hell.

"Tie your hair up!" Mother scolded, eyeing Rune's long hair that was hanging loose on her shoulders opposed to it being tied up like it was meant to. Blushing, Rune yanked her hair up into two side ponytails. I walked over and helped her making sure that they were perfect on either side.

"Please make sure that the gifts are still warm." Mother yelled as she ran out of the room, presumably going to get ready. Grabbing Runes hand, we walked into the kitchen.

A long table of warm bread, jams, soups and a square piece of shimmering material sat over to the side of our small kitchen, taking up more than half of the room. Grabbing a temperature gauge I made sure everything was the correct temperature.

Suddenly, the doorbell rang, signalling there arrival. Time almost froze as I looked at Rune, her hazel eyes staring in fright at the door. Mother walked out wearing a dress like ours, her blonde hair up in a tight bun. Scrambling to keep up, we walked and made sure everything was ready before mother pressed her thumb to the keypad next to the door.

The door slide open and standing upright and alert were the Guards. Black shiny metal called Olipuim was expertly made to protect them from all sorts of weapons gleamed at us. Silver glass was spread over their eyes as they stared down at us. Guns sat lightly in there expert hands.

"Starr family." The soldier in the middle stated. Plastering on a fake smile, my mother welcomed them into our home.

"Yes. Welcome to our home." She said, eyeing the guns. Imminently they walked into the lounge room and began. I was left staring after them with the front door wide open as Rune followed after mother, like the perfect family. A sound picked up from outside and I turned into the night. A black street with black houses sat next to us and the purple moon did nothing to illuminate.

Down the road, I saw the metallic glean of the Guards as they dragged away a young girl. Her arms were flying wildly trying to get out of their impenetrable grip as her family screamed out her name, but unable to do anything to get her back. Throwing the girl into the van, I heard the click and the van vanished. I knew it would teleport to the local prison before they will kill the girl at sunrise.

Pressing my thump to the pad I watched as the moon slowly faded into nothing before turning and helping my mother.

"Rooms clean." One of the soldiers commented before turning over to the food table, I walked into the kitchen and watched as they eyed the food.