The Central Alliance: A Dystopia

Train Stop

The sound of a person's voice echoes over the speaker as the train comes to a slowing stop.

"This your stop?"

"Yeah," I reply, gathering up my things.

"Do you have any plans?"

"For tonight?"

"Yes."

"I have to write an assignment. I assume you have the same assignment to do."

"If you mean the one on our advancing space crafts then yes. I have the same assignment to do, but hey that's what weekends are for." He shrugs as if the assignment is nothing but a speck of dust on his shoes.

"But shouldn't you finish it tonight?"

"No, I'll leave it for later."

"But that's not the right thing to do." He stopped and grinned again, taking out what he called a cigarette.

"Ah, that's cute," he smirked, puffing out smoke.

"Excuse me?"

"I said you're cute to think that. You're a naive little girl, still pure because you've never disobeyed the rules," he leaned in closer to me, the train slowing down even more, "you're obedient, which makes you all the more desirable." The train stopped. Ryder turned to face the automatic doors, he looked back and winked at me before heading out of the train. I followed after him, finally catching up to him at the elevator pod. He caught my stare as I reached him.

"What did you mean when you said desirable?"

"I was just teasing you, Fae. I assume you've never been teased before."

"I still don't know what you mean."

"Tell you what, you let me come back home with you and help me finish the project and I'll tell you what I mean." I hesitated, watching him step back into the pod. "Last chance, Fae."

"Deal," I reply, "I'll help you with your assignment."

"Then don't just stand there, hop in and let's get going." I nervously approached the pod. It was so small, I didn't think two people could press into the pod together. But just as I stood there, I felt Ryder grab me by my jacket and pull me inside, pressing himself between me and the glass lining of the pod as we were shot to the ground above us.