Survival

IV.

I awake to a bright hut. It's quiet for this time of day. Almost too eerily quiet. I sit up and put my boots on, heading outside.

Everyone stands in two parallel lines with a large parting in the middle. When I near the area, I see a formation of guards walking around a familiar redhead. The guards stop walking and separate to reveal Penelope.

"Hello, Carson," she greets in a rather serious tone.

"What are you-" She cuts me off.

"Is there somewhere we can speak... discreetly?"

"Sure... follow me," I say awkwardly. The guards follow close behind her as I lead them all to the 'office' hut. She stands across from me and the guards wait outside. "What the hell is going on?"

She sighs. "Carson, it has come to our attention that the actions that you conveyed yesterday were both inappropriate and unacceptable."

I raise an eyebrow. "What are you saying, Penny?"

She gulps. "You've been suspended from your duties as division leader."

I feel a spark of anger grow inside of me. "What? No, you can't do that. You just... you can't."

"It was a unanimous vote made by the Brokers. We believe such intolerable acts displayed not just by a random citizen, but by a division leader should be taken into account and that the convict be punished. It is highly undesirable that someone who is looked to for guidance be let go for performing such actions."

"But who's gonna take care of everything? Who's gonna stand up for these people?"

"No one needs to stand up for anyone, Carson. The division system is fine and you must stop tampering and interfering with it before your suspension becomes a punishment. And your position will be given to your brother for two months until it is returned to you."

"No, please. Don't give it to him. You know Alec. He's a narcissistic, egotistical jerk. If you give him even an ounce of power, he'll abuse it. Why not give it to someone else, like Oliver?"

"Oli can't handle that kind of pressure. And he would only do what you say anyways. Don't think we didn't decide this before voting."

"Alright, so I'm suspended. That's it? You done here? Because I, being a 'normal citizen' must go hunting for the livestock we, oh yeah, don't have. Hm... if only those Brokers would grant us some food."

"Are we really back on this, Carson?"

"No. We aren't. Because I'm not a division leader. I'm a citizen. And I just happen to be thinking my average citizen thoughts out loud."

"Why are you being such an ass about the situation?"

"Because one, your brother is the one who instigated the whole thing, I was only defending myself and two, it's really pissing me off how you don't even see why I'm doing all of this. Everything I've done is for those people out there. They deserve much more than they're given, and the fact that you only view us as heartless animals is annoying."

She's silent. "You can go. Call Alec in here."

I don't say anything. I just storm out of the hut and walk through the crowd that was waiting outside.

When I spot Alec, I lock eyes with him and nod my head towards the hut. He shoots me a confused look and walks up to me. "What the hell is going on?"

"Penelope wants to talk to you," I say monotonously.

"About what?"

"Just go."

I walk angrily through the crowd, only to be greeted by Oliver, who stops me in my tracks.