They Chose Me (Draft 1)

Chapter 5

Chapter 5

                Blinding light soars through the windows as I pull my covers away to step out of bed. When I shower and dress, I realize that I have no idea what to do. I feel much more refreshed than I have in years. After that dream last night, I have a strong determination to help this rebellion as much as I can. Especially since my family told me to. But I still don’t understand the whole “they chose you” thing, or any of it, for that matter. My mind scrambles trying to ignite some sort of idea like you might stoke a fire. Nothing. Maybe it’s one of the philosophical fate ideologies where you just have to wait and see.

 I take out the directory and look for the entry room. I walk over to the kitchenette with a phone sitting on the last counter. I dial it and press the phone to my ear to hear the monotonous sound of the phone ringing.

                “Hello?” Ted asks.

                “Hi, Ted. It’s Emma. Am I allowed to do whatever, or do I have to go somewhere or something? Plus, none of my questions really have been answered yet,” I say.

                “Oh, of course, Emma. I’ll send Landon your way and he’ll bring you down. Unless, undeniably, you remember your way?”

                “I think I can make it back myself,” I answer. We agree that I should come right away so I can catch up on my schedule. Once I hang up, I open up the fridge for a quick snack to have along the way. Although when I open it, there are only snacks like fruit, pretzels, organic chips that supposedly, “Make your life the healthy life!” There is water too. That’s different.

                As I make my way outside, I notice the road has greatly improved its popularity. People start looking away from the person they were talking to so they can fix their eyes on me. Okay, this is definitely not awkward. I hesitated a little and started feeling skittish. I never really sought out attention. At school, I would always sit in the back and just listen. Attention continuously was… well, uncomfortable. Each time someone might look at me, I felt like they could sink right into my brain, read all my thoughts on the horrors that went on every month at home, the guard visits, my no longer alive mother and sister, the caution my dad and I had to take. There were whispers too. I heard words like liar and rebel. Sayings like, “She shouldn’t be here.” “She’s unsanitary to our classroom.” “She’s going to make the guards come!”  Students would reply by saying how my mom would come back to haunt them for treating a Roche with disrespect. I didn’t dare show that their words got to me, even if they did just a little.  Let them see their mom or sister die before their eyes. Let them live out of fear. In reality, I didn’t want them to go through that, though. Even the meanest of the meanest don’t deserve it. Only a rebel would by our government.

                “Emma! Hey!” I shake myself out of my head and see Landon walking down the street with his typical grin. Some people murmur. I only hope I don’t have to relive the daily classroom over again. Landon stops grinning like he found a one hundred dollar bill once he sees me. If humans could smell emotions, they would definitely recommend a shower. I must be radiating awkwardness. Landon comes over and puts an arm around my shoulders which makes me blush a little, even though he probably meant to appease the other rebels.