All Cloaked Up For You

Chapter 1 - Sophia

"There are things I want in life, to be successful," My mom said. As a young girl, I took her quote very seriously. I worked hard in the fields of the wasteland and ace my grades at school. I was 14 years old when I realized mom's quote meant to be rich, not to work hard for what you want. I realized everyone in the wasteland has one goal, to get loaded. I thought very differently of people in the wasteland, I am happy to be poor. Luxury items are just bags or clothes, we already have clothes and bags.

I watched my mom stealing luxury items from the city and bringing them to the wasteland all for herself. I didn't want to question it because we are poor. Many of us needed these items. Neighbors fighting for my mom's items and always rioting with mom. Wasteland is full of poor people and we have many things against folks in the city because they are born rich. We only have something against those folks because they always eat full, we eat less. Wasteland is also jealous of the city because of luxurious living and how clean they are.

Everywhere, I saw the same sight - a people driven to desperate means by their poverty. I saw them scavenging for food in the fields, fighting over scraps of clothes and bags. They had become greedy, hoarding whatever they could find and refusing to share with their fellow poor. I had seen this before, in other places, and knew that it would only lead to more suffering. Here in the wasteland, where people are left with nothing, yet still seeking more. I wished I could help them - but I had nothing to give. All I could do was watch as the poor of the wasteland descended into greed and despair. 

Us poor are always discriminated against, the rich called us low rats and dirty chowders. Except for me, I was a bright light in a bleak and forgotten wasteland. Despite the destitute environment I lived in, I was determined to make something of myself and had a passion for learning. With nothing but a few books and my sheer determination, I studied hard and managed to ace my classes in the wasteland. My intelligence and dedication were undeniable and, as a result, I quickly became one of the top students in the school. I was constantly praised by my teachers for my intelligence and was even able to help my peers with their studies. My hard work eventually paid off and I was accepted into a prestigious school in the city. 

The room was filled with the sound of pencils scratching and keyboards clicking, as the students of the prestigious private school took the final exam. All eyes were on me, who was not only the wildest in the class, but also the poorest. Even though the other students had access to the best tutors and resources, I managed to stay ahead of them all year. I would prove to them once again that I was just as intelligent, if not more so, than the other students. I worked diligently on the test, my dark eyes flashing with determination, and my pencil moving as if of its own volition. I work like a dog, day and night living off coffee in a dirty cup. 

Smart like my father, I am Sophia Reynolds. I'm not scared of this crazy wasteland. I'm only scared if I am not able to make wasteland better before I die. Wasteland is about survival, embracing a throat-cutting mentality. I'm a resilient 16-year-old girl, and I know what I want. It's not about the bag or clothes. My heart is untouched by the topic of greed. I want myself as an example of how Wasteland should stop rioting and share resources with others so we can stop this murderous wasteland and make another city. 

Sterling, a city, where the rich live, is concrete like its skyscrapers and penthouses, nothing like the wasteland and their dewy brown river. We live in normal houses with stolen luxury items for our house décor. Everything is clean but the water and food. Our mayor in the wasteland doesn't want to do anything about it. The rich in the city have it easier. Their government isn't corrupt and they have a good food and plumbing system.

 Every day when it was time for school. I dressed up in my uniform and a messy bun, I had to keep my clothes top notched because if it was dirty, the teachers would put me out of the class or make me go to the office and get a new one. It's fine, I can always get a new uniform but I don't want to waste time getting a new uniform. I have other things to do, get to class, take neat notes, read my books, and pass many exams. I don't have time for friends, I only have time for school and wasteland. 

I would always bring 3 big water bottles to the city because they have clean and fresh water, clearer than a diamond. I filled them all three every day. 1 water bottle was for me, 1 for my mother, and the other one was for Wasteland. I always pour the water out into a very sealed container at home. Mom is very proud of me for bringing clean water. People in the wasteland seem glad for clean water. I'm not glad though. I feel, useless. I need to make a plumbing system quick, filling water bottles won't help people enough. 

Mayor Tumbleweed seems mad about me bringing clean water. He even banned me from bringing clean water. He told me, "Look Sophia, you are smart, that's why I let you go to the city to learn. That doesn't mean for you to give people in the wasteland what you want. You are sent there by the wasteland's government, also to be loyal to the wasteland's government, not the people. I let you have one chance to behave yourself" He said. I stopped giving clean water from then on. I feel so bad. I need to overthrow him soon. People in the wasteland can't live in greed and despair forever.  

At night, I roam free. I grabbed my bow and arrow and aimed it at a tree. I feel an urge for something. I want to kill and overthrow Mayor Tumbleweed. The feeling of wind and the dirt smelling like blood hits against me. The city was so clean and smelled less foul. Screams are so common here in the wasteland, that the city often smiles. Rich kids never will know what is going on here. I hope everyone can help each other. I look down at myself, it will never happen. We live in a city where society is divided.