I'd always felt alone despite my large family of 7. My 2 brothers always thoroughly involved in sports, my 2 sisters vain as ever and my mom and stepfather who worked constantly to support our large family. It was a nightmare; you'd think as the youngest child, at the age of 13, I’d receive a little more attention but nope, I was unwanted. So I decided to run away.
I'd been on the run for just about 3 years. It was definitely not easy between the almost always dark streets, the scarce amount of food and water and the ongoing war between the south and west in Dark Capitol. Growing up in Dark Capitol had always been tough; we lived in small brown, identical, shabby houses all aligned in rows while Light Capitol lived in luminosity. Light Capitol was envied; they lived in sleek brightly coloured high-rises, never starving and always employed. She'd only heard of their glamorous lives and yet she longed to be a part of it. When she had the opportunity, she snuck into the library to read about Luminescence (it was the corporation that ran the whole world, keeping it up and running with food, water and artificial light) because she wanted to work there when she was older.
Weeks after my 16th birthday I worked up the courage to convince myself to apply for apprenticeship at Luminscence hoping to at least receive a job in Light Capitol, however crummy. When I reached Light Capitol my breath was taken away. Lights shined, dazzling people walked down the street hurriedly in magnificent costumes and the buildings were too spectacular to describe.
When she slid inside Luminscence though the revolving doors, she immediately spotted cameras and intimidating men. "They must have top-notch security for the corporation, after it is a multi-trillion dollar company," she thought bitterly. They have so much power and money yet they do nothing to fix the numerous problems of Dark Capitol. Despite its name, the place was full of nice people; it was only given that name because it's mainly dark and minimal artificial light spreads through the Capitol.
"Hello? May I help you?" asked the young receptionist bringing me out of my reverie.
"Um, yes, I would like to apply for an apprenticeship," I asked. The receptionist looked me over disapprovingly. Sure, I guess I was pretty with brown eyes and light brown wavy hair but I looked like a mess from living like a nomad.
"Well, we do have a spot available..." she finally proclaimed. "Go on up and see The Mayor," she said.
Taking the elevator up was one of the most frightening moments of my life. The lights were all too bright and my skin was tingling with nerves and anticipation. When I reached his office my hands were shaking.
"Come in, come in", a voice from inside called. When I opened the door I was faced with a man in about his late 50's, he was pudgy and you could see he was balding. He had a greedy look in his eyes; one that spelled mischief. I had a gut feeling that I should keep my key hidden. Yes, that was another thing; ever since I was born I'd had a golden key. My mother told me my father had left it for me when he went to war probably because he knew the odds of coming back home were slim to none. My mother remarried shortly but ever since she seemed hollow and distant, an aching sadness that could never be healed. "Well, your file tells me that you’re intelligent enough and we do have a spot available so I suppose so... Here is your key to room C-267 complex C, sector 3", he said. "Training starts at 7 a.m., don't be late; and please clean yourself up." He added with distain. I did a silent happy dance in my head and ran off to find my new place; eager to start training.
After all that everything flew by; work, eat and sleep, it was all I basically ever did. Then I met Thea, who I quickly befriended; with hazel eyes, straight auburn hair and pale skin. Though she seemed infinitely confident she was in pain; she came from the North of Light Capitol, from a wealthy family. She was fairly happy but then her young brother died from a grave illness and it was all too much so she fled to Luminescence seeking apprenticeship much like the way I did. She became my best friend, we were both eager to graduate since we both doing fairly well. But that was all before we went on field day.
