Ambush

Chapter 2: The Selection

The brisk morning air pelted my skin where the uniform didn't cover. My skin was sure to be wind burned by sheer force. I turned the corner to Walnut St, where the vendors liked to set up shop. Expecting to hear the noisy bustling of a busy morning, I was shocked to see that all the vendors had vanished. Their carts and all of their merchandise were gone. Fearing what happened, I kept my lips shut and stared straight ahead. I had to pretend I didn't notice.

Zinnia was working this morning as she always did. We discussed the weather and the incoming cold front. Gaia said she hoped for snow. I think she realized what she'd said because she got a twisted expression on her face when she looked at me. I wasn't too eager for it to get cold, because the homes in my neighborhood weren't made for such weather. Even with all of us snuggled on the floor in front of the fire, we shivered. We didn't always have wood for the hearth. I had to find lots of little twigs and trade our rations for wood. The temperature dropped one Christmas. I tried getting more wood rations, but there was nothing left. They'd run out without warning. I went back every day to get something to warm us, but the wood stock was bone dry. I decided to venture into the forest to find some twigs. I found a fallen tree and brought a couple of its smaller branches to the house. This was when I learned there were outer state families who were poorer than even us. They lived in cardboard cities on the edge of the woods. I'd grown to love their culture and found them as valuable resources. They taught me the ways of the woods and how to live in the natural environment. I never brought my brothers there, because they were too small to keep secrets. I told Koda about the cardboard city when he was still in the orphanage. Of course, we both had to be home quickly, but the trips to the forest gave us higher chances of surviving the desolate lifestyle of our state.

The hatchery was almost silent the whole morning. No mothers came in, and none left. It had been months since we'd had an empty morning. I didn't see any nurses or doctors either, which was especially concerning. I swept, mopped, and waxed the floors. I folded pamphlets to restock the welcome desk. We were out of complimentary peppermints, so I went to the supply closet to fetch a new bag. I didn't have to rush beyond the birthing rooms today, because they were all empty. I peeked into each one as I passed, but they were perfectly clean. Not a single mother was in sight. I walked the elongated hall to the back of the hatchery. The only sound was the tap of my chunky platform mary jane heels on the LED flooring. When I got to the closet, I found it to be completely bare. Every Monday the military came around with rations to each federally-funded building. They always brought just enough to keep us stocked for the week. This was Monday morning, and the truck should have come hours ago. I walked to the front desk nonchalantly. Zinnia could see I was empty-handed. Behind her calm composure, I could see the hushed fear in her eyes. I pretended to see some things under the welcome desk that needed to be tidied. I squatted and pulled out the pamphlet bins. I grabbed a stack and hit it against the table to line all the papers up. I looked up at her and she met my gaze. With her eyes, she asked me what I saw back there.

Under my breath, I said, "There was nothing." Her eyes grew big and we both continued our jobs in silence. I swept and mopped the floors and washed the windows. I completed the chore list twice. Just as I was about to begin a third round, Gaia came into the room.

"Alright, ladies. Head home for the rest of the day." If she was concerned, she hid it well. Zinnia and I placed our aprons in the laundry bins and clocked out. As we were washing up, I saw a big truck drive slowly past the hatchery. I nudged her with my elbow and nodded toward the truck. Her face melted as her suspicions were confirmed; something was seriously wrong.

On the way home, I saw a line of men walking away from the seafood farms. I scanned through the men and found Koda. He wiped the sweat off his brow and sighed. I continued as if we were strangers to the house.

When I got home, the children were already there.

"Frey!" They ran into my arms.

"Hey, guys! How was school today?" I asked. Their homework was spread across our dining table.

"We got to leave early today!" Bentley was jumping up and down and yelling.

"Shh! Guys, we've got to use our inside voices." I hushed them. Bentley couldn't contain his excitement. He was bouncing off the walls. I scooped him in a big bear hug. His warm little giggles bubbled over.

"We're gonna play some games today!" I desperately needed the boys to be quiet. I carried Bentley up the ladder to the loft. "I need you guys to get your pajamas on and finish your homework first." Theo trailed behind me. I removed their pajamas from the wooden hooks where they hung every night until washing day. They put their shoes in the corner near the dresser we shared. I heard the front door close.

"Frey! Are you home?" He called for me. Immediately the boys got excited to see him. It was rare we all had free time together.

"Finish getting dressed boys and join us downstairs," I instructed them. I pounced down the ladder rungs to talk to Koda in private.

"What's going on, Frey? Have you heard anything?" He whispered. I couldn't keep the explosive information quiet any longer. I had to tell someone.

"The ration trucks didn't come this morning," I said, quietly. His eyebrows furrowed like his suspicions were confirmed. "I don't know if it was just the hatchery, but when I went to restock the welcome desk, everything was gone." Koda sat at the table.

"Anything else?" He asked. I thought for a second.

"There were no merchants on the street this morning. Also, the hatchery was completely empty. The rooms were pristine and none of the doctors or nurses were present." Koda searched my face for more information. I remembered one more thing.

"There were military trucks driving past the hatchery as I was leaving," I said. Koda's eyes lit up like he'd had an epiphany, then his face flushed. His expression made my heart sink.

"Turn on the projector," He told me. I switched the little machine on, using the last of the battery juice. I'd been saving it for special occasions.

"Last night at 21:31 the South American Republic of the Peoples crossed into North American territory and launched short-range missiles into a North American village killing several unarmed citizens, and leaving many others wounded. The death toll stands currently at 12, with 34 innocents severely injured. The savages rampaged the village, stealing many citizens away into South American territory. Today, President Oleander Yearwood announces a rescue mission for these captured citizens. Currently 14 are missing but it is unknown if these are all part of the death toll, or if they're being held hostage. Today, President Oleander Yearwood announces we're officially at war with the South American Republic of the Peoples."

Suddenly, it all made sense. I held my breath.

"They're doing a selection," Koda blurted. I looked into his eyes and I knew he was right.