Ambush

Chapter 3: The Brand

There was a low humming outside, followed by a loud crash. Then, the ground began to rumble. I walked up to the window and lifted the curtain slightly. The armored trucks were passing through our neighborhood. I stayed calm and collected as Theo and Bentley started to pay attention. They came to the window and shoved the curtain completely open.

"Hush boys." I pushed them away from the window and closed the curtains.

"Let's eat our lunches," I suggested. I needed the children to calm down. There was no way I could face the possibility of a selection on my own. Then, the front door burst open.

"It's okay everyone! I'm fine!" Daisy said. I sighed in relief, but I also felt a little guilty for not noticing Daisy was gone.

"It's crazy out there! I had to wait for an hour  for the trucks to pass. Half the time there weren't any on the road! The soldiers wanted me to wait out of respect and 'just in case.' I never saw something so ridikulus!" Daisy didn't realize how 'ridikulus' she sounded right then. I'd always taken care of Bentley and Theo on my own. Daisy was like a fun-time babysitter. She loved the kids, but had zero sense of responsibility.

"Daisy, can I talk to you?" I asked. She looked puzzled.

"Well, of course!" I led her to her bedroom. She took tiny steps with her hands out to her sides. She was in awe as I closed the bedroom door.

"This is serious." I told her. She didn't seem to register what I meant.

"Daisy, I think they might be doing another selection," I said. Her mouth gaped open.

"They haven't done one in years!!! I mean, aren't we a little too advanced for this sort of thing?" She asked. I wanted to face-palm so badly.

"If I get picked, you have to pull it together. You have to watch the boys." I said.

"I am a good mother! I adopted you from the squalor of that wretched place!"

"I'll send home extra rations for you and the boys, but you have to get them through school." I said. Daisy was in complete disbelief. Her forehead began to sweat.

"I'm a good mom! I'm a good mother!" She was growing hysterical. I grabbed her hands and shook her.

"Calm down!" I looked into her eyes. "Thank you for adopting us." I told her. She began to breathe deeply. "You got us out of there. Right now, I need you to be strong." She nodded. Just then, a high-pitched screech wailed through our neighborhood, followed by a repetitive banging noise. Koda and I ran onto the front porch to find heavy machinery drilling a giant pole into the ground. They hoisted a flag up to the top of the pole. Then, a song played over the speakers. It was the anthem of our nation. A calm voice resounded through the city.

"Good afternoon. Please remain in your homes. Officers will be delivering further instructions." The officers filed out of the trucks and made their way down each street. Koda grabbed my upper arm and led me inside. He closed the door behind us and locked it.

"What's going on?" Theo asked. Koda shut all the curtains and turned down the volume on the tv. I grabbed the boys and headed to the loft, out of sight from all doors and windows.

"What's happening?" Theo asked.

"Get in your sleeping bags." I tucked them in their beds.

"Frey! What's happening outside?" Theo's voice was panicked. Daisy followed us up to the loft. She was blubbering about the room and waving her hands.

"Shhh." I said. "We need to be quiet. I don't know what's happening." I said. Bentley grabbed my hand.

"I'm scared," He whispered. I leaned down to him.