Immure

Chapter One

I was sitting there again. I didn't know why, I just always came to the giant search light whenever I had that nightmare. The structure I was sitting on had the frame like that of a radio pole. The metals crossed each other all the way to the top, where a search light shined its rays into the night sky. Near the very top the metal rods collided in a 'V' shaped formation, and ever since I found the structure, I sat there. It was my spot, whether I was angry or depressed, lonely or scared; I sat there, feeling normal for once, in the middle of the field looking out at the city that was only ten minutes walking distance.

I hung my head, intertwining my fingers. Daylight had already started climbing the sky, interrupting the tranquil night, making the world glow a hazy orange. If I didn't head for home now my parents would be frantically searching for me. Grabbing the pole I rested my worn boots on, I jumped and swung, letting myself be carried on the air for a few seconds before I caught onto one of the four supports of the tower and slid down it. At the bottom I stuffed my hands into the pockets of my jeans, kicked the dirt, and headed back home through the tall grass.

Soon enough, the grasses began to grow scarce, giving way to freshly cut ones. Roads became visible, leading into a mostly metal and glass city. Light refracted through the buildings, and I had to shield my eyes slightly with my hand. There was a high wrought iron fence surrounding the city, and as soon as I got close enough, I spotted the small hole I shimmied through to get out here.

The city didn't like citizens going outside the gates, for safety and whatnot. No one really knew what was outside, but it wasn't that much of a mystery, since if you just walked up to the fence, you could see the farms in the distance. People didn't usually go to the fence anyway, there was nothing to see. But there was to me. There was calm in the light yellow fields, away from the commotion of the city and neighborhoods. No one could tell me what to do, give me strange looks, or tell me I was different there. When I was outside I felt at peace, like I had all the time in the world.

I knelt down beside the fence and crawled through the small space, likely pried back with pliers a long time ago. I jogged to the first building and before moving on, I glanced around the corner. There were very few people out, as it was around six in the morning. I watched them milling around a minute, smiles on their faces as they waved to one another before pulling out their keys and climbing into their vehicles.

I could just barely see my neighborhood beyond the hill that this part of the city rested on. I dusted off my hands and brought my grey, raggedy old shirt to my face, trying to make it seem like I didn't go beyond the fence last night. Then I rounded the  corner of the building and made my way home, smiling to the passerby's and attempting to blend in.

I never really liked the city, now that I thought of it, looking around at the glass skyscraper buildings, and the overly-peppy faces of the people in the morning glow. It made me feel as if I didn't belong. Everyone always cheery, it made it more apparent that I almost never had a natural smile on my face. I couldn't help it; I just didn't see a reason to.

A small percentage of our city was either depressed or angry, though there weren't that many at all. In fact, the number is so small I could name them all, counting on my fingers. Our city was proud of that, lowest in the nation with only ten Anomalies. Ever since I was a kid that name was shoved in my face, no one ever rude about it, just speaking to me as if I didn't understand anything.

My name was never used; people just addressed me as, "Anomalous". Not even my family, who didn't treat me the same either. As if I was a piece of glass they could drop any second. Not many families are cursed with an Anomalous, but no one says anything bad about it, scared if they showed disappointment in having an Anomalous child they'd be labeled it too.

I sighed, bowing my head as I walked down the cracked sidewalk that led to my neighborhood. If I looked up I knew I'd see the perfect little white buildings that made it up. I passed by a brown fence that signified I was just entering the area and finally glanced up.

"Anomalous!"

I rolled my eyes. Every night I went to the search light, and every morning I came back she was there. A girl around my age wearing a yellow sun dress stood a few feet away from me across the street. She was pretty enough, her brunette hair piled into a bun atop her head, and her face lit up. Alyssa ran up to me, and then kept pace walking beside me.

"I mean Fredrick--Sorry, where are you headed?" She smiled at me, trying to act like she didn't know I was headed home. Every day since three weeks ago when she discovered I "took walks" in the mornings, she'd been out here at the edge of the neighborhood to greet me. It wasn't like I hated her, she was a nice girl, but she was so happy all the time and I felt like she had something important that I was missing. It was like a wall separated us, and I was the only one who noticed it.

"Heading home as always," I flashed a smile back at her. I wasn't feeling particularly happy then, but it was better for me to act like I was normal, even when I wasn't. I didn't want to go back to the "((insert name))". 

All Anomalies were required to see a therapist once a month, and more if needed between scheduled appointments. If anyone thought an Anomalous was acting depressed or overly angry they could tell anyone and get the Anomalous sent to the ((insert name)). All they did was ask you how you'd been dreaming lately. Were you having any nightmares? I snorted thinking about it, then shook my head.

I glanced up to my house, which was only a few feet ahead. It was this early and already the lights were on. I pursed my lips knowing exactly what that held in store for me.

"...think you can?" said Alyssa, leaning close to me batting her eyelashes. "I'd really appreciate it, you know."

I blinked at her. She'd been talking to me this whole time? Gulping, I said, "Huh? Oh yeah. I can, don't worry."

"Really? Thanks, Fredrick! You're the best!" She hugged me then scurried off down the street to her own house, which was only three away from mine in the cul-de-sac we lived in.

Watching her leave I took a deep breath, then turned and walked up my doorsteps noisily, not caring about the sound my clunky boots set off. I twisted the doorknob and stepped inside hearing my mother yell worriedly, "Anomalous! Where are you?"