Dreambreaker

The Path of Rebellion... Is Less Travelled

Jayde's heart raced as she hurried through the narrow alleyways leading home, the weight of the day pressing heavily on her chest. Kyle had dropped her off, his anxious expression lingering in her mind. She needed to gather supplies—things that would aid her in the next steps she had to take. It was no longer just about her dreams; it was about Wes, about the Resistance, and about the truth that had been shrouded in lies for far too long.

The front door creaked as she entered her house, the familiar scent of dust and emptiness filling the air. The silence was deafening, a stark contrast to the chaotic turmoil within her. She dashed up to her room, throwing open drawers and searching for anything that could be useful. A flashlight, a small knife from the kitchen, some extra clothes—she tossed them all into a backpack, her mind racing with thoughts of Wes and the possibility that he had sought out the Resistance.

Could it be true? Was her father alive? The whispers of the past danced through her mind, memories of her dad's soft voice urging her to embrace her dreams, to fight against the suffocating grip of The Regime. If Wes had found the Resistance, then surely she could, too.

As she rummaged through the chaos of her life, the sound of the front door slamming shut made her freeze. Simon was home. Panic gripped her as she realized she would have to face him now."Jayde!" His voice echoed through the house, sharp and demanding. "I need to talk to you."

She hesitated for a moment before stepping out of her room, backpack slung over her shoulder, ready to confront whatever storm was brewing in his eyes. Simon stood in the hallway, his face pale and strained, tension radiating off him like a dark cloud.

"What happened at the assessment?" he pressed, crossing his arms defensively. "I heard you didn't finish. What did they do to you?"

"It's nothing, Simon. Just—"

"Just what?" He interrupted, his voice rising in frustration. "You think I don't know what goes on in there? People don't just come out with nothing from those tests! You need to tell me what happened!"

Jayde's stomach churned. "It was different this time. They...they made me confront my choices, my morals. It was invasive, Simon. I didn't like it."

"Then why didn't you just follow the rules? Why didn't you take the Clarity Capsule?" he snapped, his eyes flashing with anger. "It's what keeps us safe!"

"Safe?" she shot back, incredulous. "Safe from what? From dreaming? From living? I can't just pretend everything is fine when I know it's not! I can't do that, not anymore!"

"Do you think running away will solve anything?" Simon said, his voice trembling slightly. "You're just going to make it worse for yourself! If you leave, you're going to end up like—"

"Like who?" she interrupted, her heart pounding with fury. "Like Dad? You think I'm just going to sit here and wait for The Regime to decide my fate? No, I refuse to be a pawn in their game! I need to find the Resistance, Simon! I need to know the truth!"

"Stop! You don't know what you're talking about!" he shouted, taking a step closer, his hands clenched into fists. "You're going to get yourself killed!"