Leave

Chapter 1

I felt as if they were all controlling me. I felt like their eyes were like a snake's waiting for their next meal, but it seemed worse. I didn't understand why I couldn't make my own choices and choose what I wanted to do in my life. I was not allowed to leave my home without an escort or my parents and I didn't understand it. Wasn't I responsible enough? I was also given an outfit each day and wasn't allowed to wear anything different. Usually my clothes were a faded gray or black so sometimes I felt like a nobody. Well that's basically what I was.
My dark brown hair has  a natural curl to it. Not extreme puffy curl, but the model curl. One day I had rebelled and added red highlights to my hair, but mom trimmed my hair when she saw it. I couldn't believe she would do such a thing , but now I realize she was doing it to protect me.
The government is harsh. No one is allowed past ten, no one is allowed to wear bright clothing and do anything that may harm the body. Apparently highlights harm the body. 
No one is allowed to lead rebellions, obviously, or there would be no harsh government. The government chooses the laws and leaders. No one gets to choose. Based on your obedience to the law, each week you get a cart of food.
Food is not plentiful in these parts and most of the time, and me and my older brother go to bed with no full stomach.
My older brother Brent is only older then me by three years. He had more freedoms than I do. He could date, choose his clothes, decide his education system, and I don't even know what else. He has a better opportunity in life then I do and he complains so much more. He doesn't seem to realize that people, even his own sister, have it worse.
Freedom is my dream. They say there is a group called the Leave. They are somewhat of a rebellion and ridicule the government. They do all these crazy stunts and show off their fearlessness. Every ten years people say that they allow ten new people into their group if they survive the test. My best friend Shae said that some of the tests would probably be like eating spiders, let a snake slither on you, jump of a cliff into waters with sharp rocks bellow, wrestle a fat guy maybe. We had both laughed at that. Sometimes I think about joining the leave to have a better chance, but Shae says it would be the worst choice to ever make. How would she know? Did she know the thrill of being in dangerous situations that I always felt? Did she want to prove her strength to others like I so much wanted to do? Or was it because she believed the government and their trash talk about the Leave?
it seemed as if the government was starting to control people. Some people didn't even think to rebel. Others probably had the idea in the back of their heads, but wouldn't even think to consider it. And I wonder if there are people like me who just want to get away and make their own choices.  Maybe I could find them and they could help me.