The Day Human Kind Were Taken

The Monopoly Mans Rules

I spent about an hour figuring out how to use my wristband so the hovering red screen would leave me be. My wardrobe took a few minutes to program as leisure wear was apparently going to be a luxury. I sign and look around my pod, it felt more like a cell. I had a shower in the small bathroom to the side of my closet, I didn't notice it before due to the seamless door thing the place had going on, and got changed. It felt nice to be clean after who knows how long I was in the clothes I had had on since Tokyo.

After a short confused fight with the laundry box thing in the closet I headed back down stair to the communal hall. 

Please make your way to the hall for dinner and a section consultation.

Lucky me, I thought to myself, I don't have to go anywhere. Gradually the halls seats began to be taken. There wasn't many people in B, all 60 (ish) of us were about the same age. I choose to sit at an empty table near to the center of the room. Most people sat on their own, like me, probably due to the fact no one new anyone else. Although a few group were beginning to emerge. To my left was a group of three European girl nervously chattering among themselves and a few tables up from them was six of seven boys pretending as if this wasn't the most traumatic few days of their lives.

At the very front of the hall was a raised platform, presuming acting as a stage. There were bathrooms in the corner and a kitchen hatch much like a high school cafeteria. In fact if the place wasn't so... Strange, it might just look like a cafeteria. Except fir the glass like crystal floor of course. I lean back in my chair, rocking it slightly. 

The room is mostly quiet other than a few whispered conversations when a two people walk onto the stage.  They were clearly elven. One was a larger man with white hair, a large mustache and was wearing an outfit similar to a suit but not exactly. He reminded me of the Monopoly man. The other was a short women with dark hair , a porcelain doll face and a puffy blue gown laced with gold and twinkling gems. The pair were breathe taking. 

The man began to speak.

"Hello section B." his voice was loud and monotoned. "My name is Nicolaus, and I am head of this section. After today your schedule will be sent out. Your schedule will include classes, fitness, comprehensive personality diagnostic's and leisure time."

A collective moan rippled through the group. Classes?! This really was just a weird school. Also what in the world was a comprehensive personality diagnostic? It all sounded dead boring.

Nic the monopoly man waited for silence before he continued. "You'll be in B for a year and I expect your full attention and compliance. Any misbehavior will result in a demerit 5 such demerits a month will land you in misbehaviors ward for the appropriate amount of time." 

A whisper hisses through the crowd. 

" And let it be known now that the ward isn't somewhere you want to be, they are significantly stricter than myself and Ms. Chia." he continued without waiting for silence again. "my rules are simple but have to be followed."

His speech about discipline was lengthy and boring, but the rules went like this.

1. Listen to the officials and comply to their instructions

2. Don't go in anyone else pod there are leisure area you can hang out.

3. No defacing of property, facilities and pods

4. No fighting

And last but not least, 5. Be honest.

5 had me worried, Nic said something about he diagnostics not working if you weren't honest. What kind of useless personality information was that important? Why did they even need it? Those were the thoughts spinning around in my head we I lined up to receive my dinner. Dinner was a bunch of strange plants again. Not that I minded as I ate vegetarian a lot because my mother was a veggie, but I was weird. The plants were served like a stir-fry. There were noodles, a sliced cabbage, maybe carrots and miscellaneous alien-ish plants served on a metal tray with a glass of water.

Once I was sitting at yet another empty table my mind began to wander. Was Thomas okay? I sure hoped so. I already missed the little guys quiet, comforting presence. I silently ate my weird stir-fry while thinking to myself. 

"Is this seat taken" a small voice asks shyly from behind me. 

I turn to find a tall African girl standing behind me, her hair held back by a faded yellow scarf. She was thin in extreme with gangly limbs and the curliest black hair I had ever seen. She look sickly being so thin, even her cheeks were sunken in.

"No, your welcome to it" I say slightly shocked that she asked me. "I'm Isla"

"Siddi" She says in the same shy voice as before sitting down next to me.

"Cool" I say awkwardly before staring at my food. 

We eat in awkward silence for a few moments.

"Where are you from?" I ask hesitantly, talking about home might be a bit of a sore subject.

"Zimbabwe, you?"

"Sweden." 

That was it for conversation, we just sat and ate for the rest of dinner. The hall was rather quiet for the amount of people. I guess not many people were up for conversation. Once dinner was finished I returned both Siddi's and my trays to the kitchen area. We were allowed to stay for another hour in the hall but most people were lining up at the lift to go to bed. We were all tired. I waved goodbye to Siddi and headed that way myself.