Walking through the big wooden double doors to the gala, I can honestly say I was nervous. I mean, I'm basically walking into a beauty contest, and every man is the judge.
Walking down the stairs into the hall, my name was announced by a man with booming voice
"Skyler Harrosway, Aged 19, Weight 160 lbs, height 5 ft 8." He shouted down the microphone.
"Oh don't bother shouting personal information Gerard. It's not like I have any dignity left." I shouted back
Everyone went silent as he continued to say "Also quite rude."
One girl from the back of a crowd somewhere started laughing, a hearty, full laugh, the kind that you hear from people who don't care anymore.
That's how bored I am, I'm describing the laughs of strangers. Good god.
"Cameron Dezzits, Aged 19, Weight 170lbs, Height 5ft 4." Mr. Announcer Guy bellowed.
"Hey, I dropped 10lbs last week. Yeesh, do your job guy!" The same girl yelled back.
"Cameron." The name sounded foreign, like it belonged to an exotic person. In the Drespin, the world we live in, most names are ones you'd never expect. No Harry's, No Luke's, No Nancy's, and Cameron, it just sounded so....
Extraordinary, yet simple.
Wait, hold up a minute
2 things. 1) I'm crazy, I'm overthinking someone's name. 2) A guy just winked at me.
Step 1: If a man shows any kind of affection towards you, smile back, there's a chance he'll be the one to choose you.
So I smiled meekly and went to turn away.
"Oh c'mon, I mean I know he looks like something from the black lagoon, but smile better then that. Flash him your pearly whites you've been hiding in your mouth." The girl beside me says.
"Easy for you to say, he's not winking at you, now help me look unattractive" I reply quite frantically.
The girl laughs, throwing her head back and clutching her stomach.
"What's so funny?" This girl was really getting on my nerves, some dude with slobber down his chin, wine on his shirt and worst of all was grooming me, and this girl was here laughing. I didn't even know her name.
"Nothing, absolutely nothing. I'm Cameron Dezzits. And you are?"
Ah, the name girl. That made no sense. Name girl? Seriously?
"Skyler Harrosway. Nice to meet you." I said, shaking her slim hand. It was so soft, and slender. Mine were all large and rough. God is she really making me insecure about my hands? What next, my toes?
Well you do have stumpy toes
Shut up self conscious. No one asked you.
"Oh, the rude girl. You've got spunk. I like that."
I laughed, "Spunk? Who says spunk anymore? Isn't that something from a couple of centuries ago? Am I too feel old or something?"
We looked at each other for a long time before bursting into laughter, which attracted the attention of a lot of people, but for some reason she didn't care, it was like she knew what was going to happen and was letting it happen.
She was just like me
I hadn't realised I was staring into space until I felt a tap on my shoulder.
"
Care to dance m'lady?"
The man was tall, I'm talking like 6"4 or something. He was handsome, with sharp features, but not incredibly sharp. His hair was black, and slicked back into a quiff, he was pale, and he was wearing a black suit and tie. His voice was soft, but he spoke so elegantly. He was holding a champagne glass, almost empty, and he had his hand outstretched, as he was offering me a dance. I didn't reply, just took his hand as he led me to the floor.
He started off incredibly old fashioned, with a waltz to some song that was about a woman questioning herself about the length of her love for a man, then answering her own question. (If you haven't guessed it its How Long Will I Love You by Ellie Goulding.) It was catchy, but very repetitive. And definitely not sutible to be playing in a room full of woman dancing with men that yve never met.
I found out his name was Bruce Caufield. He was very touchy. As in he wasn't afraid to move his hands around my body, but don't worry, if he got to close to uncomfortable places, I'd slap his hands away.
One if my favourite old songs came on, Love Song by Sarah Bareilles. It's so beautiful. It just sounds so medolic. Most people think it's crazy, I mean, a person writing their own music? Who does that?
I loved how back then people broke the rules. They rebelled against society. They expressed themselves in unimaginable ways. Ways that would have you killed nowadays
Bruce was also very talkative. And apparently very rich. I don't like the Moulgors (rich people). They seemed so stuck up. Like they had the right to own everything. I mean, if it was legal, I'd slap them all.
That's another thing, how come they can do anything illegal but don't get arrested, but if I were to do something illegal, I'd be hanged. Back ages ago, it'd be called objectifying women or being a sexist pig.
Now it's called going into town.
I remember asking Anna and Deirdre why no one is fighting back, I was only young. They freaked out and sent me to the cupboard for a whole day, obviously I had intervals for food. But I finally understood why no one talked about it, or rebelled.
flashback
It was October, 3019, I was 11 years old. And I heard a familiar bell ringing outside, followed by the sounds of grunting and dragging, slowly making its way down the street.
Execution.
Usually I wasn't allowed to go. But that was when I was younger then 10. Anyone over that age was forced to go. To show us what would happen if we followed in the rebels footsteps.
There was 4 men and 2 woman, all early 20's, their hands were chained behind their backs, their ankles chained together, but chained to one another, and they were walking in a single file.
They were cut and covered in dirt. They men were shirtless and their was messy. They woman were barely clothed. They obviously fought against the guards and tragically they lost.
I felt a pang of mourning and grief. Like I was losing a family member, an incredibly close family member.
Everyone else looked ashamed to see fellow townspeople fighting against the world that fed and clothed them. We folllowed to the town square.
The rebels were pushed to their knees. Guns were put to their temples. I distinctly remember a tan guard with a black beard asking if they had any last words. 5 out of 6 said no. But the one that said yes, she looked so familiar. Like I'd seen her before, maybe in a dream. But her face was embedded in my mind. She had something about her. Her dark brunette and her features were all to familiar.
She looked me dead in the eyes. Me. Some stranger in a crowd of people. And I saw how familiar she really was. I felt like I knew her my whole life. I'd never even spoken to her.
The man walked over to her. To anyone in the back it would be looked like she was crazy. But I heard her, as she looked me dead in the eyes again. She took a deep breath in and roared
The Rebellion Never Ends
And then he shot her.
I remember nor being able to tear my eyes away. I felt like I'd lost a friend or a close family member.
At the end of all 6 executions everyone clapped. At first I didn't and I was disgusted anyone would want to. But once I was nudged by Nanny Deirdre, I realised I had to.
But that night, I cried into my pillow, until I fell asleep.
And that's when I knew, I had to avenge those rebels, even if it was just to find out who she was.
End of flashback
