Owned

Chapter 1 - Runa

        I always thought eyes told you more about a person's true feelings than anything else. Like when my father told me at age six that I should be grateful Mrs.Valda is taking me because this is a rare occurrence. Normally, if you are born a Nix, that is all you would ever be. There was a smile on his face, but his eyes told a different story. His eyes were full of sorrow and anger, and in that moment, I told myself I would get back at these Served for hurting me and my family. Those were my feelings then, but as I got older, I lost that fighting spirit. How could I hold on to it with all the work I had to do and the fear I held? In the end, it was better being a Server than a Nix, but it hurts more in a way I can't explain.
I am not alone here at least. Mrs. Valda and her husband, Mr. Oswald, have a son named Arlyn who is very kind. There is also a Server boy named Shields who I have become best friends with. Whenever Arlyn's parents are gone, he talks about finding a way to get us free so we are not longer owned by his family. Especially Shields, Arlyn just adores Shields. It's, honestly, really cute how much he cares, and Shields is just oblivious to his love.
"Come on, Runa. Where's that fighting spirit?" Shields nudges me and I groan.
"Shields, there's no point in trying. Mrs. Valda watches us like a hawk and where would we all even go? And why does Arlyn even want to leave this wonderland of a home?" Shields looks personally offended by the question.
"Arlyn isn't like the other Served, you know that. He doesn't think he just deserves to be rich just because of his family tree, or that the Nix-" He stops and pokes the small "X" in the corner of my left eye. All the Nix have them so Servers and Served know we are not to be trusted. The Leaders made sure of this.
"-are terrible people." I nod and open my mouth to apologise. I try agree with him, but his chuckle cuts me off. He goes to speak.
"You know, it's kind of funny how angry Arlyn gets when he sees my barcode. He always says: 'It's just horrible! You're not a ration bag, you're a human being just like me!'"
"He's right though, you know?" I speak up and stare down at my right wrist and scratch my barcode. I still remember how bad it hurt getting this, but hey, it's still better than starving and killing as a Nix would. I look at Shields' face and I pout. He was born a Server, so he doesn't have the ugly "X" I bear. He goes to speak, but the door swings open.