GUNPOWDER

CHAPTER FOUR: THE DEPARTURE

I am suddenly thrown into a van that looks like it is from the Army, and some weird gas makes me fall into a deep sleep.

When I wake up I find a boy who is sleeping. He looks about sixteen and he has short brown hair. He has very wide shoulders and an averaged sized chest. He has long legs. I'd say he is attractive, but he is fast asleep and is drooling.

"Um, Hello?" I reach over to touch him. My hand tugs his brown long sleeve shirt, which feels smooth and warm.

"Hello?!" I say again.

He awakes from his sleep with a concerned look on his face.

"Oh, sorry. My name is Connor. What's yours?" He has a nice, gentle, voice. I like his voice...

"Astrid. I'm guessing you were chosen for the Program too?"

"Yeah."

The van door opens again, and a black girl with long brown hair is shoved in. She looks like she is 15, and she is very pretty.

"Ow! You hurt my elbow!" She shouts to the general who pushed her in, who just walks off.

"Are you alright?" I ask.

"Yeah, I'm fine." she says with an attitude I don't really like.

"What's your name?"

"Zoe. Yours?"

"Astrid. And this is Connor." Connor says hi, and Zoe gives him a slight nod.

"Excuse my attitude. I'm just really angry, I don't wanna go into the Army. My brother will see me again-"

"We are going into the Army????!!!!" I don't want to go into the Army either. I will be tortured. I don't even want a war.

My heartbeats get faster and faster, making my breaths heavy and loud. I grab my head and shake it. Just a dream Astrid, just a dream... I keep telling myself. But I know it's not a dream. It's all real. There is nothing I can do.

"Astrid, are you alright?!" Zoe asks frantically.

"Astrid?! Astrid?!" Zoe's voice fades away as I go into a sleep....

Dad, Mum, Ava and I dancing in a circle, holding each other's hands. Ava looks about 3, and I feel like I'm 8... Ava's hair goes everywhere as she jumps around, laughing. Mum and Dad are happy, like they have no worries in the world. There are no wars, no problems, just peace.

A world I'd like to live in....

I awake to the sound of teenagers talking. There are four boys, four girls... where am I??

I remember.

I was in the Program. I am on my way to the Army in a large van, and it seems that people only get around the van by crawling.

I sit up, and look around. "Zoe? Connor?" I mouth. Connor crawls over to me.

"You're awake. Well, they said they are about to get us lunch, but I don't think they will. Anyway, Zoe is over there." He points to a group of 3 girls, including Zoe. One short blonde with a lot of freckles who looks about 14, a girl with tanned skin and wavy black hair who looks 17 and Zoe. Connor crawls back to a place where all the boys are.

I try to get Zoe's attention, and when she finally looks at me I motion to her to come over. She says something to the group of girls and crawls toward me.

"What is it Astrid?"

Well, firstly, I would like you to become friends with me. Secondly, stop having a attitude, and thirdly, what's going to happen in the Army?!