Project Hysteria

We All Fall Down

2025, 15th February (nine years after World War III)

I leap out of the shower to the sound of my phone ringing. A puddle of water quickly formed at my feet but I didn't care I had been waiting for this call all morning.

"Tell me now!" I shout excitedly into the phone.

"Jeez! Calm down. The plan is set we are all meeting at the clearing in the forest where the last party was at," Sarah says, I can imagine her rolling her eyes at me

"Have you been there all morning?" I ask and I hear a loud thud in the background.

"Dammit Chris! That's one of mum's chairs!" She says yelling at her older brother who shouts something inaudible back, "Anyway, yeah Chris, Andrew and me have been here all morning setting up."

"I can come help if you want," I say, it was only a five minute walk.

"Thank God you said that 'cause I was just about to march up to your front door and drag you down here," she pauses before raising her voice, "These two are hopeless!"

"Ha-ha I'll see you in half an hour," I say and she laughs before hanging up.

Walking out of the bathroom and into my room I quickly toss on a pair of shorts and and the cute shirt that I had saved up pocket money for, for weeks to be able to buy. I turn the TV on and begin putting on make-up. I listen to the droning voice of an talk-show host who suddenly catches my attention.

"This is probably good for our well-being after all," she says to a man wearing what I recognise as army clothing.

The host sounded slightly tense, I could be imagining it though.

"Defiantly, with a small army inside every one of the safe zones it will prevent any attacks on us in the future," he says in a deep, monotonous voice.

What are they talking about?

"What is the public in for- I mean what will the need to know about the greater amount of you soldiers in our safe zones?" She asks the man who grimaces in her direction.

"On Thursday next week the curfew that has been issued to anyone under the age of eighteen will be in full affect. Travel to other safe zones has been restricted for the next few months. Talking or plotting against the the New Government is strictly forbidden which will result in a jail term or death," at that word I accidentally poke myself in the eye with my eyeliner pencil.

"Just to give a few examples, a updated rule book will be coming in the mail around about tomorrow. And as for the unfortunate group of Blight in your safe zones I can certainly assure you they will be removed or by the end of this week-," he starts but the host cuts him off.

"Excuse me General but what do you mean removed?" She asks curiously and he tenses his jaw.

He seemingly rolls his eyes for a second before answering, "Well, they are a stain on this planet, like a weed, they take from our people and in return cause chaos in the society. fraudulent firms need to be weeded out, lest they taint the reputation of all firms. We are simply doing a bit of 'gardening' you could say."

I decide to turn off the television, it's just more crap that the government has made up so they can get rid of whoever they like. That's what my parents use to tell me before they were taken away and... Hung as a warning to the rest of my safe-zone. I stand up once I was finished then walk out the front door locking it behind me. In less then five minutes I can hear Chris shouting profanities.

"It's your fault you didn't see the bottom of chair dumb-ass!" Andrew shouts with laughter.

"Maybe you shouldn't of put it in front of me!" Chris shouts back and I hear Andrew laugh harder.