RED: Preface

Chapter 1: The Beginnning

When something unexpected happens to you, your body tends to go into shock. The same thing happened to myself when that cursed little bracelet turned a demeaning red color. I lost all feeling from the real world and was transported into the deep corner of my mind to fall amidst the self-doubt and ideas that have been banned there ever since I took my first breath. For almost a minute I stayed in this state, surrounded by a veil of silence. When I finally had the courage to take my eyes away from the metallic band and look up at the Elder’s, I was confronted by a look of pure normality. I didn’t know why I was in such disbelief by his expression-he saw things like this happen every day. Why would I be the one special Rambo that he would have feelings for? I guess that’s one of the many things that happen when you turn; the selfish yearning to be cradled and cared for like you were lying on your death bed. I didn’t want it to be like this, I didn’t ask to turn Red. But I did. And nothing can change the Elder’s decisions.

            The room fell silent, no one daring to break the silence even to breath. Even Jay, who was once loud and exciting sat with his mouth open in a slight o shape, his eyebrows furrowed in confusion. “Well, it looks as though your fate has been chosen.” The head Elder said, his eyes having the slightest hint of mischievous in them. Almost as if there was something he was hiding and squirming to make sure it stayed inside. “Maximus Hardaway. You are now officially a resident at the Communities’ Penitentiary and officially a Red.” He said, closing his wrinkled eyes slightly and holding them there, almost waiting for something to happen. “You will be escorted and begin your sentencing as a Red immediately.”

            The barrel of the all-to familiar guns that the police force of the Community used was pressed hard into my back, forcing my knees to buckle under the instant pressure on my spine. While paralyzed, a pair of shackles were slapped around my wrists and feet, immobilizing me even further. Bewildered, my pulse pounded through my body, testing the pressure of my skin in case it needed to just down right explode. Where was the nice Community that all the scholars bragged about-that all my friends bragged about. Heck, they probably wouldn’t consider me a friend any longer. Most likely, they will dismiss ever even knowing me. Dismiss they never even talked to the perfect boy who went Red.

            Over and over in my conscious I told myself that there just had to be some sort of mistake. None of it added up-nothing made sense. I never talked about the Community or the Elders like Jay had so notoriously, I had a spotless permanent record, and my grades were all in tip top shape. What did I do wrong?

            As two large uniformed men came over to my motionless body, the lifted me up by my arms off the tiled floor. I looked over my shoulder to see my mother silently weeping, knowing she would never see her only child ever again. I saw my father looking away like I figured he would. Any father knows that he’s a failure when his son is sent to a lifetime in prison. I didn’t bother to look at anyone else but as I went to turn my head back around, I locked eyes with Jay.

            We’ve been best friends since we first met at school. We’ve been through everything together. We lied to save each other’s rear ends from getting in trouble. We settled who would chase after the cute girl in our class with a serious game of Rock, Paper, Scissors. We made a pact in the sixth grade that we would never leave each other when we needed each other the most. I bore into his mind, mentally pleading to him to remember that pact, so he could get me out of this mess. I didn’t have the slightest idea how but that didn’t matter. I just wanted to believe that this was all one bad mistake or a nightmare I would soon wake up from. Just as I thought I could feel a spark between us, he dropped his gaze and looked away-ashamed of his best friend.

            “Jay!” I called out his name, struggling against the restraints and the uniformed men’s strong grip, fighting my way to what I felt was my release. One of the large men took one of his even larger hands and slammed it across my face, making me yelp like a lame dog. I heard my mother gasp softly in the background as more of her tears ran off her small cheeks. A large red mark spread over the right hemisphere of my face like a blush when the weather turned brittle. “Another crack from you and I’ll send you right to the Wastelands.” The aggressive man whispered harshly in my ear.