Union

one _ the claiming

The alarm outside of my 'room' starts to blare, disturbing me from whatever slight 'rest' I'm getting. It makes me jolt upright on my bed, eyes wide with panic. What did I do this time? The alarm only blared for two reasons.

    1) Conduct Breach

    2) Claiming

    I have no chance of being claimed, so it'll have to be a conduct breach. Which begs the question of what the hell I did to warrant it, since I've been in my room most of the day.

    The rules of conduct breaches aren't set in stone per-say, it's just general misbehaviour that leads/could lead to the breach of more than one individual.    

    I run a finger over my eye, feeling the lump that has formed under the bruise. I flinch at the contact, feeling the pain sting throughout my eye without cease. I take a moment, remembering that it was the aftermath of my last conduct breach. I watch the door which is painted in red from the alarm light outside. I wait for the guard to come.

    The door swings open and two guards are there. I back away from them, getting ready to block myself if needed. Then I see that they're accompanied by a man in a fancy suit. I take a second thrown off guard.

    "Guards?" I ask. "I am unaware that I broke conduct, I assure you that I've been in my room all day."

    The one studies me for a second, the man in the suit, finally he clears his throat. "No, Miss James, you have not broken conduct." There's a pause and my heart is clenching. They can't possibly know about Ryan and what we were planning can they? "You've been claimed."

    My mouth gapes open, what? I can't have been claimed, a person can only be claimed by a Union branch like Radar or by biological family. My family is dead.

    More importantly, I don't want to be claimed. I have plans, plans that will go horribly astray if someone claims.

     "I can't be."

    "Please follow me Miss James, we prefer not to use force." I scoff, gesturing to my eye. He gives a faint grin. "I suppose I should phrase it that we will not use force as long as you follow orders. Come."

    I follow after him, the two guards flanking my sides as my doors closed. The halls are quiet, only a few kids peering out their door windows. It's unusual in this branch of camp for a person to be claimed - seeing as we're all older. The older the person the more likely a claiming will not happen. It's common knowledge.

    They open the door to the main common area, and lead me through another door. Wondering the halls to a section I've never seen but know through conversation, the 'lost and found', as it's called by the residents in camp.

    The man in a suit pushes the door open with the palm of his meaty hand. There sitting at the desk is who I know as the operator of this compound. He's ruffling through files, next to him on the metal table are a few things which I regard with hesitance.

    "Sit Scarlett."

    "Op, what's the meaning of this? I can't be claimed, you know this."

    He's silent. I've been in his official office one too many times, seeing as I break conduct on a weekly basis. He knew me and although I didn't really trust him, I had respect for him.

    He unlike so many others, tries to make sure the people at this compound are fine. Including me, and my friends whom have a knack for getting into as much trouble as I do.

    "Sit."

    "What-"

    "Scarlett, do me a favour and listen to me for once." I oblige, still wary. With a flick of his wrist the man in a suit leaves and the two guards close the door. "You've been claimed."

    "I can't be." I pause. "Family dead ring a bell?"

    "Your sister."

    I laugh. "My sister is dead, I know for a fact Op that you have read my colourful history. She along with my parents were killed in the raid that happened on the safe house we were residing in when I was six."

    "She's alive."

    I can hear my heartbeat now, as memories start to float through my mind. My sister? Olivia. I down at the metal, feeling the familiar feeling of hate and hurt as I remember what little I do know of her.

    The good times before all went wrong.

    "How?"

    "I think it better that she explain that too you, theres a lot that you don't know nor understand. She's waiting in my formal office too meet you. I just have parodical to go through first. Thought I'd prolong it a little to chat with you."

    "Fine, chat."

    He grabs my arm and rolls up my jumpers sleeve, exposing the barcode etched into my skin above my elbow. He takes something, a needle of all things, and pokes it  into my arm just above the black "I.D.#1009665". A painful pinch later and something gets sucked into the small suction device attached to said needle.

   

    "This is your compound tracker Scarlett, it's being formally removed seeing as you no longer live under our jurisdiction. This," He picks up a small thin bracelet. "Is the bracelet every minor in Union has to wear. Inside it, among it's computer makeup lays another tracking device and information, including a GPS log. I suggest you abide by Union's laws when you get out. Your sister shall surely explain."

    "So even when I'm free, I'm not free."

    "Listen to me kid, I know you, despite your obvious denial. In here threat assessment works a lot differently. This place is full of kids that brim with hatred for Union, and will until they get outside of these walls. I know you've got a lot to be angry about but out there your comments and friendships will not be passed over because you're seen as a 'resentful moody teenager', you'll be seen as a real threat. Someone who can commit treason against our country. And that will wind you up dead."

    "And your point."

    "Smarten up, it's different out there kid."

    "I'll take that into account."

    He gets out. "Then Scarlett James, are you ready to meet your sister?"

    I follow him out, jaw clenched and eyes staring straight ahead of me. I take no notice of the eyes I feel watching me. The different guards lining the halls. I can still feel the sting in my arm and the weight of the bracelet.

    The halls are getting wider and more lavish. Until I see it, a single door. Protected by a key pad. A small sign is fused into the door. "Operator Griff - Compound 55, Devision 7"

    A guard opens the door and I hang back nervously. "There is nothing to be afraid of Scarlett, this is your future." I shake my head, backing up a little. No! This isn't what I want! Why did I even follow him!

    I know what I want, it's to join Ryan when I get out of here in a year's time. To join Dominion and fight the battle against Union. That's what I want. I don't care if it's my sister, I don't care if it's a way out of this horrid compound.

    "I don't want to be claimed." I say through my teeth. "I won't be claimed."