Runner

Runner: Part 1

"I am a Runner. That is the reason for my existence. It is why I am not a Risk, they are weak and lack understanding of the terror we face. I will run to the best of my ability and not break pledge. "

I softly murmur the pledge under my breath as soon as I wake up. I take a quick glance at the timer on the wall and deeply exhale. It reads 00:01:56. Oh, no. I always try to wake up on time since the last Wipeout we had. Immediately I rush out of my bunk desperately trying not to wake up the other girls, but fail in doing so. Some grumble in annoyed voices and rustle in bed. They can't blame me for always waking them up, besides, I was assigned to sit on the top bunk! I make my way down the dark, narrow corridor only to find that when I turn the knob of the bathroom door it is locked. Ugh, someone got there before me. The only thing to do now is wait for the timer to reach 00:00:00 and brace myself for the siren.

I didn't have to wait long and as soon as the ear-piercing siren came on, we all marched into a uniformed line in the centre of the room and faced the blank wall. Immediately it lit up, and the words to the pledge was written up on it. This was the first part of our daily routine, shoulders broad and standing straight, we recited the pledge five times. As all 35 of us say the pledge in monotone voices, my mind drifts off to the girl who was in the bathroom. I didn't seem to recall seeing her leave. My heart skips a beat. The last time someone was late for the pledge, she was kicked out and never seen again. Some say that she was tried through the officials and they took away her title as a Runner and announced that she was a Risk. My mind starts running through different ways this could end. But with no luck, there is no way that there could be a happy ending to this.

A voice from the screen dismissed us after the pledge and in no time, everybody was silently marching down to the assembly hall. This is one of the only times when we actually get to see the boys. I was hoping I could get to the bathroom on time, but couldn't make it because the last warning siren just went off. And if I don't get to the hall on time, I might share the same fate as the girl who didn't come to the room to say the pledge on time.

"Runner 002563, you are late. Take your seat."

I shrieked when I heard the booming electronic voice that echoes around the whole room.
I hadn't been late in a while, so that voice really threw me off guard, which is why I probably only noticed that the room was set up differently 5.5 seconds later. All the attention was on me, maybe I was the only one who came in late today. Besides, it's not unusual for people to stare at me all the time. My long dark brown hair with deep wavy curls sets me apart from the other girls, not to mention the fact that I have really pale skin. I could probably blend in with the room, considering that everything was white. Quickly, I made my way to a free seat and slowly took in the scene. Long, narrow tables were set up in rows with an even amount of chairs on each side. Normally they just leave us to sit on the hard floor and face the front. They set the boys up on the tables on the right side of the room and the girls were put on the left.

When the assembly was over, we quietly marched our way back to our rooms. There are a lot of girls who live in this vicinity. There are seven other rooms like the one I sleep in that houses other female runners. That is 245 girl runners in Mississippi, but now I guess it's one less girl because there was an empty bunk I saw when I walked into the room. At least the girl is finally out of the bathroom! There are buildings like these in all of the states. Not to mention other people who are skilled in other categories. There are the Seekers, Catchers, Leaders, and, I can't really remember the rest. Captain won't be glad when she finds out that I am losing some of my skills. She might hold me down and make me retake History again.

Out of the blue, a booming electronic voice calls out saying, " Runners 002560, 002561, 002562, 002563," that's me, "and 002564 make your way to the mission testing room. The rest of you, make your way to the training fields, be there in 00:02:30."