The Life of Natalie Prior

Chapter 8 - Fire City

Chapter 8 - Fire City

Screaming, I flail my arms and legs around trying to get the man to drop me.

He tells me over and over again in raspy breaths that I'm safe.

Ha. Safe. Then why the heck am I thrown over your shoulder and being taken away when it's not my choice to be.

This isn't exactly what I would consider 'safe'.

Once we were back into the burning city, he brought me off of his shoulder and carried me like my father once had when I was little on his side.

At this height, I'm at the same level as his face, and my arms aren't restricted in any way either.

Hmm... Maybe if no one happens to be looking...

As if someone was reading my thoughts, another person in a red suit comes up and puts my hands in metal handcuffs.

Darn it... Why'd you have to over think it, Natalie?

The man carrying me takes me into a truck after my wrists are attached with the cold metal. He sets me down in a metal chair attached to the wall of the inside of the truck, then leaves, closing the back of the truck after him

I can't take it anymore.

I break down into horrible sobs, my body heaving and gasping for air.

I'm going to die wherever they take me.

Either that or live a horrible life wherever I end up.

I don't want to do this.

I'm scared of what's going to happen.

I don't want to die.

The man that carried me in gets in the truck, the doors opening and closing loudly makes me jump a little bit. I look up at him through my tears, somehow able to stop sobbing for the moment. I see the man sit down across from me and take off his helmet.

He's very bald.

"There's nothing to be scared about, little girl. You're safe now. Your city will be okay too; they're just," he hesitates. "Fixing it."

Where in the world was I?

And where am I being taken now?

"What's your name?" He asks me, smiling slightly. He smiles kindly, not like a smirk.

I don't answer. No matter how kind he may seem, I still don't trust him.

"How old are you?" He asks again, the same smile on his face.

I still don't answer.

The truck rumbles, groaning loudly. I assume that it's starting up.

Sure enough, the world begins to move from outside me. I watch the fire city grow smaller and smaller from the window behind me.

"It's okay. We're taking you somewhere safe. You're going to love it. Your city there will also be okay. They're going to make it better." He says.

"I'm not from there." I surprise myself, actually speaking. "Where was that? Where was I?"

The man looks at me, emotionless.

Somehow, I keep talking.

"I ran away from Milwaukee a while ago. That's why I was in the woods. I was traveling through them and I saw the fire. I knew it was most likely bad news, but I went anyways. I haven't had shelter or real food in a while. I've been surviving off of plants and any streams that I can drink from." I feel tears of relief fall down my face from finally letting someone know about this all other than just writing it in my journal.

"Where's my pillowcase?!" I ask in panic.

The man holds it up in front of me.

"I suggest you try and hide it the best you can. They'll take it from you if they find it and who knows if they'll give it back."

"Who's they?"

"The people at the place we're taking you."

"And that place is called...?"

"Can't tell you. I'm sure you'll figure it out though."

I look out the window behind me. All that I can see of the burning city is the smoke covering most of the sky around it. The flames aren't visible through the clouds of smoke.

"Where was I?" I turn around, looking at the man. His green eyes meet mine for a split second, then he looks away from me.

The man opens his mouth to answer, but then closes it, hesitating. "I-- I'm afraid I can't tell you that either."

"I'll tell you my name and age if you tell me where I was." I smirk.

"Okay." He nods.

"My name is Natalie Wright. I'm eleven years old."

"Well, Natalie. We are taking you to the Bureau of Genetic Welfare. That city there, that is the -soon to be- new and improved city of Chicago."