01:06:78 THE REBELION

Chapter 1

Ever since I was born I have had this mark. Right here on my left wrist. It reads 01:06:78. The day I am suppose to die. Today is January 6th 2078. Today the Institute will show up at my door step and drag me off. I'm not ready to die. I'm only 18. But they don't care.

After the Institute took over in 2020, they administered a serum to every living human's blood stream. It was called the God Cure. It was a cure for everything, including death. The goal was for the serum to be passed onto the next generation through the blood line and continue for generations after that. But when no one was dying and families continued to have children, the world became quickly over populated. Thats when the Institute came up with the Expiration Act of 2030. It stated that when a child is born they are to be analyzed to see their talents and how valuable they are to society. Then they are marked with an expiration date. It became a chance for the Institute to insure that they were always in power. They found different genes that showed how that person was going to act. People born with #67, #5, and #17 genes, that made people more controllable, were given a longer expiration date and better jobs. While people born with #48, #58, and #101 genes, that made people think more freely, were given shorter expiration dates and worse jobs. They also used the act to keep themselves alive and eliminate people with the X gene, the rebellious gene. Babies started to be rated on their pedigree, race, appearance, intelligence, genetic abnormalities, and genes. If someone was considered a danger to the Institute or considered unless they were given the lowest expiration date, 18 years. While the offsprings of the Institute or people of great power, for example the President, were completely pardoned from expiration.

I was born with a large amount of the X gene and was deemed a danger so I was doomed to expire on my 18th birthday.

I woke up early this morning and I brush through my curly red hair. At least after I die I won't have to deal with my uncontrollable hair. I slip on my favorite dress. Its white with navy blue and gold detailing and it falls just above my knees. I put on the gold locket my mother left me when she expired.

She was a beautiful artists and a free spirit. And for that she was only given 30 years. She was taken away on her 30th birthday, which was 3 years after I was born. My dad disappeared shortly after that. I was left alone. Nobody wanted a child doomed to die in a few years. So I ended up living in a orphanage till I was 15 when I was kicked out for disturbances.

I slide on a white sweater and pick up my mothers picture. It was taken the day I was born. Her orange hair was a mess and her blue eyes where red from exhaustion. She was so pretty. I look in the mirror and wipe tears out of my eyes. I slip my mothers picture into my pocket. My blue eyes meet my reflection's.

"Okay Danny. Today is the day. Today you go and meet your mother." I say out loud in the mirror. There is a loud bang at the door.

"Danny McHellen, please exit the building with your hands up and your mark visible." A solider yells. I take a deep breath and open the door. A young man, no older than 23, stands in front of me wearing a clean cut army uniform. He yanks me left wrist and scans it with a scanner. It burns and I bite my lip to keep from tearing up. The screen turns green and he puts it into his back pocket. "Danny McHellen, you have reached your expiration date. You will have to come with us." He says a hint of sympathy in his voice.

I look away and he sits me down next to two other people. One, a 30 year old woman with long blonde hair, and the other, an 18 year old boy with short black hair and hazel eyes. The women begins to cry and I hear a shout come from down a street. A forty year old man is running towards us.

"Loretta!" He yells. The woman looks up and smiles.

"John?" She says she goes to get to her feet but she is stopped by a solider.