Tessa's heart pounded in her chest as her feet continuously hit the ground. Each step carried her back to the same exact spot as before. It was nearly time for all citizens of the New Union to return to their living quarters and for security drones to scan the area for citizens out past Last Time, the final notice for everyone to be in their assigned buildings. With that thought in mind, Tessa stepped of the running platform, a flat surface that moves faster or slower based on how the runner adjusts the speed. Its true name had been lost in history as no one heard what the running platform was called before it was forgotten.
There was only silence as Tessa cleaned herself up to exit the Healthy Livings building to go to her living quarters. The Healthy Livings building hadn't officially closed for the night, but as always, everyone left an hour before closing time. Tessa was usually the last one to exit. Everyone was afraid of being caught by security drones, but seldom did the drones approach citizens who were out past Last Time. It brought questions to her mind as to what security drones were programmed to do if they weren't doing their said jobs of catching citizens who were out too late.
Dim streetlights illuminated small segments of the sidewalk, just enough to become visible in Tessa's vision. In the corner of her eye, she spotted someone lurking at the side of a building. Her quick observations noted the person to be a tall figure, possibly female, wearing a form of hat or hood to cover the head. She never understood why people walked in the shadows during this time. No security drones were flying above, and no one who was out at this hour would be deemed dangerous, only a minor criminal if they failed to reach living quarters in time. Instantaneously, she wondered who the person sneaking was under the hood. But the better question was why was that person out at this time.
Glancing at her personal time keeper, Tessa saw she had eleven minutes to reach her quarters. Luckily, it only takes seven minutes to walk there, leaving her with four minutes to spare. At first, the thin cube wouldn't turn off. Tessa had to wait for the time keeper to manually turn off. There was a memory she had when someone told her that time keepers used to be worn on people's wrist. It wasn't something citizens did now, but there were still some antique time keepers with the straps to wrap around the owner's wrist.
She wasn't anxious to get back to her quarters. The others on her floor would never cease to bother her with their never-ending questions about subjects not even Tessa had heard of. Perhaps, tonight would be the night their inquires would come to an end. Perhaps, one day Tessa would stop attempting to fool herself with false truths.
There was no warning. The surroundings were silent, and the security drone made no sound as it approached Tessa. A short beep was the signal for her to turn around and face the drone. One last glance at the time keeper before becoming a minor criminal. Confusion clouded her mind as the time said she still had five minutes until past Late Time. The drone sent out another beep as soon as Tessa turned around.
"Report: name?" The security drone buzzed.
Tessa had never seen any kind of drone up close before. She had only seen them in pictures or in the distance. Security drones were one of the smaller types of drones that looked similar to an airplane in the past but much shorter as it held no passengers. These drones were simply pieces of metal and technology, controlled by another human on the other side of a screen.
"Name: Tessa Carslett." Her voice was loud and clear, the way your voice should be heard if ever approached by a drone.
Scanning for her profile, the drone hummed for a second before continuing the questioning. "Reason for being out past Late Time?"
Tessa gulped but answered with the same loud and clear voice. "My time keeper reported to having five minutes left before past Late Time."
Another humming sound came from the drone. "Tessa Carslett, you are not being charged for this incident of breaking time rules and regulations. Please adjust your time keep accordingly as this incident will be recorded on to your profile."
She knew what came the notice. The drone would ask for her Code ID. If someone failed to answer this question correctly, they would be tested and sent to a trial. A person's Code ID consisted of the birth number given to a particular person when they were born and the choice number they made during the ceremonies that came once every five years.
"Tessa Carslett, state Code ID."
With a moment of hesitation, she announced, "Code ID: 21 211." She was the twenty-first child to be born in her age group of one hundred total children. Her choice went in the order of second, first, first. Had she said the wrong number and revealed her secret, Tessa might have been brought to a death trial.
There were two quick green flashes before the security drone flew back into the darkness. Tessa had passed the Code ID test. A sigh of relief escaped her parted lips, and she ran her fingers through her hair.
Off in the distance, Tessa witnessed two massive drones scanning an area with large search lights. She was unaware of the conditions of that regional area, but she knew the drones circling above that area only brought trouble and damage.
Although the drones did not move towards her area, Tessa still spun around and ran to her living quarters entrance. She couldn't risk being caught again. No, this first time barely held any pressure on her mind. The second encounter with a drone could possibly be worse. Her poor mind might break under pressure and the truths about her life may leak out.
Suddenly, Tessa realized why some people were afraid of walking in the light. A silly hypothesis came to mind: maybe those shadow walkers had been living their lives the same way as Tessa had been living. However, her hypothesis was crushed as she remembered anyone who lived like Tessa was already dead and once her mask filled with lies broke, Tessa would soon join them in a coffin six feet underground.
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Alternatives
Science Fiction[discontinued until further notice, finished chapters will remain published] In 2137, a new society was born and they called themselves the New Union. Their world had fallen to ashes, but they built upon the idea of division based on age. Another v...
