The Other Side

01 | ethereal

Nothing seems to go the way anyone wants it too. Everything is messed up and nothing is what it really is. We always want what others have and suffer from what we don't. Maybe somewhere out there in another world, in another dimension there's a girl just like me who has everything I want and I have everything she wants. Maybe if we switched places everything would fall into place, but not in this world. A world where the Domination rules over all of us, controlling all that we do. I'm the only one who seems to notice, everyone else gets told what to do and continues on with there lives like everything is sunshine and rainbows.

The smartest most intelligent girls and boys get to become part of the Domination. The citizens with the best genetic code are forced to reproduce. And the rest of us are left to clean up after everyone else. Until the age of 16 we all learn together in one school and after we graduate we are told which class we are now apart of, Domination, Engender or Drudgery. Everything we do before the age of 16 is entirely up to us, but the Domination constantly watches us and whatever we do will be held against us when the time comes for us to be put into our group.

Although we are told are are allowed to do whatever we want, there is a limit. There are rules, we aren't aloud to fall in love, we are to attend school every day, and most importantly we are to never come in contact with the other gender. Not in any other way other then at school.

"Ambria! You were asked a question." The educator exclaims, interrupting my inner monologue.

"What was the question?" I inquire and the educator glares at me. What did she expect, me to stumble over my words? Or did she expect me to actually be listening to this ludicrous like every other student. I'm not like any other person in this room. Everyone was trying to get into the Domination, a few wanted to be an Engender, and I totally don't understand this persons thought process. But I wanted no real part in this world. I did whatever I wanted to do and I was sure that I would most likely be a Drudgery. Any other person would have been terrified about missing a question and getting on the educators bad side. I'm not like other people.

"The question was... The average female in the Engender class has how many babies in there whole life?" What kind of question is that? Why in the world would I know the answer to this question?

"About 30?" How do women go through such harrowing torture? And then after the women stops being fertile she becomes a Drudgery. The pain just continues for the next 50 years. How could the Domination force this on anyone without our consent?

"That is... correct." ... And I definitely care. I glance at the chronometer on my wrist and realize that class is almost over and I will be able to go to my secluded sanctuary.

My sanctuary also known as an old breeding home is my safe haven. With its creamy yellow walls and dirty floors it provides me with a place where I can be myself. Where no one tells me who I have to be and what I have to do to become that person. I don't have to wear the ugly mandatory outfits. I don't have to check my chronometer every few minutes for updates on how I'm doing. And I definitely don't have to fear anyone watching me and judging.

I sit down and take out the sketchbook that I carry around with me everywhere but don't take out anywhere except for here. My sketchbook displays what I picture another world to look like.

A perfect world with alluring sunrises, and flowery fields. With people who live in harmony. People who share delicate stories and show enticing art. Ravishing voices that sing about how precious life is. No one will be divided into groups and we will all get to show who we truly are behind these identical wardrobes. Without someone controlling us, instead guiding us to make the right choices.

After finishing my sketch I decide to explore the only room I haven't seen yet. The first thing I notice are the walls. Instead of being a nice warm and an inviting colour the walls are a dreary black. The only thing in the room besides a few broken metal chairs and table is a mirror that hangs on the wall opposite to where I'm standing. The mirror is a little taller then my five foot five height. I walk over to the mirror and inspect it. How is it that the mirror is the only thing that's spotless in this room? And what is this mirror doing here it's not supposed to be in a room like this.

I watch myself in the mirror the way my gray blue eyes seem dull and my golden blonde hair is tied back in a ponytail. My skin slightly tan from the small amount of sun I receive. I stand confidently but my clothing still seems to hang on me.

In the corner of my eye I see a flash of blue and I reach my hand towards where I had seen the spark. When my hand touches the glass I don't feel the cool surface that glass usually has instead I feel a slight buzz that travels through my entire body. I place my other hand onto the the glass and feel a stronger buzz. Suddenly I feel a strong force push me from behind. I start to fall towards the glass and instead of hitting the cold surface I seem to go through it. At the last second I turn my head back and see no one standing there. Who could have pushed me?

I see a bright flash that forces my eyes shut. When I finally feel that it is safe to open my eyes again I am disorientated. I glance around and instead of seeing glum black walls I see wooden walls that reach just around my shoulders when Im standing. Im sitting on some yellow substance that can't seem to stop poking me. And a little to my left stands a giant creature with four legs. Its coat the colour of paper. The beast makes a strange sound and swishes the hair that happens to come out of its rear, or at least what I assume to be his rear. Where am I and what am I looking at?

I decide that it would be best to stand up and scout out the place. I try to move from my place on the strange ground but quickly find that I'm quite dizzy. I stay in the same position until I feel comfortable enough to move. When I finally get onto my two feet I have another look around. That's when I noticed the girl who seemed to be around my age standing near one of the deathly scary monsters. Suddenly the girl turns towards me and we lock eyes.