Year 14

Zeke: 4064

I stared out of the hover flat, bored to death. Though I was with two of my best friends, we had given up on conversations, and resorted to being miserable alone. Every once in a while, Xander attempted small talk, but Jax and I made no effort to try to maintain it. Everyone was still feeling the loss of the fourth member of our group, the one who was here with us just a day ago.
Xander, Jax, and I were headed to Year 14, which was a long ride from Year 13. Every year, the same groups of students advanced a Year, except for an unlucky few who were Eliminated. Year 13 Eliminated 7 students, and our friend Asher was one of them. I remembered the day of the Elimination, which was only yesterday.

I could see no signs of anything that was living, or even once alive. I guessed that this was all the land that the founders did not want. Humans must have been around a long time, because this year was 4064.

The hover flat stayed close to the ground, almost skimming against the wasteland, getting very close to the dirt mounds. The flat moved in such a way that it felt like someone else was driving it. My mind drifted off to the Elimination and Asher.

I broke the silence. "I wish Asher wasn't Eliminated. It really must stink, I mean, being him right now".
I was bored of staring and conversation didn't seem to be a bad idea. Devon looked up at the mention of his best friend's name. I still did not think that Devon had gotten over the loss; Asher was like family to him, whatever family meant. I did not think that family existed. All I knew was that we were "created".
"Yeah, I wonder where he is right now. I wonder where the all the Eliminees go. I wish I got Eliminated. You guys are great, but life without Asher . . ." He paused, wiped his eyes with his hands, and then sniffled. Brandon and I looked at each other. We were unsure of what to do.
"But life without Asher, just will not be the same". He started to talk to himself, barely talking loud enough for us to hear. This went on for a few minutes, but after a while, we all retreated to different sides of the flat.

I focused my sight back out at the ugly land beneath us. The earth looked destroyed, almost like a thousand bombs blew it up. Mounds of sand just piled up in random areas made me feel cold like I might fall out of a hover flat and be stuck there forever. The multicolored sand was everywhere, creating a desert that seemed to stretch on forever. Listening to the self-computed beeps and clicks of the flat, I continued to watch the sand go by. I started to zone out when a strange object in the distance caught my eye. We were going to fly right by it. I leaned over the railing of the circular craft and stuck my hand out.
"Dude, what are you doing? The craft is going to like, slice your arm off or something."

I shot an annoyed look at Jax who looked genuinely concerned.

"Thanks for your concern, dude, but I'll just have to take that risk." I countered, turning back to grab the box. It came it seemed to fly toward my hand as I reached and got it.
"Ow!" I exclaimed. The box was metal and having it smack against my hand definitely didn't feel good.
I looked up to see Jax and Xander staring down at the box in my hand. It was about 45 cm long and 30 cm wide. It was black and metal, and had the inscription, "To My Precious Nicole; Happy 14th Birthday! Love, Mama". I pointed this out, three of us just stared at it until finally, Xander spoke.
"What the heck, dude? What were you thinking? We don't know what that is and the Zaristar will kill us for possessing a foreign object. Throw it out, now!"
"No! I want to see what's in it first! No one has to know, okay? I'm curious!" I replied defensively.
"Chill, Xander. Zeke already has the box, so why not just see what's inside?" I silently thanked Jax for stick up for me.
Xander hesitantly agreed, and the three of us held our breath as I opened the lid and looked inside.

Hi guys! I doubt anyone is reading this, but if you are, thanks! This is my first story, so if you have any criticism, I would appreciate if you commented on the story. Also, I wanted to recommend Serpa by Sophie Gray

Thanks!!
❤️❤️DystopianLover