From the Ashes We Rise

Prolouge

I poked my head around the tree giggling, expecting to see my sister, Lisa, but instead saw a shadowy creature towering over me, rage flickering in its eyes like flames. I drew in a breath and turned to run, just as the creature grabbed me with sharp claws, tearing through my pink jacket and finding soft flesh beneath. I fell to the ground and screamed as the creature headed for me.

I flung myself into sitting position, knocking my head into the metal bar above me. My sister, sleeping on top of our shared bunkbed, groggily muttered, "What?"

I crawled out of bed, turned on a lamp, and turned to face my sister.

"Sorry, Lisa, bad dream."

"Again, Lexi? Same one?" I nodded. Lisa shook her head and collapsed back into her pillow, exhausted.

I looked at the clock; 4:53. Good, two more hours of sleep.

I turned off the light and ducked into bed, wishing the next two hours would last an eternity. I sighed and let myself fall into a dreamless sleep.
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"Hey, Lexi, wake up! You're gonna be late!" Lisa shook me until I threw her off the bed. Shoot, 7:08.

Still half asleep, I got dressed for my first day as a senior in high school.

I walked downstairs into the kitchen. The same white marble countertops and black appliances were there, and the island in the middle had delicious chocolate chip waffles sitting on a small plate. I happily grabbed a few waffles and sat next to Lisa.

Once the we were finished, we grabbed our matching teal backpacks and headed out the door. The street was full of kids on hover boards listening to music on wireless earbuds.

Lisa hopped on her hover board and flew over the ramp and onto the sidewalk where she waited for me to do the same. Once we both had entered the parade of kids going to school, I put my earbuds in. Not five minutes later, a boy with electric blue hair bumped into me. He muttered, "Sorry," before continuing on. I rolled my eyes and continued listening to my music.

I felt a hand reach down my back, but when I turned to glare at the person behind me, I realized there was no one there. I drove my hover board to the side of the road where I shook my shirt until a slip of pink paper fell out. I opened the folded paper and read the note:

"Run."

I looked around me; suddenly, I realized the people moved in sync, like robots. What was this?

And so I ran. I ran to the forest and never looked back.

-

I sprinted between trees and over the soft pine straw, enjoying the wind blowing back my hair. The world was a blur around me and I was free. I wondered why I had never run before as I thought back to the life I was leaving behind.

Once in my history class, someone had asked a similar question. "If there are so many uprisings because people don't like the Institute, why don't they just leave?" he had said. We all knew we were curious, but for some reason we never asked, like it was an implied Unspeakable Phrase. The boy had been immediately seized by guards and taken to the front of the classroom. His lifeless body fell to the floor as he was shot in the head; the guards dragged him away after that, and we continued on with our lesson as if nothing happened. The topic of leaving the city was never brought up again.

I continued to think about the history of our city, realizing just how corrupt our government was.

Once the Equality Institute had taken control of the government after World War III, everyone was treated equally. No fighting, no controversy over anything whatsoever. That was, of course, until the Uprising began. Revolts were common in our city; thousands died at the beginning. Then the Institute sent out the Neutrals, guards who constantly patrolled the city keeping the peace and murdering anyone who stepped out of line without a second thought. They rarely patrolled neighborhoods, so I didn't have to worry about them following me into the woods.

I stopped at a creek to catch my breath. I looked back to where the city was. Was. Smoke was rising in the distance. What had happened in the few minutes I was gone? I looked down at my watch; it had been three hours since I left my house. Had it really been that long?

I sat against a tree next to the creek, listening to the water trickle along and the birds softly chirping. Once I felt like I could run again, I stood and turned toward the mountains to the left of me. I needed to get to high ground if I wanted to see what was left of my city; there was no way I would go back after fleeing.

I began to run again, and not long after my stomach began to growl. I hadn't packed any food, or any materials for that matter; I considered running back home. No, I thought, I can never go back after what I've done. Even if the city is in ruins.

I trudged up the mountain until the sun began to set, my body ready to collapse with exhaustion. A twig snapped behind me. I pivoted, fear growing inside me. No one. As I prepared to turn and run, a large, calloused hand clamped over my mouth, stifling my screams for help as I was dragged away, thrashing and kicking, trying to break free.