Jessica, also known as number 09127, woke up in the morning, to birds chirping and went through her morning routine. She went downstairs in her living module and looked over her closet of uniforms, each with her number printed on a badge. The uniform was a bleak color, that could not be efficiently described as being beige. She put on one of the uniforms, ate her breakfast, and headed out the door. She was first going to visit her sister's module, just to say hello and talk before Labor Time, which started promptly everyday at 10:00 am. She took the short walk to her sister's module . Her sister was expecting a child in the next two months or so, and she wanted to go check on her, and make sure she was healthy. When she arrived at her sister's module, she knocked on the door to no avail. Her sister did not happily answer the door as she usually would. That's when she remembered that her sister had given her a key to enter her module. She used the key to unlock the door and entered the module, calling her sister's name. When she got to the counter she saw an envelope on the counter. The envelope was addressed to her sister. It said:
Dear Maria (02376):
As our fathers and forefathers have requested, the council summons you to now reside at in the Facility, in which you will Labor. You will receive food and a place to stay, and necessities. You have been summoned. If you fail to arrive at the appointed time, you will face capital punishment from this council. Beware the repercussions of disobedience.
Councilwoman Cristal
Immediately, her heart dropped to her stomach. Just a year ago her mother was summoned to the Facility by the council and she has not come back. Jessica sobbed at the loss of her sister, and sooner than she thought, the warning bell for Labor time rang, and she had to report to her job. She was a Scholar, and she studied texts for a living. When she arrived at the Module for Scholars the first subject she decided to study was the Facility, where her mother and sister have gone. She looked for a book, and the whole section on the Facility was blacked out, censored by the council. The entire day she thought about her family and the Facility. What type of labor is done there?
________________
At the end of Labor Time she walked down the street to her module. She entered the module and continued to think about her sister and her mother, taken from her. She sat at her table and ate her rations, and she began to weep. That night, she fell asleep at the table, her rations unfinished, and she began to dream.
__________________
She awoke to a loud knock at the door. She quickly cleaned her living space and rushed to answer the door. It was Councilwoman Cristal. She was astonished, and quickly erected her posture.
"Number 09127?" the Councilwoman said with her monotone voice
"I am she." Jessica said with fear in her voice.
The Councilwoman placed a small white envelope in her hand and briskly walked backed to her large office building.
YOU ARE READING
The Facility
General FictionEvery person is expected to work at the Facility at least once in their life. For every three people who are employed at the Facility, only 3 leave. Jessica has received her summons and she doesn't like what she sees.
