Searching for Paradise

Chapter Three

I walked down the sidewalk towards home. I tried to take the most scenic path home, but it wasnt very scenic. There were few trees, almost no flowers, and all the buildins were white. The Union didnt believe in colors. They thought that if we got too creative wed start rebelling, so they didnt allow anything colorful. The most color in this place was the small pond on the outside of the community. The only reason it was so colorful is because the Union wasnt aware of the pond or all the fish that were in it. I think theyre called rainbow fish, or something like that.

I made it home and threw my pack on the floor of my room. I took off my uniform and changed into regular clothes. Now when I say regular, you may have a different view on what that is. Regular clothing for us is a pair of brown khaki pants and a white blouse. For girls anyways. We dont have a choice really on what to wear. The Union believes that if we all wear these, nobody will become jealous of other peoples material things and start rioting.

My bedroom door opened and Mallory stuck her head in. "Your home." She said as she came into my room and sat on my bed. "Will you take me to the Rec Center?" She asked picking up my pillow and examining it. The Rec Center was a big building where kids and teens went to hang out, play games and stuff. Even the games are boring. Theyre all educational games, so I never play them. I like the pool. "Gabriella!" Mallory whined snapping me out of my thought. "Yes Ill take you in a little bit." I sighed hanging up my uniform next to the other three that hung in my closet. "Alright." Mallory said jumping off my bed and left my room. I took my hair out and let it hang down. I brushed it and tied it back into a braid. I grabbed my black one-piece suit, a towel from the bathroom, put them in a bag, and went into the living room. Mallory was playing on her slate, or tablet. 

"Cmon Mallory." I said walking past her. "Ok!" She squealed turning off her slate and leaving it on the floor. We left the house and headed down the street. We took a left and watched as the Rec building came into sight. Mallory raced ahead of me and dissapeared inside of the building. I stopped. I could go to the Rec room, or I could go to the pond. I made sure nobody was around, and made my way down an old alley. I looked around before running across the street. I made my way to the wall that surrounds the whole community. I knelt down and removed a grate on the bottom of the wall and crawled out. I stood up and brushed the dirt off myself. I took off into the woods and headed in the direction of the pond. Now this was a scenic route. I let my mind wander as I walked through the trees. I heard a twig snap and whirled around, but didnt see anyone. I continued walking but kept my gaurd up. I heard footsteps and bristled. I started walking faster and the sound of footsteps increased, so I took off into a run. I must have ran for at least ten minutes. My heart was pounding in my ears and my side was cramping but I didnt want to slow down. I kept running only slowing down when I was sure I wasnt being followed anymore. I looked around and realized I had no idea where I was. Thats when I heard the heavy breathing. I couldnt tell where it was coming from. I grabbed a low hanging branch and pulled myself up into a tree. I kept climbing higher until I was positive I couldnt be seen unless they looked up. Two people burst through the trees and into the clearing right below me. A boy and a girl who were maybe Mallorys age. They looked skinny, dirty and scared. They looked like they hadnt eaten lately and thats when I realized these kids werent from the Union. I shrunk back as two more people came through. Soldiers from the Union. The boy and girl crouched down and whimpered. The soldier pulled out a gun. I almost gasped in surprise. The soldiers dont carry guns ever. It was a rule made by the Union.

The soldier shot them point blank. I almost screamed and I felt sick. The soldier walked up to the kids and searched them. "Clear." He said to the other one. The voice sounded so familiar but I couldnt place it. Then he lifted his helmet off his head. It was my father.

I let a small sob escape my lips and the soldiers whirled around. I clamped my hand over my mouth. "Did you hear that?" The soldier asked. "Yeah. Search the area." My dad replied raising his gun up. They both walked in different directions and I knew this was my only chance to get away. I jumped down from the tree and took off running away from the soldier and my father. After I ran for what felt like four miles my side was aching again and my chest was burning. I stopped and tried to catch my breath but I ended up keeling over and throwing up. I spit and whiped my mouth. My mind was racing because I couldnt believe what I had seen. My dad, someone I had looked up to, to keep me safe, to keep the whole Community safe, had murdered two innocent children. I could feel bile rising up in my throat and I emptied my stomach again. I tried to stand up but my legs gave out and I crumpled to the ground and sobbed. I dont know how long I laid there like that until I felt a prescence above me. At this point I didnt care who it was. I felt like I was dying. The last thing I remembered before I blacked out was a pair of strong hands lifting me off the ground and start carrying me.