The New Americana

Eden Forest

 The rocky overlook was the only place i could really get a break from everything going on in camp. No one else knew about this place, or bothered to ask where i went when i went off on my 'hunts' never returning with anything. The horizon above the overlook was always smoky this early in the morning, dusty light purples and peach colliding just above The Highest Tree in the far east. That was the place the Capital thought our kind resided in. Torn inside and out, not one of us found. I lay as usual at the edge of the overlook, I spoke into my Walkman; usually hidden between the red rock. I spoke of our people, told our stories. Recorded my life. Our life. At times i sung. Just talked. Clicking the red button to shut the recording, i stood up. my sheer dress shone in the early mist, dancing in the high wind. Stepping over the highest rock, i set the Walkman carefully behind it. I went back to the edge, peering over into overlook's ledge. All that could be seen in the whole four miles to the Highest Tree was that purple mist. It was government enhanced of course, to put us in a state of calm. Well not us, but the real patrons of New Cali. I spread my arms like wings, tipping myself down. My hair whooshed past me, my dress flying. I closed my eyes as i hit the shallow water, dropping to the bottom of Eden Lake, before remembering it was highly patrolled. I reached up, gasping for breath. My dress had been torn on impact with the water, but my switchblade stayed intact at my side. The sheer dress floated on down the crystal waters, following the tides. I stumbled out of the water, crawling from the muddy ledge. I checked myself, soaked. I shook out my hair, not much to shake out, considering i had he typical camp buzz cut. Some of the bright blue dye fell out in drops, mixing into a trail continuing into the water. All that remained on my body was my black zip up kevlar top, and kevlar pants. Along with my hunting boots and switchblade by my side. 

I continued my way through the meadow at the base of the cliff, going down my weak trail through the tall grasses that only i knew of. When i made it to the outskirts of the forest, i stopped to listen to the hum of electricity coming from the electric fence. It was there, but i could easily squeeze through a small gap carved at the base of the thing. I slipped under, singing my arm as it grazed the metal. Letting out a small cry, i bit my lip. There were eyes everywhere and i couldn't risk anyone knowing where i went. After slipping through the ditch, i noticed i was now covered in mud. I shook it off best i could, and continued in a hurried jog. I'd been gone for about an hour, estimate. I followed our subtle trail we left for the hunters, just a speck of red paint on each tree headed in our direction. Only someone with advanced knowledge of Eden Forest would know where to find base. As i got to the base of the tumbling hill i scaled every day,  i could smell smoke. They knew not to build fires close to the entries. I slid down the slick path swiftly, coming to the small cement building, an old military stakeout, long forgotten from the 21st century in the war that ended it all. New Cali lay a devastatingly dry place, until the government moved in. They created the Capital, where all the citizens were to live in a very restricted environment with no will whatsoever. From the age of five, you had to follow orders or be executed harshly. When the Capital seized all of New Cali, they left the rainforest we called Eden for the animals. They didn't know that every species was close to extinct. They couldn't stand The Mist. The Capital created The Mist to keep us out of Eden. But over time, we discovered that daily uses of marijuana prevented the poison from killing us. The animals on the other hand, all died on contact with the stuff. 

I got to the door of the rectangular dome, so low to the Forest floor i had to crawl. Once i did, i army crawled into the small space, and sliding down the tube, leading to the elevator shaft. Once i slid all the way down the tube, i hit the floor, tumbling to my feet. The Mist had disappeared, and i stood in a cold square room, only three feet around.  I pressed a glowing red button, and the rickety elevator door slid open, admitting me. I pressed another red button while inside, going to the basement. Where we all resided. As soon as the door of the elevator opened, darkness hit my eyes, only illuminated by lit joints and some Strobe lights blaring in the corners of the whole place. It smelled like blood, sweat, and tears down here. "Mia." Jordan came rushing up to me, shoving a joint in my face. "Okay, okay." "You were gone for so long-" "Jordan did you cut your hair?" "Oh, uh, yeah." He stopped, stroking through his new chestnut buzz. "Anyways, where were you?" "Ya know, wandering." "Wandering?" "Wandering." He took my answer, nodding slowly. I could see now that my eyes adjusted to the low light of the basement. "Well you were gone for 72 minutes." "Whatever." He rolled his eyes and walked to one of the back rooms we had set up as a boxing ring for training. I followed him, puffing my immunity. 

   The girls fought dirtiest, worse than the boys which somehow didn't surprise me. The match today happened to be our heaviest fighters, Mona and Cara. They were like Siamese twins, you could never catch them apart. But once they stepped in that ring, they were mortal enemies. There were also rumors that they took their relationship to the back rooms, where the "reproduction" of Eden was done. There were several children living here too, splayed out on mattresses in the makeshift bedroom, braiding hair and singing. When they weren't being normal kids, they were being taught the laws of the land, where to go, where not to go. And Jordan was in charge of teaching them how to fight. He was a sensitive warrior, but a proficient one. Get an idea in his head and you couldn't possibly get it out. We had 'taken it to the back rooms' and it was well known around camp. "Mia, look at this." Jordan pulled me to the ring, pushing me forward. Mona had Cara in a headlock, and her face was turning purple. She was tapping out so hard i thought the ground was shaking, but Mona would not let go. She had this malicious look in her eye. "MONA!" I yelled, stepping in. She looked at me, immediately releasing her and crawling back to her corner like a wounded puppy. I shook Cara awake. "Cara. Wake up, its Mia." I shook her, passing my joint to her mouth. She gasped awake, the blood draining back to her body.She coughed for a good two minutes.  "You're done for the day." "Did i win?" Was the last thing she whispered before her lungs gave out. That's when i noticed she wasn't just coughing. She was coughing blood.