Bright vibrant colors and the warmth of the sun are two experiences I will sadly never be able to feel, the sun on my face, or even the natural colors of nature at its finest. Hell I've never seen an animal that wasnt somebody's exotic pet or a real living tree. Yea, you heard me. Not once in my life have I seen a tree. But I guess, in this world it doesnt really matter. All that matters is how high tech are you compared to the next guy. We have an advanced system in our house that controls everything, temperature, the air filteration system, any thing in our house that has wifi. Its our computer, our alarm clock, our chef, our life. Days in this house seem to melt into one big hodge-podge of bland memories and strict parents. I mean it feels like I barely ever go out anymore...
" Corliss, are you listening to me?" my mother says, staring watching me move my tasteless food around on my plate.
"Of course mother," I say as I lift my head up, moving ,my long dark hair behind my ear and produce a fake smile that has always seemed to be there when I've needed it. She looks over at me, obviously not buying it. My mother and I looked alike from what others have said, we both have long dark hair and piercing blue eyes and the same pale complection. Although she is dressed much more professional than me.
"Then you should be happy that you will soon meet your fiance," she says happily, catching me offgaurd. Fiance???, " Your are turning eighteen soon, are you looking forward to it?" she asks, staring at me intently almost like she is trying to read my mind.
"Yes, I'm excited to see who the government picks for me." I smile, yup, you heard it. I dont get to pick who I want to spend the rest of my life with. You see, there are special people in the city who's job it is to know who is who and keep track of us. They record what we are like, how we interact, and so on. And keep a file of us at hand at all times, they pick out who is best for who. And report it to our government. They are assigned usually two or three children to watch and record. And when the child reaches the age of eighteen, 'big brother' as I like to call him will pick a companion they feel will make a perfect match. We never really get to know much about our 'big brother' they dont really interact with their subjects.
" 8:45 am, Miss Corliss. School starts in 30 minutes," I hear the system says, I used to call her Emma. But mother thought I was being too foolish and doesnt let me name or call our system anything. "Thank you," I murmur and leave my mother at the table, grabbing my laptop and silently exiting the house.
The walk from home to school is usually a ten minute walk, but I like taking a detour. Fake trees usually line a path parallel to the wall creating a feeling of solitude, my perferred path always takes me close to the wall. A closed off land, none of us really know how big it is, or what its like. But I love walking by the empty field on the other side. Spending what feels like hours, wondering. Thinking of what life would be like on the other side, I absentmindedly pressed my hand against the glass. Feeling the smooth surface, blocking me. Just thinking of life out there.
After what felt like hours at the wall, I looked up hearing the sharp sound of knocking.
I gasped and pushed myself away from the wall, falling on my ass and looking up to the glass to find the source. He was tall, tan and just standing there. Looking down at me, his dark eyes piercing straight through me. With out thinking I scrambled and ran. Away from the mysterious man.
