I Pledge My Love (Revising)

The Defense District

"Have you finished packing yet?" my mom asked from the doorway.

"Yes mother." I replied, hoisting two boxes into the air.

"Lukkas is outside waiting."

I nodded and walked downstairs, bending backwards and leaning boxes against me. In one was my clothing, a few sets of standard issue guard uniforms. The other had my certificates of graduation, my id and my computer.

It had been a few days since I was Matched and it was time for everyone to move districts for training.

I carried my two boxes outside to where Lukkas was waiting in a buggy. He hopped out.

"Morning Rain," he said.

"Morning Lukkas." I muttered, strapping my boxes next till his in the back. "Ready?" I asked.

"Yep," he responded, walking around to the passenger's side.

I swung myself into the driver's seat and strapped a seat belt around my waist. I had driven one of these yesterday. Couples always moved together, and everyone was Matched before we moved for training. I hadn't seen Hudd since our argument, which didn't matter because I didn't like him. Right.

I swiped my arm over the dusty steering wheel and shifted the buggy into drive.

"Bye Rain!" Robin yelled over the engine.

"By Robin," I laughed. "I'll see you in a few months!"

The buggy started heading forwards and I steered it towards the Gates, following the row of the other orange buggys.

We headed through the Gate, a looming shadow falling over us. I'd was the first time I'd been out of the housing district.

I leaned out of my window as we approched a man waving people every which way.

"Where are you headed?" he asked. "And who is being dropped off first?"

"We're both headed to the defense district." I answered.

"Ah! What a great couple! You'll head down the road here and turn right after you pass the second milestone." he instructed.

"Thank you sir." we replied.

After a while of driving Lukkas' whiny voice spoke up.

"Are we there yet?" he grinned.

"No. We just passed the first milestone." I said guesturing as a large sign flew past.

"How about now?" he asked again after a few minutes.

"I will pull this buggy over right now Lukkas." I threatened.

"Okay, okay." he paused. " When are we arriving?"

I rolled my eyes and kept driving.

After an hour of driving, squinting, and shielding our eyes from dust particles, I pulled into a new pair of Gates.

"We're here Lukkas. Lukkas?" I looked over to see him snoring next to me.

"Lukkas! Come on!" I said shaking him.

"What? What happened?" he said, waking up.

"We got here. To the defense district I mean." I guestured outside. There was a huge Pentagon shaped building that had a glass dome on top.
I drove our buggy forwards, behind a few others.

"Hello new defense opratives!" a cheerful voice said making me jump.

"In Zotilia, but people call me Zoe." A girl popped her head in the buggy. She had high cheek bones and tan skin.