When the Smoke Clears

home

Azure

The only place I've ever truly known is my hometown. Not even my hometown, more like just my home. I'm what most people call introverted. I don't like the outside or people most of the time.

The slightly yellowed walls of my grandmother's kitchen stood out to me as I made my way over from my bedroom across the hall. I tapped the hard, crusty wallpaper with my closed fist, then walked across to the closed off pantry and quickly grabbed my light blue apron off the rack.

It was time to get to work.

My hands worked quickly, as per usual. I expertly measured, poured, kneaded and tossed the bread dough. It was almost mechanical the way I did it, with such precision it would make a perfectionist cry.

I only stopped when I heard the doorbell ring. Making bread for my grandmother's old bakery took awhile; I hadn't even completed two loaves when I encountered my first distraction. When I opened the door, I found my best friend waiting for me in a pretty yellow dress.

I leaned against the wood of the door frame and questioned, "Quinn! What brings you here on this nice morning?"

Quinn stood straight as her voice grew proud. "I've got news Azzie," she stated confidently, "Do you remember asking me to send in our promotion applications to the Capitol last Wednesday?"

"I remember telling you not to and then you doing it regardless."

"Yeah!" Her face lit up. "So, they wrote back and said they are definitely considering us for positions!"

I bit my lip as I realized the gravity of what she said. Leave home? "I don't know Quinn, maybe we shouldn't..."

Her face immediately fell at my words and I felt my own self deflate. When Quinn was unhappy, I was unhappy. It's just the way things worked with us.

I stared straight into her navy blue eyes, compelled to say yes. I just didn't know if I could.

"Quinn...," I started, not knowing where I was going, "I, uh, I guess I'll give it a shot."

Her eyes crinkled in the most lovely way as she stage-whispered, "Thanks. I swear upon my life that you won't regret it."

I invited Quinn inside for a chat and then watched her leave. I promised that I would meet her at 6 am tomorrow morning to take the train to the Capitol. I closed the door behind me and walked to my bedroom.

My face immediately slammed into the dusty yellow comforter. The familiar smell of my grandma, like fresh daisies and sugar pudding, hit my nose and I smiled.

My hands grabbed the edge of the bed frame. I pulled myself to attention and approached the closet. Behind the closet was a small storage space my grandmother used to store her travel items back when she was alive.

I pulled a damp-smelling ivy green duffel bag out of the mess and emptied it over the bedspread. Older jackets, shoes, blouses and jewelry that belonged to my grandmother's traveling days fell out. Most things were non-salvageable but I managed to find a few items that I could wear. 

I packed until the bag was practically bursting. I had no idea how long I'd be staying, what I'd need or why I even agreed to go in the first place. I set the bag by the door. The thump it made when it hit the ground sounded more like a body hit the floor. 

"It might as well have," I admitted to myself as I trekked back to the kitchen to check on my bread. As I placed a loaf of raisin bread into the preheated oven for 35 minutes, I clicked my toes lightly. As I returned to my mechanical state, my thoughts drifted to what would happen when I got called in the next day.

When Quinn first told me about the possible promotion, she said the jobs involved the other side or Rua. At the moment, I was approximately 20 miles from the border that separated us from them. I knew that it wasn't exactly safe to live near the borders, but I had grown up here. Even with the possibility that something could go wrong with their tech, I would stay. Until, of course, now.

The difference between our "areas" were the toxins sprayed over our two separate populations. When in the heavy presence of both, the skin could be heavily burned. Since I had lived in Cian all my life, the toxin I had absorbed, the Cian toxin, couldn't be removed. If I stayed too late on their side, the toxin generators in Rua would react with the Cian toxins in me. I would be burned alive.

That's why it was so dangerous to live on the border. While the air shields that lined the border could protect us well, there was always a minuscule chance that something could go wrong.

My mind quickly zipped back to reality after I accidentally grasped the hot oven door. The loud beep echoed throughout the house, telling me that the bread was done. I shook my head and grabbed my light blue mitts.

The heat grew through the fabric as I lifted the cinnamon-smelling loaf out of the oven. The soft tendrils of heat made me smile. I placed the pan on the counter, turned off the timer and breathed in. I loved the way the hot oven would make the house smell. I sighed and decided that I would need to go to bed early since I would be traveling in the morning. 

I left my bread out to cool as I walked to the back of the house to take a shower. I peered into the mirror and admired the azure blue eyes I was named after. 

The only side affect of the toxins were found in eye color. Everyone in Cian had blue eyes. Everyone in Rua had red/brownish eyes. While we all had the basic blue, everyone had different shades. Quinn's eyes were distinctively navy blue, Caroline from across the street had a light, almost grey blue, and Mr. Johannson from the marketplace had gorgeous blue eyes like sapphires.

I rubbed my eyes and prepared my shower. The slightly blue tainted water shone as it wove it's way down the drainpipe. Another side effect of the toxin. Not to mention my formerly white oven mitts, pants, and tablecloth. At least the blue looked nice.

When I finished, I put my hair up in a messy bun. I swiftly brushed my teeth and put on an over-sized (slightly blue) t-shirt paired with knee-high (slightly blue) socks. Some people don't like sleeping with socks, but I personally think they feel comforting and warm. I slide over to the kitchen in my socks, turn off the light and prepare my bed. 

My alarm was set for 5:10. I was ready and prepared to meet whatever came my way.

Or so I thought.

So this was the first chapter! Pretty impressive. I hope to have more up by Monday next week. Stay tuned for a POV switch...