Zomtopia

"Samantha" my mother said, "Your turn", Mom had a strange theory that telling about your day helped relieve stress even though it never worked for me she seemed to enjoy listning so I always just go with it.

Sam was four years younger than I. She is always being treated like royalty and she soaks it up.,"Well," she began,"in third period, Lance asked me to prom but then Jessica came up to me and...", my sister continued. As interesting as her petty high school drama was, I decided to dround it out. Besides I had more important things to worry about. Now that I was 19 I figured it would be about time to start to find my place and start my career training. Because my mother was a nurse that means I would become a nurse. I was hopeful that I would be able to convince the neighberhood Custos to allow me to choose what I do. ,"then I just told them to chill ou-", Both Sam's sentence and my hopeful thinking were cut-off by a loud, childish scream. It was Jacob's scream. Everyone was used to it by now though. Ever since he was welcomed into the family, almost a year ago, he has been very fussy. Everyone in my family found it annoying but I loved it because that meant I could spend time with him. I loved him and treated him as my own son. ,"Sierra, wi-",,"yes", I interupted. I actually enjoyed being around small children. I wasn't always like that until after Sam grew out of her imagination, which is what I like about kids the most. I look back now and with the absence of our father I feel like I let my family down. When he died I would be a coward too everything and locked myself in my room most of the time. The only thing that mattered to me then was my pencil. I have always used art as an escape. I was never there for the one who looked up to me the most, Sam. It was even around the time she started acting out and became a drama magnet. When my adopted brother, Jacob , arrived I was determined to make things right. Maybe that is why I love him so much? Maybe I feel like I have to? I made my way through the kitchen and upstairs to Jacob's room. He was still crying but calmed down when I entered the room. I always thought that was strange how he only responded to me. He seemed to bond more with me than the rest of my family.

I woke up earlier than normal. My sleeping schedule was mixed up and I had an important day anyways. I got up and started getting ready. Today I was to meet up with the Custos to discuss my career change. I hope they aprove. I mean, being a nurse and being a caregiver are almost the same, right? ,"Maybe I actually shouldn't mention that.", I whispered quietly to myself. I finshed getting ready and rushed down stairs without first grabing a yogurt and writing Mom a note as I probably wouldn't see her the rest of the day.

"I see, and Miss Lerfé, how do you feel you will help this community as a caregiver?", said an older and balding male Costo.I wasn't quite sure how to respond. What are they expecting me to say. This doesn't seem fair there are 14 of them and one of me.,"I am concerned about creating a healthier and more intelligent generation and I believe that starts at birth. I also am great at getting throu-",. ,"That's enough", said a younger woman putting her hand up as if words were not enough.,"We will consider your application. Expect a letter in 3-5 days.",.

I felt like laughing at that sentence. Maybe it was because my daily fortune was,"In five to ten days expect a letter in the mail that will change your life",. As much as I wanted to believe that they were not, almost every one of them were 100% true.

I said my thanks and left, checking my watch after I shut the door of the debating hall. Three hours of interviewing had passed and that was before I filled out the seven page application. I am not sure why they needed that. Everything about me is in their files. They have everything from my best friends name, the third letter of my middle name and how many seconds exactly I've spent in my home since I was born. It sometimes seems scary too think they know more about me than I actually know about myself but I allow those emotions to fade away quickly.

After the meeting, I decided to go to the the orange grove. I enjoy going because not very many people go there and the Wall is located at the edge of the grove. It is also the only accesable point in the entire neighborhood to the Wall.I even have found a way to get outside the neighborhood. Everything outside is different. It's big and open. I try not to stay out too long in fear of being caught but I have multiple drawings of it that I have created. It never fails that I am astounded by the view. I wish I even had words to describe its beauty and gracefullness. There has only been one time that I've wandered too far and I found another neighborhood but as terrified as I was to be caught, I couldn't stop. The other neighborhood was alot different. I started talking to this nice, older lady and when I explained to her where i was from I immediatly regreted it. She looked at me as if I had turned into a giant man-eating lion. She told me to go back quickly and after much asking I finally got her to tell me why. She didn't tell me the whole truth but I believe I figured it out almost completly. My story so far that I have put together from multiple resources is as follows. Many small children or babies were taken from their families by the goverment to create a perfect neighborhood. A set of rules were placed and the children grew up following them. The ones who cared for them were the present-day Costos. The children were cared for until they became 21, the age limit for someone to live with their families. Any one who was at the age limit and had any memory of their life outside the neighborhood were immediatly executed and to cover up the goverment told that they were executed for a crime within the neghborhood. The rest were taught that what they learned is how it has been since the dawn of time. When I tell my mother this this she refuses to believe anyone would do such a thing and stops talking to me for the rest of the day. I've thought about leaving and going to that other neghborhood before. Everyone seemed so free there and not bound to such a large list of rules. When Jacob arrived I thought about leaving and taking him with. I even had everything packed until I learned that anyone caught trying to sneak out would be killed immediatly no matter age or career level. I couldn't bring myself to take that chance with him so I put away that idea of leaving rather quickly.

Chapter 2

This morning I went back to the orange grove. I love the smell there whether I am in the neighborhood or not, it's still an amazing place to go. When I finally got there I noticed the Wall had....changed. It looked to be boarded up very tightly. I heard faint sounds coming from the outside. I became creeped out and decided to leave. I spent the rest of the day at home thining. And drawing. Drawing whatever my imagination decided could be on the other side of the Wall. Secruity seemed more strict as well. Maybe we have received threats from other neighborhoods? I hoped not and went downstairs to see if Mom was home. She was home but didn't look happy, bright and beautiful like normal. She was pale and had red on her eyes and nose. She had been crying. Her eyes showed a story of pain, worry and disgust. She sniffled a little that forced a smile at me like nothing was wrong. ,"What's going on?," I demanded. ,"Just another tuff day. It will be better tomarow.",. she said slowly. ,"Please?", I asked gently. I knew something was up. ,"Well,", she started. Her eyes were already starting to tear up. ,"A man was pronounced dead of natural causes. Only a few moments after all the doctors and family members left, the same man stood up and attacked the small girl in the room next to him. In the panic one of the soldiers tried to shoot the man but accidentally shot the child first.", She started to cry a little harder. Through all the tears she said in a quiet zoice,"She was only five",. She soon stopped and acted normal when my sister came home. Mom did look more put together than when I came home but it was still obvious something was wrong. Sam, on the other hand, either didn't notice or cared too much for herself instead. She had a small bruise on her arm but looked in worse shape than Mom. Her jeans were ripped as well. Mom's "nursing sences" went off and we soon found out that she fell on the way home even though she made it sound worse than Mom's story. I am immpressed with my sister. She has a bright career as a journalist.

When I woke up the next morning eveerything was strangly quiet. It was eerie and was as if the sirens had gone off. I got up and started getting ready. Suddenly I heard quiet talking then I heard all to clearly, "Attention, there have been a few small incidents. Appropriate action will be taken. Be aware of your surroundings. There will be no working, career training or schooling until further notice. Thank you." I ran down stairs to find my Mother. She was getting ready. "Mother, there is no working today, didn't you hear?". "They need me. Try to find your sister, I think she already left.". What was she talking about? I went back upstairs as I heard her leave. I decided to pack in case they decided to relocate the community according to protocal.

I left not knowing what to expect. Same eerie silence remained heavy in the air. I called out,"Sam! Sam?".There was no reply. I decided to walk further, forcing my self to stay alert and strong. What if she was if trouble? My morbid imagination began to play scenarios in my head. Maybe she was kidnapped? Don't be silly I thought to myself. As I wandered the streets I noticed more and more. I noticed moaning coming from outside The Walls. Authorities and nurses ran through the streets with medical supplies and terror in their eyes. There was one woman who was obviously greif stricken and had seen terrible things. She was being escorted by authorities and was holding a sign that said "The end is too near". This is when I relized that the situation is worst than I thought. Just then I found Sam crying on a bench with a young man sitting next to her, comforting her. "What's wrong" I asked trying to ignore the boy holding her. "I-I" she stuttered. "Go on" I urged her. "Stacy, she- she- Her father passed away. Then he came back from the dead and, and attacked her." she sighed. She began to cry again as the boy pulled her closer. I suddenly recognized him as her soon-to-be husband. They were paired when they were both seven. Ages always varied with pairing. for example I still haven't recieved a pair like she had. I was to get mine in a week. That basically ment that my pair was set already but they still are arranging certain things I don't know about. With the way things were looking, I think my pairing ceremony may be delayed.

I finally got Sam to stop crying and asked her pair to tell me his name and where his family was. "Well" he started "My name is James. As for my families location, that I'm not sure of. I think my Dad is in the mines still and I'm not sure about my sister. She might be at school?". "Great,". I thought "more people I have to find." "We'll try to find your sister first. Her name would be helpful." "Glamour" he replied.