The True Lives Of The Fabulous Kill Joys

Chapter 1- A New Beginning

Pov Jade

I twist a lock of hair around my finger, oblivious that the instructor is tapping on the board.

I know, it sounds like school. Its not.

I was chosen to work at Better Living and therefore have to go through this long and boring course. I tilt my head to the side, all my curls dropping to the other side of my head. I dont even know why they chose me to do this course, I only came to shoot guns... I count down the minutes before I can leave for the day. Theres too many...

I look at the ceiling, the floor, the walls, the desks, anywhere but the board and the instructor. Everything is grey. They say there is no need for colour, that the Better Living drugs are the only things that can make you happy, or the only thing you need...

I dont remember when the Better Living took over, it seems so long ago. Since then everything has been grey and monochrome. Drugs for happiness. Drugs for sadness. Drugs for feelings.

"Jade are you listening?" The strict lady at the front barks at me. I forgot her name a long time ago.

"Sure." I sigh.

She gives me a strict look before turning back to the board.

I fiddle with the hem of my grey skater dress. Clothing is grey and ugly, grey doesnt even go with my mixed honey skin tone. I guess there arent many mixed race people left in the city...

I lean onto my hand at observe everyone around me in the class room. Everyone looks the same, bored, pale and grey. As I turn back to observe the board I double take. There is an abnormal coloured lock of hair. I stare at the red clump of hair messily sticking out from under a wig. Incapsulated, I focus harder, trying to spot the seam between the wig and the hair. How did they get the dye? Are they up to something special? Is it illegal?

"JADE!" The teacher yells at me.

"Sorry, I just..." I stop myself from spilling someones secret.

"Outside, now!"

I roll my eyes, standing. I strut towards the door and turn at the last moment to see the nervous guy, tucking red hair into a brown wig. I make eye contact before I am dragged around the corner.

"Jade. You should appriciate that you have this opportunity! Many other young men and women would have dreamt of a place like this. If you dont start taking this seriously, you will be removed from the course and you will no longer have a definite job." The teacher, whose name I forget, yells at me.

I nod, avoiding eye contact.

"Now, back inside."

I drag my feet along back inside, dropping down at my desk and leaning on my hand.

The teacher rambles on for a little more and I yearn to ask the guy two desks away, what adventures he must have had. I think of all the guns he must own and more importantly, how did he end up here?

The teacher dismisses the class and I pack up my black note pad and pens as fast as I can, stuffing them awkwardly into the bottom of my bag. I turn and rush to the guys desk. Its empty, even though everyone is still packing up. I frown at the empty desk before giving up and walking out of the room, he must have left, he will be back tomorrow.

I walk to the door and turn around to wish the classroom a 'merry' goodbye, but Ace stops me.

"You would never leave without me, would you?" She asks, trying to keep up with me as I speed walk down the hall.

"Arent you merry." I reply, walking with her out onto the street.

"You cant keep getting in trouble like that, I dont want you to leave me! Class would be boring if you werent there to talk when the teacher is out of the room."

"Id probably get kicked out." I laugh.

"But, its a job? Not many people can get jobs these days!"

"If Im miserable theres no point."

"But theres drugs for that?"

"Real happiness could be fun."

"We cant break the rules."

I shrug, walking along, pulling up the sleves on my grey cardigan.

"Be careful, if you expose your arms they could see the colour in them and... They could kill you- like they killed all the blacks." Ace whispers.

"Right. Of course." I pull my sleeves down.

"I guess Im lucky that Im so pale."

I look at Ace, she is the same height as me, shoulder legnth blonde hair, pale skin, grey eyes. Everyone has grey eyes though, through the modifications that we all have. We are all literally grey.

"Id take some pigment for you but you know how it works..."

"That would be classified as fun."

"It wouldnt" She slaps my arm, "dont joke like that!"

"Its not my fault that you were born as the 'perfect' girl."

She shrugs, grinning.

"anyway, heres my block."

"Dont be stupid, stay safe." She warns.

"What ever!" I say, in good humor.

I turn down my road, counting the grey buildings, getting closer and closer to my grubby grey bed and bunker.

Ace will return to her two brothers, I wont. We are all separated when we turn 5. Parents go to a seprate part of the neighbourhood, I got moved to the girls quarter, for only children. There awaits my nice cold bed, kitchen and sofa, grey as guessed. I press my finger to the door and enter my small flat.

I stare at my room in wonder. On the floor is a purple mask. A mask that is so purple that it seems to become cartoonishly 3D. I pick it up and turn it around in my hands. It is a silky texture, a deep purple, and has black diamonds over the eyes. I grin at it, placing it up at my face.

On the back of it there is a small paragraph:

The future is bullet proof

The aftermath is secondary

Its time to do it now and do it loud.

Thats it. I read it over and over again. What does it mean? I put it under my matress, to keep it safe, before proceeding with making my dinner, grey mushroom soup.