Dystopian Dream

Bounty

I had ducked into this section of the fair upon seeing his face. I recognized him. I couldn't remember where from but the lines in his face were deeply carved into the flesh of my memory. I only hoped the same didn't go for him. My safety rested on him not noticing, recognizing, or capturing me.

Peeking out the corner of my head to check his whereabouts i saw a flash of unruly, tousled brown hair, as it disappeared around the corner. I breathed a sigh or relief and finally turned to see my surroundings.

I was at the entrance of a maze shaped book store, massive 7' dark synthetic wood bookshelves were set up in thin, shoulder width isles. Some ended abruptly. Some branching into one or two other isles.

Each of the shelves were stuffed full of books. They were crammed so full of books that whomever had stocked them had had to start stacking them horizontally on top of, and in front of, the vertical ones.

The only way to navigate were signs hung on the ends of the shelves with arrows pointing to the various sections, there was always an arrow pointing to the exit.

I was about to duck out of the book store and try to find a way out of this fair, when a sign caught my eye in the dimly lit corner: History.

Weighing my choices in the fraction of a second, i came to the quick conclusion that i could not pass up the opportunity to get a better grip of where i was.

I hurried over to what was, luckily, the most unobtrusive corner of the store (which was still well lit thanks to the lack of a ceiling). I would have to make this quick.

I scanned through the shelf for the smallest book i could find. I found it wedged between two relatively tall leather bounds--a small journal. On the spine, pressed into the leather, were the words "Short Summary of this World in Which we Find Ourselves". I rolled my eyes. Quite a wordy title for such a small, and supposedly short book. But strangely fitting for my situation. For a moment I hoped I might not be the only person like me out there. Then i shut my mind to that thought. No. I wouldn't hope for anyone to go through what I had.

I flipped a few pages, decided this would have to do, then stuffed it discreetly into my loose blouse. I was turning away to leave when another book caught my eye, this one was much too big to stuff unobtrusively into my shirt, but i couldn't resist pulling it down from its shelf and flipping open the cover. Just for a second, I told myself. The first page said only "Earth". No author. I opened to the summary.

"As children we were all told about the fantastical paradise called Earth. Our parents would describe trees and animals that we've only dreamed of. And the people that lived there, just like us. Many times as a child I'd wish to visit this mystical land. Sadly, we dreamers may only do just that, dream. The verdant land is only-"

A hard body slammed into mine, shoving me into the multiple layers of the bookshelf I was standing before, and causing the book to fly out of my hands. I felt the shelf tip slightly before the weight forced it back firmly onto its base.

A hand was gripping my arm at the wrist and holding it to my back, the other was wrapped around my waist, holding my arm to my side. My cheek was pressed firmly to one of the shelves and my jaw ached. Another shelf was under my breast, pressed against my ribs. Another dug into my hip bones, and a final one i could feel directly below my knees.

"I found you" he hissed into my ear.

"I don't know who you are!" I gasped in pain as he pressed me harder against the shelves.

"That doesn't matter. You have a bounty on you for 10,000 ports. Thats quite a large sum. But i don't care about that."

"Then what do you care about?" I quietly shuttered, fearing what answer might come. Tears were gathering in my eyes. I knew what i was accused of.

He tightened his grip. His breath faltered. And i knew this would be bad. I tried to prepare myself for the worst. "My sister was in that house." He seethed, sorrowful rage in his voice.

The tears that had been pooling in my eyes started to spill. I had not been able to prepare myself for that.

Suddenly green eyes flashed through my mind and i gasped unwillingly. The tears came more quickly. A tear dropped onto his arm and he spun me around without warning. I closed my eyes, not wanting to see the expression he would offer a murderer.

"Why?" He said. "Why did you burn down a house full of children?! Orphans! My sister was in that house! I almost had enough to get her out. I was so close! You murdered her! All of them." Sobs racked my body. He was holding my arms at my side--the only reason I didn't crumple to the floor. I shook. "Why? He repeated.

Through my sobs, I uttered the one thing I was sure of: "I didn't".

"What?" He asked, more to confirm my words.

Nothing else was sure. "I didn't" I said suddenly, tears still ran down my face and silent sobs still racked through me, causing my shoulders to shake and my throat to bob but my voice was firmer. He was suddenly too close, the walls too. I fought. I pushed against him, jerked wildly. I couldn't breath.

"Please!" I begged, "I didn't kill them, I tried to help! I can't breath" suddenly a voice echoed through my head.

"I can't breath!" It pleaded.

"I can't breath!"