Fenced In

I lay on the grass, eyes closed. 

Trying to forget that I'm here. 

Thinking back to when we were free is what keeps me going.

When I was allowed to love.

I need to hold onto those memories but each day a little part of them disappears. 

I doesn't seem like a year ago I was free. Free from everything my life is now. 

I still had my mom and dad. We were happy. 

How did we even get here? Why us? 

What did we do?

Something grabs my arm. My eyes shoot open and I let out a scream.

"Ellie it's just me...I didn't mean to scare you." Harry says laying down besides me. 

"Oh." I allow my eyes to close again. 

"Inspection is soon. We should start walking back." 

"I'm hungry." I say ignoring what he just said. I don't want to go back.

"I caught a rabbit today...you can have some after inspection."

"That's illegal Harry." 

"Yeah, well what else are we supposed to eat, huh? They give us one meal a day and expect us to work for well over half of it. Those bastards don't give two shits about us. They just need their precious money and that's why they have us here...to do their dirty work. Well you hear that everyone! You're going to get what's coming to you soon!" he yells.

"Harry quiet down!"

"No one can hear us out here."

"I'm scared." I prop myself up on my hands and watch the sunrise.

"Everyone is." he says sitting up and squinting his eyes at the sunrise. I don't say anything I just sigh.  "Come here." he says holding out his arms.

"You know I can't hug you...what if they see. They will kill us both."

"Ellie, no one can see us out here."

"I don't want to risk anything." 

The horn goes off signaling everyone to line up at the Center.

My breathing becomes shaky. I start becoming shaky. 

I close my eyes trying to choke down the tears. 

"No, Ellie please don't cry. We are going to be fine. Everything is going to be fine." he repeats

"Harry, I don't want to die!. I don't want to die!" I say through breaths. 

"Ellie! Ellie! Listen to me. Look at me!" I open my eyes more tears trickle out of my eyes. "We are going to be fine. Trust me." Harry says sternly.

"You're right. We are going to be fine." I say nodding trying to convince myself so.

"I love you, Ellie"

"You know we aren't aloud to love." I close my eyes again calming myself. 

"That doesn't change my feelings for you, Ellie."

"I know."

"Alright we have to hurry." Harry says standing up and I do the same.  "We gotta run." 

We start running and my feet start sinking into the muddy ground as we get closer to the Center. 

We get there just in time. Everyone is lined up in rows as usual. 

I look around for Jackson, my little brother, so I can keep an eye on him. 

I watch the men dressed in black armor stand in front of us all with perfect posture and their guns behind their backs. 

"As you all know, this is our weekly inspection. In case you forgot the rules...if you refuse for us to inspect you or are sick...we will kill you." Mr. Cun says through a bullhorn pacing back and forth in front of us. "Men take over." he demands.

The men in black armor take over. Each assigned a row. 

They began checking for any injuries, and any signs of sicknesses. 

"Fuck you! Fuck you all! I hope you all rot in hell. You deserve it! I fucking hate you all you bastards. I don't care if you kill me." she says smiling. "But, don't worry everyone these bastards will have their karma-" 

I watch as a bullet goes right through her skull. I suck in a deep breath and close my eyes. 

"Ellie calm down. Don't do anything stupid. Don't cry Ellie you're okay..don't cry." I tell myself. 

I look up at Harry and he mouths the words "You're okay." to me.

I'm so thankful for Harry. I'd kill myself if it wasn't for him. 

I watch as the guards drag the woman's body out. 

Blood dripping from her head.

You are okay Ellie.