Broken Apart

Chapter 1

I don't want to live in The Colonies. It's a messed up, corrupting place.

Years ago, an epidemic struck. The government had no other options but to isolate the healthy form the sick and dying, so that's what they did. They left them on the other side of the world; where we were far from them.

The place where the healthy went was a peaceful, happy, and safe place. They divided themselves into 15 sections, or Colonies. Each provided something different for The Dome, our center, where we thrive the most.

People started to hate one another, after getting along for so long. They despised peace, couldn't take it anymore, they said. We separated and almost caused a war. This armband is what we are now. Separate. Each Colony has a color. Red, blue, green. It keeps the peace, but not for long.

Our leaders didn't want violence and bloodshed, the best solution was to fix the government and the Colonies. Now, we supply something different, something to keep each other from holding a knife to each other's throats.

It's sick.

Today, I live in Colony 15, the Colony of Government. We send our smartest men and women to The Dome to help lead the city.

We are breaking ourselves from the inside out.

Nothing good ever comes out of isolation, not today, not tomorrow; not ever.

My name is Robin LaRue. I live with my two brothers, sister, mom, and dad. They are happy in isolation. The world is cruel.

I, on the other hand, am not. I can't stand not going to school and learning, seeing other people. They say it's for the best. It's not, let me say that now.

At one point, it drives you nuts. I reached that point long ago.

My family keep me locked up in my house like a caged animal. The most I can do is go onto our roof and have a meeting in secret with my neighbor, Asher.

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I pushed my foot into the rung of the ladder. My clammy palm gripped the one above me, the other hand below. I hauled myself up until the air slapped my face in greeting.

"Nice to see you too," I spluttered, pulling a leaf out of my face.

"Don't feel bad, the leaves hate everyone. Just like Adira does," a voice chuckled.

Adira Cane. Our beloved and completely insane leader.

"Ash," I grinned. It was a fake grin. Asher Sparks was amazing at reading people, especially me.

"What's going on down there?" he swung his legs down over the ledge of the white bricks and sat, his feet hanging into the air. He patted the ground beside him.

"How do you always know?" I sighed and took my place at his side.

"You know, Robin, that I could tell when somethings going on down there," he pointed behind him at the roof.

"My parents. They are driving me nuts. I can't be cooped up any longer, I need to be free," my words were carried away on the wind.

Ash looked to me and I looked to him. His amber eyes made his alabaster hair seem brighter. His thumb rubbed gently against the palm of my hand, soothing me.

"You know I want to help you?" he stated.

"Yes," I sighed. Something sparked my mind. "Where is she? She should be here by now."

"Corinna?" Ash rose an eyebrow.

"Yes! We told her noon, remember?"

"Now I do," he ran the heels of his hands up his cheek. I started fiddling with my hair.

A scream cried in the distance. I leapt to my feet, trying to keep from falling over the ledge. My gaze flew to the direction it came. North. Houses stretched in both directions, roofs and roofs to run over. That's what I occupied myself with, running over the roofs.

"Corinna?" I shouted.

"I'm over here, idiot!" her strained voice replied. I ran to the next roof. A door attached to a box leading down into one of the houses blocked my view. I peered around the side of it.

Corinna stood on the gravel, a paper bag in her grasp. At either side stood a Lineman, the guards of our city. They wear hard, black suits, each holding a pistol at their sides.

"Leave me alone! I didn't do anything this time!" Corinna protested as one grabbed her around the waist.

"Set her down," I growled as her feet left the ground.

"Stupid," Corinna dropped the bag and elbowed the one holding her in the face. He stumbled back and dropped her.

"Hey!" shouted the other one, lifting his gun.

"Stop it!" I yelled, slapping the gun from the Lineman's hand.

"What do you think you're doing?" the hard mask around his face shifted when he spoke.

Ash appeared at my side, grabbing Corinna by the arm, and pulling her away. I bent down and picked up the paper back. Turning, I ran to where Ash took Corinna.

"What was that?" I demanded, shoving the bag at Corinna.

"Apparently," she rolled her and took the bag, "They don't like when I borrow rolls from the bakery." She shrugged and shoved her hand into the bag.

"You're the best," Ash smiled, snatching one.

"I get one too, right?" I stuck my hand in bag, finding one with my hand, and taking it. I bit into it, ripping off a chunk.

"Now, why would you steal rolls?" I mumbled around the food.

"I wanted to bring a treat to our little gathering," Corinna finished off her roll, balled up the bag and tossed it aside. I looked up at her hair. It was a beautiful lilac and always curled. She wasn't the kind you'd expect to spend hours every morning doing her hair.

"There's a lot to talk about," Ash chipped in. My gaze traveled to him. He was standing nervously, fiddling with his, also red, armband.

"Right," I slid my finger under my band, turning it around my arm.

Reluctantly, we went over to the ledge and sat down.