Embers

About the Edge

     "So, how is Jay?"
     Rin rolled her eyes and said, "I knew that'd be coming up soon. He still isn't talking much."
     "Give it another day. I bet he was going to tell you he likes you back, but he got nervous, so he used that comment as an excuse not to say anything."
     Rin took a deep breath. "I hope so."
     I looked over my shoulder at the glistening cascade of water from the fountain behind us. We were in the city square, sitting on the edge of the pool, where we met almost every day after work. Though the city streets were empty when I left for work in the mornings, at this time of day they were alive with the voices of playing children and conversing adults. It looked like everyone in the city had crowded into the space, but amazingly, it looked just the same in every other relatively open space in Sector 2. I had heard of places that had low populations before, but I had never seen them in person. They were all ruined during the Blackout. Unless you count the Edge. Only a select few were allowed to live in the Edge. The border patrols and their watch towers were the only ones out there... or so they said. Sometimes I wondered if that was really the case. If it was, then why did they even need the border patrols? Why would we have to stay so closely packed into our city, forbidden to stray unless sent out on specific government assignments? I tried to tell myself to stop thinking such things. The Counsel had done so much for us. Who was I to question their methods? But I couldn't help doubting that what they said was true.
     "Earth to Karsyn!" Rin said, waving a hand in front of my face. My train of thought crashed abruptly. I didn't realize I had been starting at the ground. My eyes flicked up just in time to see the New Guy walk past, glancing around nervously. Seriously, what was going on with him? I looked over at Rin, who was giving me that look that asked, 'did you hear anything I just said?'
     "Sorry. Long day. I guess I just zoned out. Did you see that really nervous dude that just walked past us? He just started working at the shooting range. He's been acting kind of weird."
     "Yeah, I saw him leave the range when I came to meet you. But anyway," she said, eager to go back to discussing whatever she was talking about before.