Glass Skin

Chapter 1

          It all started in 2128. The law passed that every human being would be transformed from their natural skin and hair color to transparent skin and hair. Citizens would undergo a surgery that changes their skin and hair to a frosted glass like shade and eyes to a Sapphire blue. The surgery also straightens teeth, perfects eyesight and overall fixes any imperfections. To promote diversity, citizens cannot live in the same country that their ethnicity mostly corresponds with. Such as if you're 75% Indian you can not live in India. After this set of laws passed, all hate crimes and crimes overall went down almost 100%. The government saw this as a huge success and that everyone was happy with it. That is, except those who escaped to the Hidden City. Those who refused to become fragile.

2143: Seattle, Washington. The Ibiza residence

          *Beep* *Beep* *Smack* Emma slammed her Techome (a device much like an iHome) and slowly rolled out of bed. "Another boring day of school, yay me!" She sarcastically exclaimed. She went to her closet and grabbed out the usual, gray leggings, a dark gray sweatshirt, and her gray socks. It'd become routine since she was a young toddler just old enough to dress herself. Emma headed to the bathroom on the top floor of her family's two-floor apartment. She had the top floor all to herself. The apartment was nice and bigger than the rest in the area. After all, her mother was head of the Patrol section. Since her mother was so high up in power, the family was entitled to more luxury items. The Patrol section was the part of the government that made sure no one went without the Surgery. If so, they would face a lifetime of prison, no exceptions.

          Emma had an hour until school started, so she hopped into the shower and once she got out, spent some extra time on her hair to spice her look up just a little bit. Even after someone's hair changed to clear, it still behaved like normal and could withstand heat from various hair tools. Emma braided her hair into a crown across her hairline and then put the rest into a bun on top her head. Just as she finished, she heard her Techome ding from the other room alerting that the day's weather would be overcast and 55°. Emma groaned as she thought, "Like every day." She rolled her eyes as she got up from her vanity to head to breakfast. Her dad sat at the table eating a bowl of yogurt in his running clothes, more gray. He looked up and remarked, "I think the way you did your hair today is beautiful honey. There's some fresh fruit in the fridge if you want it."

"Thanks, Dad," Emma giggled as she went to give him a hug.

"Your mother already headed off to work and won't be home till 7:30 so we can eat dinner together. Is that alright?" Her dad inquired.

"Yep, that's okay with me!" Emma agreed.

Emma's dad was a stay at home dad. His wife worked so much that Emma needed someone to be at home with her, so he stopped working. He used to work as a freelance artist and still did art in his free time.

          Emma finished up her apple and went back upstairs to grab her Techwatch and Techtab along with her bag for lacrosse. She slipped on her gray shoes and headed to the lobby of her building to meet up with Lily.

 "Bye Dad, see you after school! Love you!" Emma yelled back.

"Love you too Emma!" Her Dad replied.