"Melanite," Master Tevov begins over the microphone. My heart stops. Whispers are sent throughout the crowd around me. I look up at the strong, young man. "Who do you think you are?" he questions. I continue staring up at him, still and silent as a single feather lying on the ground. I begin taking that question into consideration as I have brought attention to thousands of people. Who am I? What have I become?
"You think you are some sort of hero... a little girl convinced that she has to power to change the lives of thousands, don't you?" he asks.
More whispers are sent throughout the crowd of soldiers as I stand there in disbelief. I can't even imagine what everyone is thinking of me right now. I've stirred up a mess. Anne looks at me. "Mel," she whispers. "What on earth are you doing?" she asks.
"Oh, Melanite, sorry to tear apart your little bundle of hope, but you have no power to change the world, nor do you understand reallity. You're only a small girl, how old? Eleven? Twelve? Your little news briefs, like the one you dropped just before your sweet Darrel was killed yesterday, don't stand a chance." Master Tevov says over the large crowd of soldiers who begin crying again. Several people who stand around me stare into my eyes with disbelief, the same way I stare into Master Tevov's.
I don't even have to hold back tears. My hands form into tight fists and I stand up straight. "No, Master Tevov, I do not believe I am some sort of 'hero,' because I know I'm nothing special, but sorry, neither are you. And may I remind you, I'm turning fourteen tomorrow. I should also remind you that I've lived a life more challenging than yours will ever be! I was taken from my mother's arms almost eight years ago by you heroic people, who have told me what to do and when to do it ever since, along with everyone else here! All because we are the first born children of our families that have to put up with living in this failing country! I'm no hero, but I know that I and every other soldier here are stronger than any of you are!"
The boy I backed up earlier stands up for me in the back of the crowd. "Maybe you mindless people should learn how to run a country before you throw innocent children into labor and then expect them to fight for you because there is no way half of us have the capabilities of doing anything for you, nor should we have to! Why should I, a fourteen-year-old slave have to? Why should those men that have been drafted over the past three years have to?" he says. His right hand extends towards Krol, the young boy who began screaming earlier. "Why should little kids, like Krol have to? Why should innocent people like Mel, who are brave enough to stand up and tell you guys that you're sick people and that you shouldn't have control over us when she could be killed like her innocent cousin was yesterday have to fight in some war this country has no chance on winning? You know, why should anybody be forced to help you? This freaking country has no chance anyway! I don't-"
"Robert, that's enough." Master Tevov interrupts. "And you too, Mel. I want both of you out of here and into the General Office now before you two get in even more trouble."
My heart stops. Anne looks at me. "Mel," she says. "just relax. Don't say anything more. Believe me, you've done enough." I sigh, and begin heading toward the General office. I can't believe them. All I'm doing is standing up for whats right. And I can't believe they're taking away the other boy who was standing up for me. No one has ever really done that.
I'm still surrounded by my fellow soldiers that are all staring at the same thing: me. I make my way through the crowd and try not to make eye contact with anyone.
When I walk into the General office, I sit in a chair in front of the old desk that nobody currently sits at. I highly doubt anybody will show up to give me a piece of their mind any time soon, considering they're all focused on breaking the horrible news. When I sit down, I stare out the large window behind the desk. Its hard to keep track of the date, but if I were to guess, its probably the middle of April. The trees sway back and forth in the wind, their leaves beginning to grow in the rainy weather.
My short thoughts are interrupted when the creaky door swings open. My heart stops, assuming its a Master or Mother that has come to scold me and tell me that I'm horrible person, or any other insult
I'm shocked to see that its actually the other boy that had gotten into trouble for protesting with me. I had totally forgotten he was demanded to leave, too. I turn back around and continue looking out the window.
He slowly shuts the door behind him and sits down in the chair next to me. I look at him, and try to remember if I've every met him before. I don't think I have. He begins talking before I attempt to say hello.
"You're right." he says as he looks at me. I try to smile, but I know the only facial expression I show is confusion. "What do you mean?" I ask. His big eyes stare out the window and watch the rain fall from the increasingly dark sky, then finally turn back to me. "Why are we letting them walk all over us when we're stronger than them?"
We sit there together in silence. "Master Tevov's a cocky little son of a b*tch and he has no idea what he's up against." he says. I manage to begin laughing again, and he sort of does too. "I was actually being honest, I guess." he says. We eventually stop laughing and I look at him. He pulls out a pocket watch. Child slaves are only given three outfits, all are used and are passed down to smaller children when they no longer fit us. He probably found it on the ground somewhere, the sam way I found my notebook, two pens, and map of Kotek. After taking a quick glance at it, he puts it back in his pocket.
"So, what's your name?" I ask. "Oh thank God!" he says under his breath. I laugh a little. "W-What?" I ask. He tries to hold his laughter. "I nearly choked when Master Tevov said my name over the microphone and I was hoping no one understood his deep voice 'cause I knew nobody would look at me the same way again." he responds. "Oh wait, I forgot! He did say your name!" I say.
"Yeah, its Robert." he tells me. "Alright, I'll remember that." I to respond in a much calmer tone.
Its sort of hard to describe how Robert looks. I've already noticed his large hazel eyes and his dirty blond colored hair. His friendly smile makes him seem like a an approachable person, unlike most other soldiers.
Again there is a pause in our conversation. I can hear the howling wind blow the side of the building and the rain hit the roof. How long have we been sitting here?
Robert finally breaks the silence. "I swear... everyone here was born to die." I look at him. "I wouldn't doubt it." I respond. He begins thinking. "I mean, our parents knew that we would be taken away from them when we were born. They knew we would just join the crowds of homeless people after we were to be set free because we wouldn't go to school like our younger siblings would." I take in his thoughts. And he's right, we will never have a chance at being successful one day. The government has taken control of us and ruined our lives. We'll never be taken seriously after we're set free because we'll be completely unaware of the world around us. There'll be nothing out there waiting for us, and we will never live lives like normal people.
I guess we really were 'born to die.'
