My Gray, Her Silver

Chapter 2

I could barley keep my eyes open during my battle strategy class. Each time I blinked an image of the stranger raced through my mind. And just to make it so much better, I lost to Idaho in an outdoor survival class. Usually I would beat him easily with one hit to the face but I guess he realized I wasn't awake this morning and he took advantage of the opportunity and slugged me right in the middle of my face. He gave me a bloody nose. Humiliating.

When I was switching classes, I wanted to tell my friends about the secret of the mysterious girl. I had to tell someone that I know wouldn't tell anybody! Just one problem. I don't have any real friends. I'm just that guy who's in a group of friends that only listens, nods and shrugs. So I headed over to search class. Search class is where people learn to search for others who were lost on The Night. They are otherwise known as runners.

After search class I strode down the metal hall way that has caged me for years. Then scampering down to the neatly clipped grass pathway I took a shortcut to my house. I memorized it in my head. First turn right, jump over the perfect shrubs and white flowers. Pass four houses and then check to see if anybody is watching. Lastly, get on the sidewalk and pretend as if you were taking the normal walk just like everyone else did. I was on time everyday for the noon meal.

As I walked up to my front door, thoughts of the stranger infested my mind as if termites were eating away at the other thoughts that were supposed to be concerning me. I took a deep breath and inserted my fingertip in to the scanner then placed my face in front of the scanner so it could scan my eyes. The door popped open with a light hiss then a ding, advising the officials I reached home. Walking in, my eyes skimmed over the same plain house, with the same plain furniture. I sighed with disappointment and displeasure from seeing the house from year to year. Maybe one day I will go completely insane.

I walked over to the stiff couch and slumped myself onto it. But just when I got comfortable, I heard a faint ring from the kitchen telling me that the scheduled meal was ready. "But I just got comfortableeeee," I pouted. It sucks to have the same meal as everyone else. And it especially sucks that there is a schedule meal for every week of the day.

Sunday: Salad, rice and pork

Monday: Lamb, mashed potatoes and string beans

Tuesday: Broccoli soup and bread

Wednesday: Spinach, salmon and peas

Thursday: Ham, porridge and carrots

Friday: Vegetable stew and bread

Saturday: Tilapia and tomato soup

And then all over again.

As the meal tray covered in its plastic seal arrived out of the slot, I placed my arm in the injector so that it quickly plunged the needle in my wrist so fast that is was faster than the blink of an eye. I have to do this every time I get a dish because this society is so "civilized" and especially. They draw out our blood because they want to give us the proper portions so that we won't be skinny or fat. And according to the blood measurements, they gave us the food in a "perfect portion."

Society? Pfft. More like a prison.

Today was Monday so we had the usual lamb, mashed potatoes and string beans. Monday was my favorite meal day. I stuck the plastic gray fork into my mash potatoes and chowed down on the lamb, being stupid and left the veggies for last. I held my breath as I finished them off. I tried to think about different things but it always turned up to be something about the stranger. Nothing could get my mind away from the mysterious girl and her green eyes.

Picture: Berlin