In The Hollows

The First Year

Mother and Father are too normal. Life is on a schedule I can't seem to understand.

"Everly! We are going to be late to your mending class!"

"Mother, can't I miss just this once? We don't need to know how to mend anymore. The bots can do that for us."

"EVERLY! You better not say things like this to your peers, they could tell the higher ups and you could be banished from The Hollows!"

"Mother, what if I don't want to be in The Hollows?"

"I am done speaking to you. Get in the pod I am taking you to class."

I don't understand why being banished is the most terrible punishment. To me, it seems like the biggest reward. I can't wrap my head around the works of The Hollows. A bit of freedom seems nice to me, but nobody seems to agree. At least not my parents.

Mother Jane and Father Abe are not really my parents. Here in The Hollows we are not allowed to have children of our own, it could cause emotional bonds us humans aren't strong enough for. So as a result, unwanted healthy babies are taken from The Outside and brought to the ward for their first year.

In the first year babies are not permitted to see their new family because year one is such a crucial bonding age, mothers will not experience such a compelling instinct. We add chemicals to our nursing milk so our babies grow up with superior minds and bodies. We live without music and art, but my parents would feel such embarrassment if they knew I had heard those words before.

When I arrived at mending class I was not excited. I have never been much of a girly girl, as much as Mother tried to change it. So I despise classes such as these. But to my surprise, I walk in to see a young man, not much older than I. I'm in my 16th year and he looked to be in around his 17th. His hair was brown with specks of gold and eyes that looked like a reflection of the ocean. At least I think, I have never personally seen one.

"Hello. I am called Everly."

"Hey, I'm Jonah."

"You speak in a manner I have never heard."

"Well, you have a lot to learn then, Everly."