Barren

Preparations

The harsh mechanical bell of my alarm broke through my sleep. I didn't dream anymore, I sometimes wondered if anyone had dreams when they slept.

It was still dark and yet I could see my breath billowing out of my mouth, rolling into the early morning air. I sat up and wiped the night's rest from my face. It was transaction day, I had an hour to prepare the selected captive for their new destination.

My home for the last three years, the rusted trailer behind the captive unit was 'bijou' but comfortable, apart from the lack of heating. Electricity and gas were rationed now and most used fires to heat living spaces, my old airstream lacked a fireplace. I didn't mind too much, I worked long hours and often went straight to sleep; the key to keeping yourself sane these days is to stay busy.

A picture of my sisters and I sitting around a beautifully lit Christmas tree flashed into my mind. My father and mother smiling as they hand out mugs of hot chocolate swirled with cream and striped candy canes. I pushed the thought out of my mind as quickly as it arrived. It didnt do anyone any favours to focus of the past. The world was different now.

Swinging my legs out of the bed and onto the cold floor, I pulled a blanket around my shoulders before heading to the bathroom.

As I brushed my teeth I studied my face in the cracked mirror, I looked older than 23. Maybe it was the constant frown that seemed to be burned into my face. I smoothed my dark brown curls into a pony tail and pulled on my clothes. The sound of rain echoed around the airstream, the leak above the doorway already allowing droplets to collect in the bucket beneath. It rained most days now, floods were commonplace. At least no one died from dehydration. Starvation - yes,  illness, and disease - often,  war - frequently, but not dehydration.

I strapped my holster to my shoulder, checking my knife was in place, opened the door and stepped out of the camper. The rear security gate was 100 yards from the door. I liked to be close by, just in case.

Deep puddles of water were already forming in the gravel as I ran across the to the gate. I thumped hard on the dark grey metal door, the viewing hole sliding across almost instantly.

"Its Carter, open up."  The rain was coming down harder with each moment, I could feel drops collecting and running off my eyelashes. The viewing hole slammed shut and the familiar sequence of bolts and locks echoed through the air before the gate swung open.

I strode inside the complex as the guard shut and locked the gate behind me. The quarters were quiet, orange flood lights casting their glow onto the tight passageway between buildings and cells. My boots splashed in the puddles as I purposefully made my way through the tight maze. I detoured around the outer pathway to collect the transport notes from Weaver, who, when I opened the door to the main office,  was sitting at my work space sound asleep with his rifle propped up against the wall.

I banged the door shut behind me and watched as he jumped up into a full standing postition, disorientated and still half asleep.

"What the fuck, Cassie?" he shouted as he gained full understanding of the situation.

"If I find you asleep on duty again, I'll report you." I moved past him to pick up the folder of transportation notes from the desk.

"It was just for a minute, I pulled a double watch," he explained, picking up his rifle from the wall.

"I don't care. You have a job to do and if you can't do it you can be reassigned to the scavenging team." My voice was measured and firm. He was not the first Private I'd reported and wouldn't be the last. My prisoners were my responsibility and I would not jeopardise the most valuable resource House of Cole had.