Land

Chapter 1

"All Citizens must rise for the day".

With a groan, Lyra prised her eyes open to meet the glaring sunlight that had forced its way through the holes in her curtains. She scanned the tiny room she called home, and the tiny room stared back. Her gaze met the mustard paint peeling at the corners and the damp that was slowly creeping its way towards her bed. It wasn't much, but it was the only thing she could call her own.

Her heart dropped as the man's cold voice spoke out from the speaker in the way it did every morning,  mercilessly reminding her of the painfully long day ahead. As she slowly began to get to her feet, he continued with the usual propaganda speech. "We work for victory. Every day that you work for the Land Faction is a day worth living. Go forth and embrace the morning in the name of our saviour, Victor. We work for victory!". His final words booming across the four corners of Lyra's room while she put on her uniform and made her way to the front door.

It was a harsh morning, with the winter breeze making its way through the fabric of Lyra's thinly woven clothes, and as she squelched through the mud she could feel it seeping into her shoes. She walked from her shack and began to make her way towards a line of workers queuing at a row of dark green carrier vans. Their rumbling engines giving away devilish hopes of warmth that seemed to lure the workers in like moths to a flame. Each van was being supervised by two Land guards clad from head to toe in red and black armour, the colours of the Land Faction. Lyra held a deep running hatred towards these guards. Having gone through years of rigorous training, these men were able to endure almost any hardship. Each equipped with a rifle, knife and a lethal enthusiasm to unflinchingly kill when ordered, this unit of seasoned fighters (and apparent "keepers of the peace") were feared by every Land Faction citizen. Lyra had seen the extent of their ruthlessness first hand when her only known relative, Moira, was forced out of her home, shot in the street and her body dragged away when Lyra was only 12 years old. The frail old woman was said to have been shot for "betraying the laws of the Faction", yet Lyra still did not understand the true reasons behind the accusations. After Moira's death, Lyra was forced to look after herself by working in the factory in order to stay alive (as single residents faced eviction if they did not work). Ever since then her life had never quite been the same.

As she slowly made her way to one of the humming green vans Lyra felt a hand grasp her shoulder. She spun around instantly, ready to guard herself against her attacker. But all her eyes could find was the beaming face of Roe. Lyra felt she only had two friends in Mort, Roe and Freya. Roe had been a part of her life from the very first day since Moira's death. They first met each other in the factory as Roe himself was an orphan after the Faction's guards had executed his father. He was slightly older than Lyra and made it his personal responsibility to look after her wherever possible. It was through their similar experiences that Lyra and Roe were able to build a strong and growing friendship which had kept them together for years. Lyra believed that if it wasn't for Roe's constantly positive attitude, she would not have been able to survive in Mort for as long as she had. They were there for each other.

"Another fine day wouldn't you say, Ly?" Roe's deep voice instilled a feeling of relief within Lyra. However before she was able to answer, a guard approached the two of them, motioning with his rifle to get into the van. They sat opposite each other on hard metal benches and both reached for a little box underneath their seats. The Faction provided two meals for its workers a day, usually for breakfast it was nothing more than a processed biscuit bar accompanied with a small can of carbonated water. Today was no different and it was as Lyra tore into her share that she finally answered Roe.

"I guess you must have pretty low standards if you consider any day here as 'fine'". This remark was met with another broad smile from Roe, who was used to Lyra's constant, unrelenting pessimism. They were almost complete opposites in personality, yet their shared hatred for the Faction kept them close. In fact it was the reason why there were very few conflicts amongst the citizens at all. They faced a common enemy in the "saviour" Victor. He had made sure that he was the most despised man in the Faction through his ruthless regime. Hardly anyone dared to speak out against Victor, and those who did met a very grim end. Ever since the death of Moira, Lyra had struggled to suppress the hatred she felt towards Victor, the Land Faction, and Mort. Her dream was to escape the god-forsaken village forever, and find a new purpose for her life. She knew that one day she wouldn't be able to contain her emotions. Lyra had decided that she wanted to escape a long time ago, and she wanted Roe with her when this happened. A fire began to spark within her as she assured herself that she would not have to wait much longer, she would let Roe and Freya know of her plans today.

The van soon filled with other workers, and before long, with one great lurch it began making its way towards the factory.