An Inch Of Infinity (Short Version)

CHAPTER 1~Life In Block Three

20 years later

   I rush down the dark and foreboding alley. I heard my footsteps echoing among the tight alleyways walls. The sharp smell of urine penetrates my nostrils. The sky above is turning dark and that means I have less than a minute to make it in time for curfew.

I made it to my container with less than 10 seconds left. I listened as a bell gonged, meaning we were supposed to be in our Container. I leaned against the side of the metal container. I had bought fabric to line it with, so although it wasn't quite as comfortable as some things are, it was a great improvement. Like all containers it had a waterproof outside so they don't rust if it rains. I still made sure my container was under an overhang though, just in case. Even though all of these precautions are taken my container has a hole rusted out on one side. Luckily it is small, easy to cover and easy to hide. Last thing I need is to be evicted while the Keepers are running around, and they are always out there.

Most people live in apartments. Some are lucky enough to have their own houses. I was one of the people stuck living in a container. I was also unlucky enough to be one of the many ripped from their families at eight months old and sent to another Block.

It isn't the best for sure,but I live less than twenty yards away from a stream with semi-freshwater. There used to be a forest here but tents came up and trees fell for firewood, housing and space. Then buildings came, then it became a neighborhood. Now it looks like it's a part of downtown with a stream of slightly murky water running through it to the ocean. The docks are only a half hour walk from here and when the wind is just right or if I get much closer I can smell the fish guts sitting in the sun for days at a time. 

I settle down for the night in bed. Its several pieces of cardboard laid over two wooden crates complete with an old quilt on top. The quilt is all I have of my family, whoever they are. I heard illegal music on the other side of the rusted metal wall. I sigh. Why should I rat Maxwell out? He didn't tell when l was late to one of last week's curfews. Besides, he was quick to turn it off. I won't go telling on him, but if he gets busted, I'm not going down with him.

A squad of Keepers marched about 20 feet away. They didn't stop here so we're not in trouble I guess. Max is lucky; again. The rather familiar siren wailed 14 times. 14 people "disappeared" between the midnight curfew last night and the curfew now. I hope Coral wasn't one of them.

Coral may have a childish name but she is practically a rebel against the Royals. My name is Akari and my friends call me Kari, but like many children around the world, l do not know my last name. I was taken away from my family in Block 6 at eight months old and sent to the largest of the blocks; Block 3, approximately 13 years ago. I live in a small community where we produce all sorts of things in factories. We also have many plantations on the outskirts around the community. It's insane how we can be walking down an alleyway when all of a sudden a forest of bamboo rises before you, or endless rows of vegetables. Our community has these all throughout it or even on rooftops.

Our little community blends right into the ones on all sides. You only recognise its border from experience. It isn't big but almost all the buildings are at least five stories high. We try to make good use of our space.

Block three has the most people because in theory we have the most space to live but with deserts and plateaus, we kind of got the worst of it-too many people and not enough space. Or jobs. Or food. Block three is the worst of all the blocks. Not that I would really know. All we know about outside Block three is what the Royals tell our teachers, who in turn tell us.

Block 3 is where Asia once was and is the largest of the blocks with the most space for living. We have deserts, cliffs, plateaus and other terrains that make it rather difficult to live in. Most people live on the coast, where food, water and jobs are not plentiful, but are in the greatest numbers. Block 3 is where I am now, but -like I said- it's not where I'm from. Block 6 was my birth place and is where North America once was.

The blocks were numbered in the order that they were conquered. Antarctica is #1, South America is #2 , Asia is #3, Africa is #4, Europe is #5 and North America is #6.

You might be wondering, "What about Australia?" "Isn't that a continent?" That's a bit of a touchy subject. People were rising up. Rebellions formed. They were trying to stop the Royals. The Royals didn't like that.

One day, every electronic device on the planet showed one video over and over again. Millions of bombs dropping from the bellies of thousands of planes, exploding in clouds of dust and flame below, joined by millions of its brothers. All communication with Australia was cut off. Nobody was able to answer emails or text messages. Radios, phones, even TV's produced nothing but static when contact was attempted. When we checked the only satellite we had left, we knew. The entire continent was just craters and pools of water. There was no sign of life. Not even a green leaf. Not even a breath. Everyone was gone.

The Royals had killed innocent people to make a point. We tried to stop them but they did something worse than anyone could imagine. They bombed the continent of Australia out of existence. It's gone. It didn't take long for everyone to fall into place. Thousands, millions, even billions of living, breathing people, gone. The Royals had killed men, women, and children. They destroyed it all.