The Girl and The War

Chapter One- Kayla

Rumbling overtook my home early in the morning. The dark shaking was my alarm clock, that often brought me out of my dream world and back into what I knew as reality. It was a reminder that no matter how far under we hid, there was always someone above, ruling over the world.

I pulled myself out of bed at the sound of this, and showered quickly. I decided to wear a lilac dress that went down to my ankles. The sleeves went to my elbows, both modest and somewhat childish but I wore it still. My father had bought it for me as a present last week, and I knew how happy he would be to see me wear it at breakfast. My father was the General of the Allegiance in the United States of America. He wasn't actually my biological father but eleven years ago, after my parents died while fighting bravely in war with the allegiance against the Rebels, he took me in and raised me as his own. Not much was left of the United States after many years of brutal, unyielding war. It started when a group of people that later formed what we know as the Rebels decided that democracy was wrong, both seducing and limiting, holding back what was the freedom of the people. Although this all occurred before I was even born, and even though they fight for what they believe in, I find it disgraceful that the Rebels continue to fight such a powerful force that is the Allegiance.

I blow dried my hair quickly and slipped on a a pair of comfortable white pair of tennis shoes. I skipped down the long corridor to where my fathers office was. We lived on a base hidden underground of what was once Washington D.C. There were hundreds if not thousands of different soldiers living in the base, including the young training cadets who have pledged their lives in order to support the Allegiance. I would have liked to help fight, but my father wouldn't allow me on the notion that it's too dangerous. I knocked on the door of his office and peaked my head in to where he was studying some sort of file. He quickly closed the file and looked up and smiled at me waving me in.

"Good morning darling." He said while standing up and kissing my forehead. "How did you sleep my dear?" He asked.

"Good." I smiled at him while looking around his office. It was pretty boring as offices go, and I had offered to decorate it, but he gratuitously denied me. His desk was filled with pictures of him and I over the years. Pictures of me on my birthdays or pictures of me sleeping on his lap. Father never married anyone, he said that he worked too much, and he could never give anyone else the time or attention he gave me. In a way, I was all he had. His office also contained many of the medals he had won while courageously fighting over the years. On the front of his desk was also his name tag that read General Poleman, although most people just called him Sir or General, but I called him dad.

"You must be hungry my dear, let's go get some breakfast." Him and I walked out of his office and to the closest cafeteria. Only high ranking soldiers were allowed in this specific cafeteria. And me of course. None of the other officers or lieutenants had family at the base, so no one else my age was ever there eating. I sat with my dad at our usual head table, where only him and I were allowed to sit. I ordered pancakes and sausage my favorite foods in the whole world. Father settled for bacon and his coffee.

"You should eat more dad, I read in a book that you should be eating at least 400 calories for breakfast."

"Oh I'm sure you did darling, you and your books." He laughed while shaking his head. Ever since I was a young child I loved reading books. Father says that I read more then everyone else at the base, but I think he is exaggerating. I was beginning to continue lecturing him on his dietary shortness but we were interrupted by Andrew.

"Good morning General." He saluted my father. He turned towards me and nodded his head "Ms. Poleman."

"Hello Andrew." I smiled. My father coughed and raised his eyebrow at me, "oh sorry, Lieutenant Streeter." I corrected myself. Father told me it was impolite to address a ranking officer by their first name, but I had known Andrew almost longer then anyone at the base and it always seemed odd to call him anything else but Andrew. Andrew was almost 35 this year which seemed crazy to think he has become so old, I would never say this to him though. That would be very impolite.

"I have some news regarding the Rebels sir." Andrew told my father, then eyed me. He wasn't allowed to talk about war things in front of me. Not just because I wasn't an officer, but because father forbid it.

"Yes of course, meet with me in my office after breakfast. We can discuss then." Andrew saluted father and was dismissed.

"Father?"

"Yes dear?" He asked while returning to his coffee.

"How much longer do you think this war will continue?" I twisted the ends of my dress. A part of me screamed internally when asking him any sort of questions involving the war. It was as if my own body trained me to avoid that topic of conversation.

"As long as it takes my dear, the Rebels do not easily surrender. It will take something very special in order to win."

"Special father? What do you mean?" He looked up at me and then sighed.

"Oh nothing my dear, it isn't for you to worry about anyways. Why don't you head over to the boutique after breakfast, buy yourself a new dress for the formal dinner Saturday night." He always changed the subject when ever I brought up the rebels.

"Okay." I said. Although I did not need or want a new dress, I wouldn't dare disobey my father.

After breakfast, as father instructed, I headed over to the boutique. There were two boutiques on the entire base. One for the the soldiers and any of the trainees to use, which sported cheaper dress ware, and one that was more high end. I decided to go to the more high end one, because of the better selection. Long sullen grey halls led me there, a reminder that the sun and stars were nothing more than a faraway dream. When I entered I was greeted by Mrs. Turner, who ran both boutiques. Usually she presided at the other one, because it had more customers, but she must have been told by my father that I was coming.

"Hello Kayla how are you today?" She said cheerfully.

"I'm doing good thank you for asking." I smiled back. Mrs. Turner use to fight in the war, but after she lost her leg in a bombing incident, she could no longer serve. Now she makes and sells dresses and suits for the more wealthier individuals on the base.

"Of course dear, now what are you looking for today?"

"A dress for Saturday night dinner with my father and some of the other officers."

"Well I'm sure we have something here for you my dear." She made me try on five or six dresses until we both agreed on a silver dress with a low back. It was the first thing I bought that was somewhat immodest. But I wasn't ashamed. It was a testimony to me growing up, becoming a woman. It was beautiful.

"Thank you Mrs. Turner." I said while handing her money.

"Oh dear, you know I can't allow you to pay for anything here." I tried to give her the money anyways but she refused. Another one of fathers perks. Ever since I was a child I always received special treatment from pretty much everyone at the base who knew who I was. Who I belonged to. It became tiresome after awhile though. It seemed I could do no wrong.

After the boutique I headed back to my room. Father and I shared the same suite. It had a somewhat large kitchen, made of marble and gold lining, a living room that sported a couch softer than clouds and a book shelf that filled most of the room, floor to ceiling. There was also a dining room with far too long of a table for just too people. Finally there were two bedrooms, one for him and one for me. Father was always so busy working however, I rarely ever saw him actually at the suite.

I grabbed one of the books I was reading on different species of plants. Most of them I've never actually seen before because well, I haven't been outside since I was five years old. I hope one day when the war is over that I could spend all my time outside.

Sitting in my suite reading was pretty much how all my days went. All the kids my age that lived on the base were cadets and I didn't have much contact with them, if any at all. It was rather lonesome at times.