Rhivera (Complete Novel)

~Chapter Eight- The Suitcase~

~Chapter Eight- The Suitcase~          

                                                                                ~Arturo~

~August 2020~

On the way to the railroad station, there's a familiar bridge that I stop by. Mom and I slept under this bridge one night after we were kicked out of one of her friend's homes. Mom wasn't working at the time and we were getting by through the charity of her friends. They were tired of us living there rent-free.

Mom was used to homelessness; her parents kicked her out when she was 15. She was pregnant with me by the time she was 18.

Population Control doesn't take kindly to the homeless, and if she didn't have me I'm sure they would've taken her. But they don't target anyone who is caring for a child. That was before mom married my stepfather.

I hear a harmonica playing from under the bridge. I follow the path below and find an old man with a heavy coat, white curly hair and a cap on his head. His skin was dark and when he sees me, his smile reveals a golden tooth.

I smile back at him, "Hello Noel, long time no see!"

"Hello boy." Noel responds with his always soothing voice. That night when mom and I slept down here he shared some of his food with us. I've made a point of seeing him often.

"How have you been? You look good." I say, setting the black suitcase I hold against the wall.

"Doing great boy." Noel says, setting his harmonica on his lap, "What's in the suitcase?"

Noel motions to the suitcase against the wall, "Nothing important." I reply shortly.

"Stayin' out of trouble?"

I smirk at him, "Of course not." Noel smiles and nods. "Where have you been living?" I ask.

Noel looks around the bridge and shrugs. He's still homeless. Somehow he's managed to evade Population Control all of these years.

"It's a miracle Population Control hasn't caught you yet you know," I tell him, "You could always come live with me. I have more than enough room."

Noel shakes his head, "I'll be fine, boy. But thanks for offerin'."

He always turns me down. "Alright. Well, I've got to get going. I'll see you soon, okay." I pick the suitcase from the wall and turn back the way I came.

"Don't forget about me." Noel says softly.

"Never."

I reach the train station. The front carriages of the train are filled with passengers and the back with supplies and goods being transported across the country. I board the Eastbound train and take a seat, setting my suitcase on my lap. Each passenger car has a soldier manning it. I suppose the military is playing it safe after the incident with the RLA.

Recently, the RLA had taken over the station, but the military eliminated them. Now it's operating with additional security.

They were able to take it back so quickly thanks to someone using a Survival Suit, one they call Nirivo. I was surprised that they had a second Survival Suit.

The soldier manning the passenger car looks to be in her late 30's, and has a stoic expression on her face. I've noticed people in that age range were pretty accepting of Population Control. Their parents would've grown up in an age where it was ingrained into their minds that Population Control was in the right, and they would pass those teachings onto their children, indoctrinating them as well.