Ani The Grey

Sisters

I move in line behind the same Grey I have moved behind in all my cycles. He is of the same amount of cyles as I. I have moved behind him in most of my 1 of 10 and 7 cycles. Roya says that means I am 17 years old.

My heart beats loudly in my chest. An unpleasant feeling. I feel the need to move faster. By my count we have 14 more rings before the time is up. 5 of 60 between rings - that is 5 minutes.

I take an additional half step to move him along faster bumping into him slightly. He turns to me. His eyebrows up in question. His eyes are the color of the sky. I like it. My eyes are the color of grass. My heart seems to beat louder. He looks down briefly at my hand that is now clutched tightly on the hem of his blouse. I am confused as I am unaware of when my hand took that action. I let go and when I look up again our eyes meet. I find myself not wanting to look away and am curious as to why he hasn't as well. Then the next ring blares through the air indicating another 5 minutes has passed. He turns away and moves forward his back again facing me.

I am disappointed. A feeling I find myself not liking.

Roya said she would meet me at exactly 10 hundred hours under the overpass after morning duties. It is of the utmost importance that I not be late. She is supposed to give me a book that she said I would enjoy. I believe she called it Cinderella.

If I only allow myself 2 bites of morning bread instead of my usual 6 bites, I may make it. I resolve to do just that. I dearly want to read that book.

Roya is my sister. I first saw her at a party I served months ago. She is the first High Level person who has ever spoken to me besides the administrator. We share the same dark night hair and green grass eye color. Our resemblence to one another cannot be denied. She says I could be mistaken for her twin had we been the same age. As is, she is 10 cycles older than I. 'Sister' and "Twin' are terms I first heard from her. She explained the terms as well as others to me. She taught me the alpha words and how to read them. Roya - my sister has shown and taught me many things. Things that excite and confuse me. Although sometimes they do unsettle me, I have to admit that I crave it now more than ever. I enjoy and look forward to my service days with my sister. She said I must tell no one that we are sisters.

Roya works as a conservator of artifacts in the White district - the district I am to be assinged to until I am called to serve as Surragate. She has arranged to have me of service to her 3 days of 7 at the Conservatory. She is High Level White and is allowed that privilage. High Level White is the second tier below the highest which is High Level Silver. I do not have a level. I am a Grey as indicated by my standard grey uniform. I am marked as a Mite'ra Apeow (surragate service). It is a highly sought after duty. Only a few are chosen. I am one of the chosen and I wear the mark on my face proudly and await the day I will be assigned that duty.

Roya does not see it as something to be proud of. This I do not understand. I tell her I am happy to be of service.

"Ani, they will force you to become impregnated. Is this what you really want?" She asks animatedly - her arms flayling about. I find this habit of hers quite distracting and have told her as much. I would normally never speak to anyone of such High Level at all let alone the way I do with her as we are taught not to. However Roya demands it as she says it is my right to be able to speak to whomever I wish especially my sister. This is one of the many subjects I have with her that I find unsettleling. She says my stubborness proves we are sisters. 

She is in front of me now and I ponder on why I hadn't noticed her approach. She lets out a fursterated sigh. "Someday Ani, you will understand and I will do everything in my power to save you from this." Her eyes fill with tears. It is not the first time she has shed tears for me. Again, unsetteling. She takes a step closer then wraps her arms around me tightly pulling me to her. She lets out another sigh at the same time I gasp and instinctly take a step back.