When I come to consciousness again, I am on another train. There are armchairs and benches everywhere, making the train car more like a room. There is a wall with a glass window separating me, Big Bulk, and the announcer from the driver. Big Bulk and the announcer each sit on an armchair and I am laying on the couch by a tiny fridge. It has a glass door showing off lots of food, but all of it is covered in paper or packaging for some reason.
Big Bulk and the announcer are both not eating anything. I don't trust their judgment, so I reach in the fridge when they aren't looking and grab something circular with ridges. It has an orange paper covering it and looks like it is chocolate with some peanut butter on the inside.
"Now what do you think you're doing?" The announcer asks me. The question surprises me because shouldn't it be something more like 'Now when did you wake up?' or you know, 'Are you ok?' But I've come to expect no less from her.
In response to her, I just shove the whole piece of food in my mouth, and my eyes widen at the taste. I think I see Big Bulk stifle a laugh, but I can't tell because half a second later, he is back to his emotionless self. The announcer glares at me and goes back to fixing her grey brown hair, as I grab more of these amazing things that are so much better than anything I have ever tasted. As I look at the paper covering it I see the word Reeses and try to pronounce it, but the announcer just laughs at me and corrects me-very harshly I might add- with lots of comments about 15's education. I think this is very stupid because Dependency 1 has complete dominance over education, so I roll my eyes.
The announcer doesn't notice anything, but Big Bulk does. At first it looks like he is stifling a laugh, that quickly turns into a glare that tells me all I need to know. I immediately drop my eyes and slouch to get smaller, but not before I devour two more Reeses. I hate that he has this effect on me. Normally I don't have any respect for anyone other than my siblings and friends. I talk back to adults, I don't listen to my teachers, I fall asleep in class, I've stolen from the BMUD-only in desperate measures obviously-, and I don't listen to any of the rat's rules.
I am pulled out of my self-pity and reflections by flashing lights out my window. There are people everywhere with cameras and paper and pens asking lots of questions. Some are directed to me and others to Big Bulk and the announcer. Lots of the questions about the Culling because the whole dependency lost power right before our dependency's hopeful was announced and came right back on at the end of 16's announcement.
People are not allowed to see my face, because there is a big reveal of all the hopeful's faces. Right now I am wearing a felt mask that covers my whole head and only has holes for my mouth, nose, and eyes. It even covers my hair because I put it in a low bun.
I can't help but sigh at relief about the power loss because that is almost what all the questions are about, so no one got to see that part. The more I think about it, the more I think my actions could get me in a lot of trouble with the government. It could also anger the higher ranked people, which would do nothing but make it harder for me to move up in rank. Part of being higher ranked is being liked because if you are liked, that means you are doing at least something right.
Big Bulk grabs me by my upper arm and drags me through the crowd. There is a rope that is supposed to make a pathway for me and the other hopefuls I assume, but it doesn't do much because the path is narrow and people are leaning over and ducking under it.
Once we make it out of sight of the cameras, the announcer tells Big Bulk, much to my relief, to let me go. I yank my arm away to reveal red marks where he grabbed me, but they probably won't bruise. I also pull off my mask and take out the bun.
"Now what do you think you're doing?" the announcer asks as I start to walk forward. I raise my eyebrows and can't decide if I should roll my eyes or laugh because she just quoted directly what she said earlier. I also can't tell if she's talking about taking off my mask, taking out my hair, or stepping forward.
"Going into that building," I respond, pointing towards the building we were walking towards. It looks like it could easily be 100 stories tall and the top fifteen or sixteen are completely glass. I hope against hope that I'm not staying on any of those floors for multiple reasons.
She just nods her head and takes the lead with Big Bulk bringing up the rear. I think both of them should take up the rear because they are both being big butts, but I will have to settle for just one. Oh well.
When we enter, I am overwhelmed. The floor is so clean that I can see my reflection, the same with the walls and ceiling. I basically walked into a huge mirror room.
I hear some voices through a door, so I walk over towards them but when I get to the door I can't open it. It's locked, so I look back at Big Bulk and the announcer and raise my eyebrows. The announcer is so busy laughing at me that she doesn't notice when big Bulk walks over and swipes a card that unlocks the door.
I'm about to walk in when the announcer grabs me in the same place Big Bulk did and digs her claw-like nails into my arm, making me yelp in pain before I can stop it. As she pulls me out I make eye contact with a girl and her eyes show amusement, anger, determination, and disappointment for some reason, but I can't get a good look at what she looks like before I am pulled out and the door is locked behind me. I don't think anyone else saw me.
I am dragged outside to the back of the building, making me question why we went inside in the first place, but I don't ask my question.
When I walk out there are sixteen huge trailers set up in a circle. I know what they are because Mia Rose and her family live in one. The announcer drags me to the fourteenth trailer and I halt before going in. It's not that I don't want to go in, I just don't trust these people. The announcer yanks my arm forcing me to walk up the steps.
When we get in I catch my breath. Inside is a tin kitchen complete with a sink, fridge, something I think is called a microwave, and cabinets-that I hope to have food in them. There is a couch and table with benches and a chair, and another room that I assume has a bed in it.
"This is where you will be staying," The announcer tells me.
I look at her, arch my eyebrows, raise my head, and in my most official voice possible, tell her, "I approve." I see the announcer roll her eyes and think I see Big Bulk stifle a laugh, but again when I look back his face is emotionless.
"You wash up and I'll be back in thirty minutes with a hair and makeup stylist, your dress and mask have already been picked out," The announcer tells me. I need a mask because there is a big reveal where all the hopefuls reveal their faces at the same time. During the culling our faces were blurred.
"Oh, please don't tell me you don't know how to wash up," the announcer tells me, seeing the look of hesitation on my face, I hate dresses and anything that restrains my movements in any way.
"Well then, it's a good thing I won't be," I retort back and slam the door in her face.
❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️¯\_(ツ)_/¯❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
What do you think so far? I decided to post two chapters today because I haven't posted in almost a week. Any feedback is helpful. I might change the cover is someone wants to make one, just contact me.
1425 words
Remember God loves you
Happy_hoosier
YOU ARE READING
Bright Side
قصص عامةAfter World War Three, the United States of America fell apart and the United States took its place. They say this is because America failed, but only a select few know what is behind the lies of the history books. Every year the Clash takes place...
