The Running

Chapter 3 - Enzo

My dad was in his lab cleaning one of his new devices that were about to get shipped to the MN cluster. They needed something to help keep the townies in check because there was talk of an uprising near the MN and GN Cluster. The GN watchers had not sent anything, most likely because all of them are arrogant pricks. A lot of the watchers in the GN Cluster avoid anything that mentions the uprising it in all the meetings with the three clusters. However, the MN towns' borders are starting to get violent.

"Hey dad, do you think we need to go out to the town today? We are running low on some materials for your new devices for the MN Cluster."

"Yeah, let me finish up cleaning this. It is almost done." He picks up a clean rag and wipes the silver steel on the machine, getting rid of any smudges that may have occurred in the process of building it.

"You have never told me what your device does... what is it for?"

He looked up at me and answered "Enzo, sometimes you don't need to know what I am making. If I never said anything to you before, it is because I do not plan on saying it."

I nodded in agreement, but I felt embarrassed to ask him in the first place. It should have known that he was not going to tell me. 

"Can you grab some screens? If we go to town, I would like to be able to share some with our friends in the towns."

"But that is illegal. You could lose your position if someone finds out."

He looked at me and smiled. "That is why no one is going to find out. Hurry up, we gotta go before the announcement starts. This is the only time a townie might be able to go into the Running."

I grabbed some of the left-over screens from one of the last shipments and packed them into a bag. I threw it over my shoulder and went to the loading dock. We usually take the older ship to the town outside the cluster. I got in the front seat and turned it in. The lights flickered on and the ship slowly lifts off the ground. My dad held onto the handles at the door and pulled himself up.

"You got all the screens?"

I showed him the bag with the screens and replied "Yeah, you ready?"

He nodded in agreement and the door to the dock slid open and we finally left for the towns. The clusters are much nicer than the towns, but it was nice to go back. It is hard to talk to anyone in the cluster, especially because every still sees me as a townie.

We past the huge buildings in the cluster and I could finally see some trees as we got to the towns. I have flown this way many times and right after the trees, there is a large river that separates the towns and the cluster. Only those with access to ships can cross the river. After the river, there are probably about fifteen miles before the first town.

My father and I used to live around twenty miles from the river and our town was known for precious metal mining. We found a clearing near the town to leave the ship and decided to walk the rest of the way.

"Do you really think that I would get picked for the Running? There are so many people in the cluster."

"Well there is a small chance. Most likely you won't get it."

"Well thanks for the hype talk dad."

"Hey, at least have a chance. Most don't."

We arrived at one of the homes near the mine. You could tell by the smell of sweet bread that Ms. Maria was home. She was always cooking for the men at the mine.

"Hey Enzo, do you mind giving her one of the screens?"

"Why don't you do it? I gotta go give some to the kids."

"I don't think I can do it." He gave me that look of desperation and I couldn't help but feel a little happy about his misery.

"No, I don't think I can do it. You better give it to her or we will run out soon. I can already see the kids coming. See!" I point to one of the kids running over. "There's Kace. You better hurry."

He quickly grabbed a screen and took three long breaths before knocking on the door. But before he could do the third knock, Ms. Maria opens the door for him and welcomes him inside.

"Enzo, what did you bring this time? I want one first. Last time I was late so I didn't get anything."

"Don't worry buddy, we got screens so everyone can watch the announcement today. Here you go." I grabbed one out of the bag and gave it to him.

"This is so cool; I will get the others." And a couple minutes later, tons of kids were running this way.