The Outside

Chapter 1

For as long as I can remember there have always been those man made walls around us. Literally... man made. People, complete strangers to everyone, stand around our town to protect us from who knows what. We like to call those people the 'Safeguards;' it's always been that way I guess. So here it goes, I'm just an ordinary girl who is a little more seeking than most. I have always wanted to break through the walls of Safeguards and find out what dangers could be out there; that keeps us in here for eternity. My friends think it's insane that I have this urging desire to want out, because we've always been told dreadful things occur out there. But, I just can't help it.

We have never been able to see what is out there because everything beyond the Safeguards is fuzzy. No one has ever had the courage to break through that wall, but one day, I will. I believe that there can be nothing worse than being trapped like animals.

I have brought myself to wonder why we won't try to get out. Maybe we are too scared because it looks almost as if the Safeguards are frozen in time, but I know that's not possible. Sometimes I wonder where they go at night... or do they? Day after day they are all the same people, owning the same positions. Do they ever get a break? Maybe someday I will get to be a keeper and know what is in the beyond.

In our "village," I guess you could call it, there are only three schools: the young school, the middle school, and the advanced school. There is one school for the little kids up to around fourteen year olds and another for the fourteen year olds up to eighteen year olds: I fit into this category being fifteen. Finally there is the school everyone must go to find out what job you will get someday, this school depends on what your adulthood job is if you look on it in years. After the year that we all turn eighteen, no one really pays attention to their age anymore, though of course there are the categories of adults and our elders from which you can mostly tell by looks. After you turn eighteen you don't celebrate the time of your birth, for that is forgotten through time due to us not needing to know anymore.

In my case I have my four best friends that get me through middle school. The friend that I am closest too is Ally. I have known Ally since the first day I was born: we have the same date of birth. One of the reasons why I think we are best friends is because to our birthday, but not because we were born on the same day but for a different reason. The day we were born we were both put into the same room to get our tests and shots, and somehow the dopy nurse we both had apparently muddled our information and put Ally's clipboard on my crib and vice versa. After a short while the doctors... well our parents noticed the mistake and swapped us back to normal. Funny to think; we have very different personalities. While I want to go out and explore, she's more interested in the style of her headband she wears each day. And then there's my other friends: Jamie is more like me, and Louis is a complete nutjob. And then there's Mike, he's different from us. He has his moments of humor, but other times he is very mature... and noble. Sometimes I feel connected to him, not like he's my brother or anything but somehow I feel like he's the only one who can calm me down and understand me in times of stress and anger: that's why I cherish when he's around.

*

The raging knock that crashes on my door is the only thing that takes me away from my day dream that occurred when I was staring out the window.

"Amber, come out of your room. Ally called and said to meet her, Jamie, Louis, and Mike down at the school yard" my mom says.

I guess I must have been really deep into my daydream to not notice the phone ringing.

"I'll be out in a minute mom; I need to get dressed... thanks" I say swiftly.

I hear her footsteps fading as I begin to get my clothes out. My mom and I have never really been that close, but my dad and I are. I guess some may call me a 'daddy's little girl.'

I choose a turquoise short sleeve shirt with a single bow on the left top side, and for pants, I get out a black pair of jeans and then get dressed. I also throw on an old pair of sneakers. I have really never liked dressy shoes much.

Once I am finished getting dressed, I sprint down the stairs, not even bothering to stop when I put my hair up. I don't say one word to my mom who I realize is on the phone again, and race out the door.

*

It is about a mile and a half walk to the school yard from my house, but I should be able to handle it.

I cross the only valley we have in this town, sprouting with patches of green grass: it is not much but I think it's pretty. I sprint as fast as my legs will take me down to the field at the school yard. When I finally make it there I am so thirsty that in think I might collapse if I don't get water.

Standing there all staring at me, taking in my weird, hunched over stance as I catch my breath are my four best friends, Ally, Jamie, Louis, and Mike.

"Look who finally decided to show up!" Louis shouts.

"Ha...ha" I say between breaths.

"Hey Amber, how's it going?" Ally says ignoring what Louis said.

"I'm fine, just a little thirsty and tired." I say, almost done catching my breath.

A few seconds later Mike tosses me a bottle of water from who knows where he got it from. I gulp the water down really quickly until there are only about two sips left, not even bothering to say thanks.

" I think ' a little thirsty' was an understatement" Jamie says with a hint of laughter in her tone.

"Ya, kind of. So what do you guys want to do today?" I say. It is the weekend so we have all the time in the world.

"How bout' a little game of truth or dare?" Louis says mischievously.

"Remember what happened last time you wanted to do that Louie?" Jamie says somewhat cautiously.

"Aww come on it was fun!" Mike says.

We eventually all agree to play. Mike dares Ally to roll around in the dirt, for she hates getting dirty. After she declines the dare the first second, my turn is next.

Louis and Jamie fight to decide who gets to dare me and after some bickering, Jamie wins the battle.

"Truth or dare?" Jamie says gawking at Louis.

"Im going to be different for once and ask for a truth" I say. A look of somewhat amusement creeps throughout our group.

"Are you saying that the ventures Amber is letting a dare down?" Mike says with a smile.

"Yes the adventurous Amber is" I say looking more smug than I should.

"Ok, Ok hummmm... how about..." Jamie starts.

Louis cuts her off. "Who is your love Amber?" He says with a smirk on his face. Jamie and Ally exchange quick goofy glances and whisper to each other, "Mike," but before I can comment, loud bang from the sky cuts me off.