Chapter 1
The loud screech of the morning alarm barely made Nira stir. Grumbling, she flipped over on her thin mattress, stuffing the off-white pillow into her ears to try and block out the noise. It didn’t work.
“Are you going to sleep all day?”
Nira’s head lulled up from the safety of her dreams to look at the small screen beside the door. Green eyes set in a grey disapproving face stared back at her. His middle aged scowl always accompanied the wakeup call these days.
“Good morning to you too, Avin.” Nira rubbed the remnants of sleep from her eyes, “Did you sleep well?”
He ignored the question. “Ever since you got close to that boy, you’ve let yourself slip in your work. If you’re not careful, you’re going to end up getting caught.”
Nira nodded as though she were hanging on every syllable, but in reality his words became nothing more than a jumble of sound as he prattled on about the consequences of mixing classes. She walked over to the chipped mirror beside the monitor. The smudges on her cheeks remained defiant, surviving a harsh hand scrubbing.
“Yes, Avin.” She pulled her brown hair back into a tight ponytail, “Anything you say.”
An unappreciative grunt was the only response to her sarcasm.
Nira chuckled, walking over to the screen. “Don’t worry, I’ll bring you your breakfast right away. Same as usual, right?” Without waiting for a response, she switched the monitor off. Aching muscles stretched as she pulled out her black jumpsuit. Soft lavender bruises just beginning to turn yellow dotted her arms and legs. Pacing around the cramped living quarters in tight circles to get her blood flowing, she flipped several yellow switches above the pull-out toilet.
A crackling sound fizzed through the room before a young man’s voice bled through, “Good morning, citizen. This is day—” the voice turned mechanically female “—Three eight seven nine two—” the man’s voice returned “—of Quarantine. Sectors one and two are having difficulties with their water recycling so all the Dispo water rations will be cut in half until their stations can be returned to working capacity.”
Nira felt her stomach curl in on itself as though it were taking a preemptive strike against starvation. She went to switch off the depressing broadcast but Doctor Parson hadn’t quite finished.
“I am dismayed to announce that an Asset in sector four—” Nira glanced to the faded black four over her own doorframe “—has misplaced his key. I would advise anyone who has seen it to quickly inform the nearest Guard. I cannot fully express my dismay over this unfortunate loss. The keys have always stood as a symbol for what can be grown out of nothing but hard work. Until tomorrow, may God have mercy on our souls.”
The transmission fizzled out to a monotonous drone and Nira switched it off before it could gnaw into her allotted patience for the day. Parson’s message was thinly veiled. An Asset losing a key was like her misplacing her own arms after work. The white-dressed uppities guarded those keys with their pride. Whoever was stupid enough to steal it wouldn’t be able to hide for long.
Nira rubbed the back of her neck as she checked through her messages. She ignored the text about the water rationing, going straight for the private messages: two from her advisor, Carolynn, one from Mac, which she promptly deleted, and one from Derek, the only decent Asset in the entire compound. She smiled at Derek’s name, opening the video file.
Derek’s young, pale pixilated face grinned at her wide enough to make the skin around his blue eyes crinkle. “Sorry I’ve been away so long. I—” Something clanked in the background and his head spun around. His body grew tense as he turned back to the screen. He tugged at his white collar. “I didn’t mean to be. I have something for you.” His smile returned but this time, it didn’t reach his eyes. “I’ve reserved a spot for you in the hall outside the plant fields. I’ll meet you there later today.”
He reached towards the screen and the image switched off. She checked the data again and saw that the message recorded only a few moments before. She’d barely missed him. Tugging her black jumpsuit into a more comfortable layout on her body, she stuck her left hand into a slot beside the door. A lever clamped it down into place and she could hear the faint buzzing of a scanner.
“Disposable number two six eight eight nine three,” said the same mechanical female voice from the announcement, “your work time quota has been raised from fourteen to sixteen hours. Have a healthy day.”
The machine inside unclamped her hand. The faded brown door gave a soft hiss before swinging wide enough for her to squeeze through. Nira joined the shuffling of the other black-clad Dispos as they trudged through cement corridors towards the serving hall. Their barely concealed scowls and tears, and their drooping shoulders said they’d all had their shifts increased, or maybe it was the lowering of the water rations. She licked her lips at the thought.
“Nira!” A young man shouted somewhere behind her. Mac.
Her insides twisted and she tried to slip through the mass of bodies before the owner of the voice could catch up with her. Why couldn’t he just ever leave her alone?
“Nira, wait for me.”
She was almost to the entrance of the serving hall when a hand clamped around her upper arm. She tried to shrivel away from the touch but the panting teen kept her in place.
“Didn’t you hear me calling for you?” he asked. His flaming red hair and bright blue eyes made him look deceptively innocent. If it wasn’t for the intense body order that accompanied him, he would’ve been quite nice to look at. “You know that I always wait for you in the mornings.”
“I’m busy, Mac.” Nira said, “What do you want?”
His freckled smile drooped but she refused to acknowledge the twinge of guilt. She’d learned not to show weakness in front of him. His grip tightened on her shoulder. She couldn’t hold back the wince when she felt his fingertips digging into her arm.
“Sorry,” Mac said, letting her go. His smile returned, “See you again soon.”
Nira shuddered, glancing through the mass of grey and black bodies against the dull brown walls. Though the white Assets rarely mingled with the Guards and Dispos, Derek’s message replayed in the back of her mind. He’d looked, almost, scared. With a sigh, she pushed her way through the clamoring crowd up to the counter. She set her left hand in another scanner. Even with the vents that kept the air circulating, the amount of bodies in the tiny space made her start to sweat.
The female dressed in black behind the counter didn’t even look in Nira’s direction. She was tall and blonde, perhaps nineteen. Nira’s nose curled when the older woman pulled out a plate of odd, lumpy green-beige sludge. It looked like all the scraps over the past week had become sentient and formed together to do battle with her stomach lining.
“The water?”
The blonde set down a small canteen that sloshed when it moved.
“Where’s the rest?”
“That’s it. Take it and go.”
The machine let go of Nira’s hand but she kept it in place, refusing to leave. With her free hand, she reached over the counter, grabbing the other woman. Though Nira was shorter, she leverage her weight to pull the blonde over. “What about the food for my Monitor?”
“What?” Blondie blinked.
“Monitor Avin. I’ve been assigned to him for three years now.” Nira’s voice began to turn into a snarl and shoved the older Dispo back, “Or did you not check your scan properly?”
The machine re-clamped her hand and Nira watched the Dispo’s eyes scanning through a screen on the other side of the wall. “I-I didn’t notice.” She cleared her throat, disappearing for a moment before coming back out with a tray. In place of the bubbling goop that Nira received, genuine bread, freshly picked vegetables, and a slim strip of meat sat there in the open. The other Dispo let it sit in front of Nira for a moment, mouthwatering smells wafting up.
“Guess you better hurry,” blondie said, almost slamming a tray on top of the food, cutting off the pleasant scent. “Go on then.”
Nira scowled at the woman’s triumphant look. Shoveling down her own greased up goop and rationed water, she took the tray before her will could break to not eat it herself. Nira could feel several sets of eyes following the plate in her hands as she walked to the door. She weaved in between the Guards, knowing that no one would dare to steal the food while being watched. It wasn’t worth the punishment.
By now, most of the Dispos were already at work. She passed a few in the halls, scrubbing away until the metal floors were spotless. She knew it was futile. They all knew in a few hours, the floors would be washed again, and again. But she kept on walking up grated stairs, through enclosed hallways. The whole system stretched out like a maze until she came to the main elevators. Again, her left hand was clamped in place as the chip inside was scanned. The red light overhead flashed green and the steel door slid open in silence. The moment she stepped back in, the doors closed in on her, sealing her in. Off to the right, she pushed the button labeled B23.
Alone at last. Nira lifted the tray and inhaled. Her stomach gurgled in savory anticipation. She could nearly taste the food on the tip of her tongue if she tried hard enough. She let the smell fill her, eyes rolling pleasantly into the back of her head. She knew better than to be jealous about the food, however good it looked. The price Avid paid for it simply wasn’t worth it.
Too soon, the doors opened. More Dispos scrubbed the floors and walls as she passed through another set of halls. Greying door after door passed by, small numbers carved into the door frames. Her pace slowed as she glanced between the digits. Even after serving Avin for four years, she could still get lost if she didn’t pay enough attention.
217682. Nira’s hand came up to knock the door but it swung open before she could even touch the metal.
“I hate it when you do that.”
Avin chuckled, clearing the doorway for her to walk inside. “It’s the only fun that I get to have.”
“You must’ve done something right.” Nira said, setting the tray down beside his keyboard. “They even included some meat with your meal.”
He scoffed as he sat down in front of his wall of screens. White, grey and black dots drifted around dark blue schematic lines. A number floated alongside each dot. In the lower right corner, around a dozen red dots glowed together. Avin had never told her what they were for.
“Would you like to win it from me?”
“Win it?” Nira’s stomach grumbled when she looked pale pink sitting on the tray so innocently.
Avin chuckled. “I’ll make you a deal. You get half if you answer something for it.”
“That’s it?” Her suspicions rose. Avin had a generous nature often shared his water rations but meat was precious.
“That’s it,” he said. “No tricks, I promise. But you have to answer it honestly.” He took the strip of meat, bacon, she guessed, and dangled it in front of her. “Limited time offer.”
Her stomach growled. “I’m listening.”
Avin set the meat back down. The humor drained from his eyes. “This morning, the announcement about the key: did you have anything to do with it?”
“No.”
His stern look made her continue.
“I’m not idiotic enough to get myself mixed up in something like that. I know how ridiculous the Assets get over their little toys.” She opened her right hand, staring down at the faded scar that slashed across the palm. She’d once cut herself on a piece of metal ‘artwork’ at an Asset’s home. For getting blood on it, food privileges were reduced for a whole week. She was ten.
“You’re right,” Avin said. “I’m sorry.” Silence passed between them. Avin stood, putting his hands on her shoulders. Unlike Mac, his hold on her was gentle and welcome. “I just don’t want to see you get on the wrong side of things.” He ruffled her hair in an affectionate gesture, messing up her ponytail.
Nira laughed and shooed him off. “Either way, it’s not like I could do anything with it. I’ve never even seen a lock for those keys to fit into and no one would be willing to pay for something so useless.”
Seeming satisfied, Avin tore the strip of meat in half, giving her the bigger portion. She ripped off a corner, popping it into her mouth. She let it sit there, the rich flavor spreading across her tongue. She only swallowed once all the flavored was sucked out.
“Save the rest for later,” Avin said when she went to take another piece. He returned to his seat in front of a wall of blue monitors. The dots continued to move like blood flowing through a body. Nira took her empty water canteen, tucking the bacon inside.
“Is there anything you need before lunch?” Nira asked. She stood waiting there for an answer but Avin was already glued to the monitors, eyes darting about. She shrugged it off as she walked back to the door.
“Nira, one more thing.”
She turned back to face him.
“About Derek,” Avin started but she cut him off.
“No more lectures about it, please. He and I—we—there’s nothing going on so you can stop worrying about it. Okay?”
“If there’s nothing going on then why are you with him so often?” He tapped a white dot inching its way across one of the screens. “You should give Mac another chance. He’s healthier for you.”
“If following me everything and being I’ll-kill-you-in-your-sleep creepy is healthy, sure.” She rubbed her arm. It still ached from Mac’s crippling grip.
“He’s just shy.” Avin said, “He doesn’t know how to act around such a pretty girl.”
Nira smiled despite herself. “Flattery won’t get you what you want.”
“It was worth a try.” He pinched the bridge of his nose, “You should start your shift soon. You’ll be lucky to get anything half decent this late.”
“I have a spot saved for me.” Nira opened the door, stepping out into the hall. Avin asked who but the metal door slid shut before she could answer.
(You're not the prettiest but I like you just the way you. You don't have to be prettiest to be loved just the way you are. Some people tell you you have to be shiny and new. But I will tell you, you just-- you just have to be you. [Oh!] You're not the prettiest but I like you just the way you. You don't have to be prettiest to be loved just the way you are. Don't you worry about the people who don't understand. You will be happy when you find the right pair of hands. [Oh!] You're not the prettiest but I like you just the way you. You don't have to be prettiest to be loved just the way you are. Just like my guitar) <-- A song I found on YouTube by NicePeter. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DjF4aMv_6eY&list=FLRX6ton0ZLoS-2N9s3td__g&index=1&feature=plpp_video You should really check it out because it's beautiful and makes me smile :)
To anyone reading, I love you and have a
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