It was almost time for the greater light to peek. At this point, we had gone through sorting half of the seeds for replanting. This was a painstaking process. In village school, we learned how to prepare each seed for the planting process. At 5, you were told your job, and at 8, two major things happened. You would enter the Temple of Change and then you’d start your education necessary for that job. There we were taught how to read, write and do basic calculations. But the most important thing was tending to the crops.

The bell going off in the distance signaled the start of our lunch break. I set the bag of beet seeds I was working on down and started my walk out to the hub where the canteen was. It would take us 10 lis to walk there.

In front of me stood a massive building, a testament to all the facilities it held. It took up as much land as the residential area did. It stood tall with glass windows running along the bottom perimeter which then finished in concrete to the top. The building was surrounded by neatly cared-for grass, which morphed into a forest beyond it. A concrete walkway led up to its massive double glass doors. A Watcher stood at either side ushering us in. This was the hub where everything happened. Where we had all our meals and where we went to get new clothing items when we used what we had to the point of it being worn out and falling apart. Even where we went to for the gatherings for Venandris and our checkups. The building was the only modern and nice thing we had access to. Our homes, in comparison, were dated and old. The core belief of Venandris was “Simplicity Breeds Righteousness”.

We all lined up in a single file and headed to the canteen. The entire process was swift. Before you enter the glass doors the Watcher there would check you in. After, you go to the washing station and then stand where the servers would dish out your food. You didn’t even have a choice in what food appealed to you. It was take what you get. Funny enough, the Watchers ran everything but serving; I guess it was too beneath them. Instead, the serving was done by the elderly women who had been retired from the field.

I get to the end of the line, grab some cutlery and napkins and walk off to join the people who I worked with for the day. I glanced down at the silver tray, each dish neatly placed into its space. I internally gagged. All these bland vegetable dishes were tiring. I had to grow them and now eat them daily. They didn’t even try to make the food seem appetizing. Everything was either boiled or steamed. Today’s meal was no different. Steamed potatoes and pumpkin with rice and some lentils. Though we did have the ranch area where the animals were raised we didn’t get to partake in their meat. It was for the Watchers and anybody higher up than them. With an internal sigh, I dug into my food. I was almost done when I felt a nudge to my side. I glanced up a bit shocked to find the short girl I was staring at earlier looking at me with a hint of amusement in her eyes. I was taken aback by this. Everyone I know or rather looked at and analyzed held no such look. Their eyes were devoid of life. Resigned to the fate that was handed down to us. But she was different, she looked like there was more to our mundane lives. Like she had experienced more. I was intrigued. I stare at her trying to figure out why she wanted to communicate with me. She tapped the table next to her elbow. I followed her finger to see a napkin with the word “hi” written on it. If I wasn’t intrigued before, I was now. She had mashed her steamed pumpkin and used it to write out the words. Never in my 25 years had I seen someone so blatant in disregarding all that we were taught. I mean, yes, I complained about it, but it was to myself, and yes, I wished for it, but the consequences of being caught far outweighed that brief satisfaction.

I looked back up at her to see that her mouth held the tiniest of smiles, and her eyes just glowed with a silent laugh. I held myself back from returning it, it seemed infectious. Instead, I opted to cast my eyes down in our usual hello.

This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.

I guess she took the hint that I would not participate in her dangerous game because the rest of lunch passed without any more interaction between us. I get out of the seat, go to drop off the tray and line up again so that we can head back to the fields. It was the same going out as coming in, we washed at the washing station, got checked out, lined up and filed out of the hub.

The rest of the afternoon passed uneventfully. Thankfully, we all finished our tasks and returned to the main area, waiting to be dismissed by the Dier.

Up on the podium overlooking all of us you could feel his arrogance. He practically sneered with each word he spoke.

“Luckily for you all, all work was completed on time. Remember, after your dismissal, you are to head straight to the hub for dinner and then to your abodes by the time the bell goes. That is by 7 pm. And lights out by the time the greater light descends.”

He gives us one last glance to say you’re all pathetic, and, with a sharp turn, walks off the podium.

With no hesitation, we all fall into one line and head for the hub.

After dinner at the canteen, I headed home. Enjoying the peaceful and silent night all that could be heard was the wind rustling through the trees. I tried not to let my admiration of the orange-hued sky slow down my pace. The watchers would be on you in a matter of sils if you decided to detour or again if you were walking too slow. 2 lis later and I was outside my bare brick home. It was small and consisted of a bedroom, living room and bathroom. I lived on the outskirts of the residential area so I could afford to slow my pace and still have enough time to get ready before lights out. As soon as I stepped through the door I beeline for the bathroom, showered and donned the oversized shirt I wore as my pajamas. The old bed creaked under my weight as I lay down. All that was left to do was close my eyes but I just couldn’t. The strange actions of that girl kept replaying in my mind. How was she so brave? How could she show such blatant disregard for the rules placed on us? Had the watchers caught her she would have been placed in isolation for a week with no access to food. I roll over to look out the tattered window to see signis just peeking out from the clouds. Its light so bright. I could feel its sereness lulling me to sleep. It didn’t take too long for me to fall asleep from the exhaustion of the day.

~~~

It was her again, running through the wooded area that separated Leeside from Cromer. She carried a satchel across her body. You could see papers peeking out the top. It was such a strange feeling hovering over her and just watching. In the distance, I could hear yelling. Tall, pale figures whizzed in and out of the trees in hot pursuit after her. A strange static filled the air, and in a swift move, the young girl was flung back; a pained cry left her lips. I could feel myself panicking, willing her to get back up because whoever was chasing her had almost caught up. I leaned down in a rush to pick her up but my shadowy hands were of no use. She didn’t even recognise I was there. I looked up as she scrambled to her feet. It was already too late; the pale figures had her surrounded. Upon closer inspection, I could see it was the Watchers and a Dier. Their mouths were moving but I couldn’t hear what was being said. The girl's eyes grew wide with fear as she clutched the satchel and brought it close to her chest as if to shield it away from the Dier. He raised his hand in it was some type of machine I’d never seen before. I didn’t know what it was but my body buzzed with the sense of danger. I could feel myself screaming at her to just give him what he wanted to save herself. One moment, the girl was clutching the satchel for dear life. The next, she hit the ground with a loud thud. I ran over to her body and it appeared lifeless. The Dier came over to the body, knelt and began rummaging through the satchel. It was apparent that whatever he was looking for was absent. He slammed the satchel onto the ground and turned beckoning the watchers to follow him. With that, he disappeared into the thick of the forest.