Safe

Chapter 1

I kicked my feet over the side of the dock. I enjoyed the feel of the cool breeze, and the sweet salty smell of the water. It was a perfect day. I slowly dipped a toe in, smiling at the feeling of the cool water. "Row!" Darius said as he walked towards me. His jeans were ripped, as always. "I don't enjoy that name Darius, my name is Rowan. R-O-W-A-N." I replied, kicking my foot in the water to splash him. He smiled, and bent down. I watched cautiously as he slipped his hand under the water. "Oh no..." I thought. Too late, he pushed his hand forward and splashed me back. "Darius!" I whined and splased him back as he hysterically laughed. "You jerk!" I said, getting up and leaving. "Hey wait, Rowan I'm sorry." he apologized. He slipped his hand in mine and brought me closer. "Don't kiss me, I'm mad at you." I told him and stubbornly turned my face away. "C' on sweetie." he murmured. I crossed my arms across my chest, unmoved. "Nope." I answered. His thumb ran across my chin. "Such a stubborn girl." he said and touched his lips lightly to my cheek. I gave in, turning my head slightly for our lips to meet. "Ahem..." Miles stood at the foot of the dock. "Pardon my interruption, I see you are... Busy, but there is an emergency meeting in the town square." he told us. "...Not a problem Miles." Darius replied, taking a respectable step away from me. Miles was the head over-taker, he was in charge of things in our district... But he was also very kind and light hearted. Over-taker's were head generals of sorts and they were the one who kept all the model citizens in an orderly and perfectly well behaved. Miles was young for head over-taker at age 21. I sighed as we slowly followed Miles back into town. The world had changed much, and maybe it wasn't for the best either, but things we never going to go back to what they used to be. At the town gate Miles sent us home. "Bathe before you come and dress nicely, the meeting is precisely at 10:30. A quick glance at the town clock told me it was five to 10. We hurried home. I lived with Darius, and our house wasn't much but it kept me dry and warm at night. It shielded me from dangers that lurked at nightfall. He protected me and I was thankful for that. We soon were dressed nicely and at the the town square. The mayor was Lenard Munich, a tall, skinny, man with a heavy german accent. We feared him, obeyed him even, but we all knew who was pulling Mayor Munich's strings, and that was King Marshal Wire. He was the most feared man on earth. His very presence terrified anyone who met him, even the bravest of men were crushed apon his gaze. On mistake, that's all it took to get killed here. "Ladies and Gentleman, here you have gathered to witness the execution of these men and woman." Mayor Munich announced. Cameras were positioned everywhere, no doubt streaming live to the whole world. We all would be forced to see it, to scare us, and to reinforce who is in charge. The king used these public executions to keep fear in us fresh, and it worked, people were terrified. Problems with getting your taxes getting paid? Executed. Have a drinking problem? Executed. Something mentally wrong with you? Executed. There is no room for wrong in this perfect world, the king had told us. He was more like the world's dictator rather then a king.