Escape

Finally

*A/N (PLEASE READ!!): Hey guys! arilioness here! I'm so sorry for not updating. The two of us were writing it. This will be updating intermittently, but we are currently in the process of editing it. So I will be updating as my partner and I decide. But I will be daily for a little while! Sorry for not updating! But it will be moving more quickly. This is starting in the POV of Seth Verdin, one of the main characters, and the chapters that have actual titles and not names are Seth, all others will have the character's name on it. Make sense? Comment and let us know what you think! Also my co-writer made this!! Thanks guys!*

I stare up at the ceiling fan, watching it spin in a never ending cycle. I can feel the cool breeze brush my long bangs out of my face. I can hear the sound of other kids closing the metal door to their rooms (or as I like to call them 'prison cells') before the counselors (guards) catch them and take them to a counseling session (beating). It's not uncommon for a kid to get one. Especially new kids. Every once in awhile, a new and confused soul stays out past curfew and gets more than they bargained for. I've had my fair share of "Counseling Sessions." Not for staying out past curfew, but for asking too many questions. I always ask to many questions, which means I always seem to be bruised. It didn't get bad until a few years ago.

I remember it clear as day. I was six years old. I was sitting at my desk in history class, listening as the teacher rambled on about the creation of the Imperium Society. Of course it was all a bunch of crap and lies about how amazing they are. The teacher said something about parents. About humans that give birth to and raise a child. I raised my hand and asked why the kids here didn't have any. The teacher went on about how we were a family, but I kept digging. I was called to the counseling office without hesitation. When I arrived, the door shut behind me and, well, all I know is I woke up with blood all over my body and everything was bruised.

Afterwards it takes most kids a few days to look at anyone in the eye. But I guess it's better than some of the other preparing facilities. I've heard rumors about the older kids being relocated to bigger and more "creative" facilities. There are stories of kids being tested on like animals. Or being thrown into nightmares. I'm just happy I'm not 16 yet. That's the age they take children from every facility around the globe and throw them into one of those. This was implemented after some girl "escaped". Who knows if she's alive now. Some kids get so scared they end it before they can be forced to. Some run away. Most get caught. I've never actually heard a story of someone successfully escaping. But that doesn't surprise me. The Imperium Society hates a bad image.

I slowly sit up in my bed (more like a camping pad with a flat pillow and small blanket) and look at the TV. Every room is assigned a bed, TV, chair, and mirror. Clothes are handed out at the beginning of each day. Then everyone goes onto their schedule. Breakfast in the mess hall. Then News, History, Lunch, Fighting, and my favorite, Socials.

Socials is the class that teaches you how to lie and manipulate. Well, they don't say that's what it's about directly, but they might as well. I love it because it gives me a weapon against everyone. No matter if I can take them on in a fight. I can still win overall. After that class, there's dinner and a free hour. That free hour is full of fights and all out chaos. I've gotten into a few fights. I always lose against older kids but beating kids my age or lower is easy. Luckily most people leave me alone. And I leave them alone. After Ky, I won't take the risk.

Ky was my best friend here. He was like me. We noticed everyone else around us turning into perfect little puppets. Although he was probably the most popular and loved boy in the entire facility. A lady killer as he used to say. We caused as much trouble as possible, in attempts to bring the others back to reality. And though he was two years older than me, we had the same classes, we got into the same fights, we made the same jokes. And we always met at the same spot in the free room. But one day he didn't come. I just shrugged it off, thinking it was probably just him getting in trouble... again. I thought he'd probably be back in a few days. But then the days turned into weeks. Those weeks into months. Those months, into years. After that, people started to leave me alone. And I stopped war with the puppet makers. But I never stopped fighting.

I stare at the screen waiting for The Reminder. The Reminder, is a video every kid has to watch every night. Besides news, that's the only thing on. And we don't get a remote.

I heave a sigh as the sound of a kid begging for forgiveness while he's dragged down the hallway fills my ears. Everytime. Every goddamn time. I try to think of just about anything else as the screams travel further away. When the sound finally stops, The tv turns on. On screen the leader of this facility appears on on a white background.

"Hello Children."

A unnaturally smooth voice says.

"This is the place where we reach into a brighter future"

"You have been selected to become the next generation of finalizers."

I close my eyes and rest my head in my hands. I've seen this so many times I know it by heart. "Until you reach the perfect age, you will be trained and taught to become a perfect person." I mock.

"Until you reach the perfect age, you will be trained and taught to become the perfect person."

"How did I know?!" I laugh to myself.

"There are many bright futures for you. You will either become a politician,a warrior, or a civilian."

"Politicians help run different countries providing them leaders."

"Warriors do personal matters for the Imperium Society."

"And civilians go into the world helping people choose right and wrong."

"We will select your profession at the age of 16"

Six months until I'm sixteen. But I've got a way to avoid any issues.

"Until then you must do as you are told to find yourself."

' "Get to sleep so we can change the future."

Soon her dark brown eyes and short blonde hair disappears from screen and I roll my eyes walking up to my mirror. A tall lanky boy with shaggy light brown hair and bright green eyes stares back at me. I glare at the stupid white tee and green sweatpants that we ALWAYS have to wear. Which brings me to another of the many problems I have with the Imperium. That problem being their whole issue with free will. They believe humanity is useless without guidance, that God or not, we must follow some larger plan. Like life is a story written by them and as long as everyone plays their part we'll get to the sweet and sappy ending without a hitch. And for some reason, when it comes choosing what to wear, us kids must suck at it if they make us all wear the same thing.

I quickly walk over to to the wall on my left and run my hand down the stone wall until I feel a loose panel. I easily pull the panel out and grab what is inside. Those Items being the only things I own. I walk over to my "bed" and lay the Items out. The first thing is a small piece of paper with the words remember. The second, a black vest with a red flame on the back and red in the front. These items were things I've always had. The rest were things I stole from the room of objects. These items included black skinny jeans, really old converse, a cigar, and an alcohol canteen. All of which are very important to me considering they are my only true possessions. I nod going through all of them one more time, running my plan through my head.

The plan is to sneak out of my room at 12:30. There's always a gap of guards between then and 1:30. Even though that's not enough time to get out of the facility, I can turn on the smoke alarms with the cigar, giving me more time to get into the garbage system and use the ride out of here. The garbage system takes all the crap in the facility and forced into some sort of machine. I know from sneaking into the routine room that a truck picks it up at 3 in the morning and takes it to a secret outpost, luckily the route stops near a road that leads to a city. All I need to do is get changed out if these clothes, which have a tracking chip in them.

I look in the mirror again. It's like a transformation, and I like it. I don't look like some kid who never changes, I look like a badass. Then again, it's just me. I spin around imitating a girl, laughing like an idiot. "Fabulous!" Oh God I need help. I look outside my room at the clock on the wall. It's precisely 12:30. I grab all of my things and step outside, quietly shutting the door behind me.