Static

CHAPTER TWO

        "We are on a bit of a time crunch, miss Vast, say your goodbyes now."  Jennings droned. 
        "I love you so, so much, Mo, and I couldn't be more proud of any other girl in the world."  Charlotte's eyes were watering and her lips began to quiver but I knew my sister and she was not going to cry, no matter how bad things got, she would not cry.

         I was wrong.  She balled like a baby as she hugged me tight.  I remember that hug so well.  Like she was just here, at the camp, yesterday squeezing the day lights out of me.
      "Charlotte I'm not going."  I said, slightly worried that my big sister had actual tears falling down her cheeks.
       "Yeah.  Yeah you are, girlfriend.  I want you to be on your best behavior and be brave for me, ok?"  Her voice was cracking and so was her heart, I could tell.

       "Charlotte, what did I do?  Why aren't you coming?"  It was all I could say, I was still so new to the whole situation that I didn't really understand how serious it was at the time.
       "Miss Vast-".  Jennings was growing impatient, she readjusted her stance as if to exaggerate that point.
       "What about mom and dad? Where will I go?"  I said ignoring the soldiers nagging behind us.
       "Don't worry, you'll see them again sooner or later.  You'll see me again soon ok?  I'll make sure of it."  I wasn't convinced and I wanted her to stay with me.  I wanted her to walk with me to wherever it was these people were going to drag me off to.  I wanted her there to make sure nobody would hurt me, so she could keep me safe.
      But before I knew it, Jennings was dragging me out onto the road in front of my house and stuffing me in a big car parked on the street that I hadn't noticed before. 

     The drive had been long, agonizingly so, and I was instructed not to speak or make any noise whatsoever.  They had shoved me in the back seat with zip ties around my wrists.  I thought this precaution was a little over the top.  How could they think that me, little outcast 7th grader me, could harm soldiers like them? 

      When we finally did arrive at the zone, I had no idea where we were and I still don't, they never told us.  They sent me through my "introductory training" and then gave me my new name, Roach, before they divided us up into bunkers based on our age and gender.  That day, three years ago, was the last time I saw a boy my age.

      Everyday has been the same ever since.

       Now though, in the present, Connors was dragging me off by the neck of my shirt and Flea by her arm back to the Block.  It wasn't necessarily embarrassment that I was feeling, more like such an overwhelming wave of dread that I was drowning in as I stumbled along in terror.

        I catch Flea's eyes once, but she doesn't seem to notice, it's like the only thing on her mind is how much she's hurting from her beating.  I scream at myself silently in my head for speaking out.  I should've just kept my mouth shut, let Connors get his anger out and then Flea would stand back up and we'd be back in our bunker by now. But no, little Imogen Vast crept up from the place in the corner of my mind and opened her big mouth for everyone to see and hear. 
       We get to the doors of the the Block and Connors thrusts us inside.  I manage to land on my feet but Flea is weak now, so she lands sprawled on the floor, trying to climb to her knees.

       Roach wouldn't dare to run and help her, Roach wouldn't even think about saying something to encourage her to get to her feet.  But Imogen, she's different.  And she's battling Roach, breaking cracks in her hardened shell

And she's escaping. 

I rush to Flea's side and for a moment she's hardly aware that I'm there but when her eyes meet mine, they go from blinded by pain to consuming horror.