The System (ON HOLD)

Chapter One: Run Rabbit

Run, dad had snapped as mother screamed. I was wearing a little white dress and no shoes I was going to protest when he pushed me out of the window and I landed on the hard concrete stone. He passed me my red cloak as I ran. The streets confused me at this late hour and minutes after taking off I found an iron gate. I leaned against it with all of the strength my four year old body could muster. Once the gate creaked open I sighed and slipped out of the main city. The main guards couldn’t follow me now, even at four I knew this. I ran up a small dirt path and as I reached a small building I saw the torches of the Guard. I ran to the small building and I pounded on its big wooden doors with all I could and as a woman stood with a small candle in her white knuckled hands. I looked up and as she glared down at me her eye caught the light from the Guard’s torches.

“I know a way out of here,” she whispered and I looked up suddenly interested in her kindly face.

“How,” I whispered.

“My son will come for you,” she smiled.

“Son?” I asked.

“Yes. He is fifteen and although we live on private land anyone who met us in the main city would report him. How did your father keep you a secret for so long?” she mumbled, “You are of age aren’t you?”

“Yes, I turned four eleven months and twenty seven days ago,” I smiled.

“You will be safe with my son. He arrives tomorrow for now you need sleep,” she smiled and welcomed me into her home.

The world turned upside down and all children aged four to eighteen were threats in some cities because of the legends. My father loved me no matter what. My mother was protective but she used to love me. I knew her scream was her last breath… to protect me. My older brother was taken and now he was a guard for the walls. That would happen to me and I would learn to fight more, eat less and not talk. I saw my brother on the wall once and as he looked at me and smiled his labourer whipped him for ‘inappropriate gestures of peace’.

“Are you okay child?” the woman asked.

“I was thinking of my big brother. He’s older by one minute and three seconds,” I smiled and as I thought of where he was now I sighed, “they got him.”

The woman nodded and handed me a glass of milk before sending me off to bed. I heard someone slip into my room and as I was gently awoken a teenager was smiling down on me. I smiled as he passed me some clothes, they were heavy and most of it was copper with a gold finish. He left and a girl came in.

“You’ll need help with the corset,” she smiled, “This uniform stops you from being injured. Four years old, five in five days.”

I slipped out of my white dress and as she helped me change she packed my other clothes into a shoulder bag and once my corset and underskirt were on she left. The underskirt was red and as I pulled on the metal overskirt I thought ‘this would look good on a bigger girl but I’ll grow’. I had a metal bodice underneath the corset and as I slipped on the arm guards I saw the weapons belt. I pulled it on and inside a holster was a katana and opposite it was a dagger. The boy came back through holding a small bowl of porridge and honey. Once I had finished he took my plate away and as I ran through to see the woman she was coming to say goodbye.

“Good luck child,” she smiled.

“My name’s Leigh,” I smiled.

“Jeign,” she smiled, “Leigh make sure you get out and wait until you are eighteen to let yourself be known to the guards.

“Bye Jeign?” I asked.

“Bye Leigh,” she smiled and her son came back through.

“Come on kid,” he smiled as he pulled me onto his back.

“Leigh,” I whispered.

“Lee,” he chuckled as he ran.

I could feel a sharp chill slash my cheeks as I curled into Lee’s shoulder. I felt Lee slow and as he placed me down on the ground I opened my eyes and I was standing on green… The only green I had ever seen were in old pictures. I guessed it was grass and looking up was a pale blue sky, unlike the bleak grey of smoke. Everything outside of the city was fresh and beautiful. A small animal came bounding over yelping happily. I stepped back as Lee bent down and clapped the animal like he knew it. I stepped closer and the animal jumped over to me and licked my cheek. Lee straightened up and slid me under his arm as he led the way through a forest. I looked down and realised I wasn’t wearing any shoes… neither was Lee. He led the way and as I saw the tall spiky wooden logs. I began to step back but Lee urged me forward and once he had taken me to a small village I couldn’t believe kids my age hlped build this. Then I noticed a few adults. Lee led me to a small cabin and above the door was the number 5. He led me in and as I looked around there were loads of girls smiling and laughing. I was pointed to a bed and as I sat on it one of the girls invited me to their circle.

“Hi we’re part of The Others,” she smiled.

“The Others?” I asked confused.

“Yeah because we are NOT like the Cities we are The Others. I’m Katryana what’s your name,” she smiled.

“Leigh,” I smiled, “How old are you?”

“Five. What about you?” Katryana asked.

“Five in a few days,” I smiled.