Separate

Chapter 6 - The Cedar Tree

"They called it a Cedar tree," he said, glancing between me and the tree itself. I didn't understand what he meant when he said it was a tree. All the trees I had ever learned about in science were these beautiful and lush creatures that provided shade for the animals below. This one had no leaves as Miss Erin described. It was ugly and bare.

"It was burned during the second generation. They kept what was left of it as a reminder. Everyone is brought here when they turn ten, but I guess your father didn't want you to know about it." He said solemnly, looking down at the roots of the tree which twisted and turned in a disorderly fashion.

"A reminder of what?" I asked.

"A reminder that the truth hurts and destroys hope." He continued. "This is the reason we are divided."

I was staring straight at him now, not saying a word in fear of interrupting anything he had to say.

"Back when we were unified, anyone could bond with anyone. There were no selections, no laws passed for a specific group. The story goes that one day a council member bonded with a scientist, and a district representative bonded with an engineer. The scientist told their wife that the Station was running out of food, that they needed to bring it up with the council. The scientist was friends with the engineer, and together they did research and found no possible way to fix the problem. The engineer told their wife, the district representative, about the problem. She eventually spread that news to her people in Juniper, and they were scared and angry.

Soon the masses learned that it was impossible to fix the problem, and this only caused more trouble. It didn't take long for riots to break out across Juniper District. People started killing the council members and law enforcement that lived there. They eventually started spreading across the other districts, with one incident setting fire to the Prime District and burning the Cedar tree. This was the red line, and it was crossed. The one symbol of hope the station had left was gone. They had nothing.

They told us that the high council made a compromise and the five districts were divided equally among the people and the food problem was solved. They said that everyone was happy again and there were no more riots. From what I've learned from my parents, that wasn't the case," He paused a moment as if he instantly regretted everything he said. "My parents said to never say any of this to anyone, but I think there's a chance, just maybe, that we can finally change things. I've seen you; you don't act like the rest of the Firsts. You want something to change too. I can feel it. It's time you learned the truth about what really happened.

They sealed Juniper off from the other districts and bombed it. This was the population reduction they all talk about. It wasn't voluntary, it was a slaughter. When the bombs stopped, anyone who still dissented was executed, including the leader of the rebellion after he murdered the President."

As he said this, my mind raced back to the files I had found on my father's computer all those years ago. The man with the mask. He was my great grandfather's killer. He was the reason that the station was divided.

"There was no equal division between the districts." he continued, "The five Districts were divided among five groups of differing power across the station. What was left of Juniper was given to the families of those who were killed during the bombs and executions, and they were labeled the Fifths, the lowest status of the station. They say the Fifths are..."

Suddenly a band of armed guards entered the room through the hallway and approached us at a rapid pace. I started to breathe heavily, believing for the first time I was no longer invincible. This time they would take me away to Westside, and I would never see any of my friends again. I closed my eyes, waiting for them to grab me, lock me up in chains, and drag me away. That moment never happened, I heard the marching of boots approach me and then pass me. I was relieved, then I heard the screams.

I opened my eyes as I watched in horror as they started beating Fetcher. He hit the ground almost immediately, but they continued to beat him. One of the guards eventually took out his electric baton, something I've only seen used on Joseph when he was taken away and started shocking him in the chest for him to comply. I felt pain in my throat, and I realized I was screaming. There was nothing I could do but watch. It was only a minute later that Fetcher had turned into a crumpled body on the floor, barely breathing. They placed cuffs around his wrists and neck and pulled him out of the room and out of sight.

I stood there motionless and my knees shook uncontrollably. In only a few seconds the door opened again, and my father came rushing in. He held me in his arms and apologized repeatedly for everything I had to see and hear. At that moment, I felt a new feeling for my father. I could feel my heart growing colder and my whole body tightened up at the sight of him. It was the same feeling Julia had for me when she saw me with the Fifths. I felt real anger and hatred towards my father, and all that he did to try and protect me.