Entry 9

The Day Lightning Struck

If I could choose anything right now; to be able to go back and erase one regret, I would do anything. Before everyone said things that could not be taken back, before tragedy struck, but mostly before you were gone; the day lightning came down. I want to be able to see your face one more time, I want to apologize, and I want to trade places. These things may be impossible, but I can and I will keep your story alive. You left me behind so now that is my one and only job.

It was the day of the big test, and I was sweating buckets, next to my best friend, Lila. We were about to pull off our biggest scheme yet. In this world everything is based on rankings; you can live or die for the smallest of small mistakes. So as teenagers we had to stay alive by doing well in school; three last places and you die. Of course no one told us that, but we figured it out after people started going missing and then we found the catacombs where the bodies were stored which was freaky.

BAM!, Lila slammed her books down next to me bringing me out of my reverie.

"Everyone is ready, captain, we're just waiting for your signal!",she whispered in a sort of hiss.

"And they will continue waiting," I said in a stern voice, despite my prior nervousness we had things to do, "Is. That. Understood."

"Yes, Ma'am.",she replied reluctantly.

Almost, every person in my organization was ready to strike back. While I did say this was our biggest scheme yet, I never said it was the best. It would never outmatch our former leader's scheme. Who is our former leader you ask? Well that would be my older brother, Alex, but he's graduated and working with a different group of people. But, that doesn't quite matter because for the plan to work today I needed everybody's help. My whole organization was going to tie their scores on this test.

CLICK!, CLACK!, Mrs. DeMarcus walks in the room with a huge stack of papers, she then proceeds to pass them out, and finally she says, "Begin!"

I go through the test quickly. I could ace it and be at the top of my class easily, but that is not my job. My job is to break this wretched hierarchy and save as many lives as possible in the process.

SCREECH!!, goes my chair across the tile floor. It's nerve wracking being the first one to turn the test in, I hate it. Everyone is staring at me in disbelief including the teacher. Nobody has ever turned a test this quickly before, yet another nerve wracking thing. As soon as I turned my paper in I realized my mistake, I actually aced the test. In my mind this was as good as death because once you reveal that you are actually smart...…

"You are hereby disowned!" Mom shouted,"No, a child of mine would give into their hierarchy! GET! OUT!"

Thus, I was an outcast; disowned by my family, organization, and bestfriend. The only thing left to do was to turn to the smart, top- ranking people. They accepted me with open arms, as soon as they heard my name. That's how I came to live with my brother, who was a failure just like me.

I soon heard rumors that Lila was the new captain of the organization. But the thing about Lila is that, just like me with my nerves she holds everything in too. You see, Lila has lots of anxiety and now that she doesn't want me as a friend anymore she doesn't have anyone to vent to. This has got to be a lot for her, with planning, and trying not to die.

I worry about her constantly.

I quickly became comfortable with my new life, aside from, missing Lila; I soared to the top of my class and quickly became the enemy of everyone around me. My nerves got a little better.

But, everytime I see Lila she looks more and more depressed. Yet everytime I try to reach out to her, she turns me away. I don't know what I should do!?

1 YEAR LATER

DING!,DING!, people all around the world pulled their phones out as their friends sent them a single video. A video that would change the world.

I had pulled my phone out just like those around me, when I suddenly recognized the face on the screen, it was a Lila! I recognized the bridge she was standing on and started toward it.

""I just wanted to be able live my life like a normal person, whatever that is!"", at this point Lila was sobbing and I was in full sprint when she said in her wobbly voice, ""Was that ever a choice for any of us?! Well, it wasn't for me! I don't who came up with this stupid, hierarchy that runs the world, but, well, umm, it's a, umm, stupid!""

Then, I froze in my tracks. It was storming and over the thunder I couldn't hear what she said next, I was too focused on running.

FLASH!, lightning had struck, but when I looked down at the screen....

"NO!", as I screamed that single word I knew it would never be enough, it would never erase the peace I saw on her face the day Lila jumped, the day lightning struck, and the day I lost my best and only true friend.

FIVE YEARS LATER (present)

I take back what I said before, my only wish is that I could have held onto you a little while longer. I wish we could all hold on to those we love forever, yet somehow we all seem to drift apart. I have found a way to change the hierarchy and that is because of someone who was broken by it.

I will for always and forever miss you, Lila.