The Report (Part 3)

The rest of the walk seemed to go by in a blur. One minute I'm on the street trying to avoid the bee nests, the next I'm walking the path to town square, at least an hour away. The path was well worn, a result of years and years of people avoiding roads.

The path lead me through a thick patch of woods, so dense that I couldn't even see the houses behind me. If I got to close to the sides I would run into stinging nettles or poison oak, so I stayed to the middle.

The path went on for about 30 min without a hiccup, but up ahead I could see a large tree in the way, fallen from the last storm. It was so large I couldn't see an end at either side. If I wanted to make it in time I would have to climb over it.

I paced the length of the log that was in the path, trying to find the best possible foothold. I decided on one on the right side of the path. It was close to the stinging nettles, but I would risk it to make it on time.

I Started to climb over, and once I reached the top I tried to slide down. The bark too rough to slide, so I had to climb back down as well. Climbing down proved more difficult that the way up, but also more fun.

Once back on the ground I looked around me to see the new surroundings. The path was less used than the other side, probably because of the tree. Not many people go out of their way now a-days just to reach their destination. They would rather wait and scavenge for food than work around an obstacle.

I noticed that a lot of the plants that had overgrown the path were quick growing types, like poison oak and vines. Other plants like grass and even some flowers had started to pop up. Every here and there a daisy or two could be spotted in the grass, and as I passed I would try to pick the most bloomed. I didn't know what for, maybe to give to that Sierra girl for her sister.

The trees started thinning out, and I could see the town square in front of me It was just starting to fill with people who had been drafted. I figured now would be a good time to try to find her, before a bunch of people showed up.

I rushed to the brick circle we called the square, a small center area with a dried out fountain and old cracked benches. Before the war it was part of a garden, behind some of the brambles were ruins of a building. No one knows what it was before it because rubble.

" Sierra! Sierra!" I shouted. There was only about 15 people at the moment, I figured she would hear me if she was here.

Sure enough, a girl about my age with blond hair peaked her head around he fountain, looking for the person who called her name. I walked over to her and she death stared me the whole way. If her sibling was sunshine, her mother was clouds, and she was moonlight.

" Who sent you?" She asked. Her voice was high but sweet, like she wasn't used to speaking foully.

" Your sister has a message for you. She says she loves you, and good bye." I said jumping strait to the chase. No point in beating around the bush, I didn't even know the lady.

"M-my sister?" Her face went a little pale. She dropped her scowl a bit, just enough for me to tell she was shocked.

" Yes. I found her doll in the road, so I brought it up to the house and gave it to her. She told me to tell you that..." I drag off a bit. I was a bit perplexed at her reaction. Was her sister not supposed to know about the drafting?

" My sister has been dead for 4 years..." She went even paler, " She was playing with her doll in the street when a wild dog attacked her. She didn't make it..." Her voice was at a whisper by this point, her hands clutching her dress so hard they were trembling.

I couldn't believe it. She looked so alive, so... childlike.

" Your kidding..." I asked

" Why would I joke about that?" She shouts. Not loud, but enough to make me jump a bit.

" Sorry, I just cant wrap my head around it... she even blushed when I talked to her... What about your mom, is she still alive?"

"Yes, but she's only a shell of herself after the incident."

" I saw her too... but she didn't say anything. She just stood there and stared at me..." Well now I know why. I must have looked crazy... talking to a dead girl... her daughter no less!

"The Officials are coming... Better go find a spot." She said right before she ran off.

"Um... okay"

I turned in circles trying to find an empty bench, but they where all taken. So I sat down on the end of one that I shared with an elderly lady, hoping for a quiet waiting turn. Thankfully, once the officials were ready, she was the first to report.

" Name?" the younger officer asked.

" Alice Berklow" She was holding a neat little purse, one of those small coin purses. They became really popular once people started bartering more. You could carry expensive berries (medicinal, poisonous, etc.) and trade them out for larger items. Most women carry around coin purses and a larger bag, so that nothing gets squished.

" Pass. Next." And this sequence continued up until me.

" Name?"

" Phoenix Gale"

"Repeat your name."

"Phoenix Gale." I was gonna get irritated if they kept this up. I know damn well they drafted me.

" Not found in The System. Please step aside. Next."

What...

Let me explain. At birth everyone is added to The System, a digital record book of everyone who lives here and who did live here. They infuse your blood with nanites, each with a different coding specific to you. If worst comes to worst they are able to tell who you are just by running your nanite code.

I stepped over to the side of their desk and was greeted by a nano-testing bot. This bot could test your blood's nanites in less that 12 seconds, top of it's class apparently.

"Arm." It beeped. I stuck my arm into it's chest cavity so it could draw my blood. A few second later I pull my arm back out and wait.

"Phoenix Gale, age 17. Passage granted." It beeped then it turned and rolled away. I wonder why they couldn't find me in the system.

"Where am I supposed to go now?" I asked the officer.

"Just follow us out when we're done." He said, then called for the next person. Only two were left now, a younger girl with black hair and a 10 or 11 year old boy next to her. She looked burly and tough while he looked like he could faint at any moment. Lucky for him he was called next, then the girl.

" All draftee's accounted for. Gathering at meet-up point in 30 minutes" One of the officers was speaking into his earpiece, earning a muffled 'Affirmative' in reply.

" Alright lets move!" He shouted and started to walk down another worn path.

We did, in fact, walk for about 30 minutes, reaching our destination at about 4:30 p.m. Our destination itself was interesting. It looked like someone had taken an old commercial plane and put hyper-boosters on it, the fastest way of travel now. Glass was freshly replaced and the outside was peppered with superficial scratches and paint chips.

"Load up and find a seat." He told us. He stood by the door of the plane and watched us all load on board. His gaze was harsh but calm, secretive.

I did not like it here.