Summary: Miriam Grant displays a good image and impression upon herself and her families name. What happens when Miriam goes too far in helping the struggling needs for the Colony and comes face to face with an evolved ape? A fierce attraction forms between Miriam and Blue Eyes. Will it last?
Characters: Miriam Grant
Rating: PG-13
Romance, Suspense, Violence, Humor
Prologue
In one split second, things went wrong. The world went wrong. Paranoia and madness was staked into our heads over the course of ten years. Afraid of an enemy that you can't see. I never thought that in my sixteen years of life. Everything would take such horrific turn.
Over the ten years of what I would like to call 'The Twenty First Century of the Black Plaque' I've learned a lot. As what most people would say that we don't know fear young. In fact fear is what drilled into our minds very young. I learned to take that fear into fearlessness. Just remember to live your life to the fullest and that hope will keep you alive. Most importantly to myself...believe of what you feel, an instinct. This all overshadows fear, fear can kill you as...I personally put it.
Being the only daughter of one of the founding leaders. I have to put on a good impression, and a good image for my family name.
The Colony was founded a few years after the virus had got out. By three men named Dreyfus, Malcolm MacDonald, and my Father, George Grant. It's known throughout the Colony that my family is full of pride. We don't back down from anything, and because of our pride it lead us to be resourceful.
The Colony struggles. Low food resource, and supplies mainly. We're hooked up on weaponry though. Our population is low. Due to the virus, malnutrition, stillbirths, or common sicknesses. The children of the Colony who were born during the ten years, and below the age of a teenager inherited common birth defects. Which they're considered the lucky few that haven't died from stillbirths. Just became mute or deaf, sometimes even both as the consequence to live and not die. Some are even born blind as a result.
Besides the flaws, there are nice advantages to living in the Colony. Schooling is optional, starting when you're...at least six or seven you're admitted. In my case I will be a Junior once summer is over. Also, jobs are plentiful to keep busy, to provide for the Colony; You can start working at nine years-old. Shifts contain scavenging for food, supplies, Volunteer at the Infirmary, Mess Hall (At school or orphanage), and textile, easy stuff. Those are the jobs for someone under eighteen. Every time at the beginning/end of the year the teenagers here have a big bonfire in the center of the Colony.
To symbolize that we have lived another year. Once graduation hits it will be a celebration. In school there is subjects that may get you a job. Medic, Weaponry, History, Engineering, and security. Along with the subjects in school is Sign Language, which is great actually since I learned a thing or two in the subject.
I'm still on the fence of what job I'll be assigned to. Most likely I'll be in the founders council along my brother, Tanner Grant, and my father.
To be fair, I always felt out of place. I want something more in life, not wait around for Dreyfus who has been obsessed in finding other survivors. I want to go across the bridge see if they're other's out there, actually looking. Not depend on a radio that's not even working.
I want to be free as well, but due to my Fathers over-protectiveness I can't. He worries that due to the fearless part of my personality I come off as too reckless, that something might happen. To the point my Father is actually paranoid that the virus is still out there. It's what killed my mother. Which is a touchy subject I don't want to get into.
Due to the outcomes of the Simian Flu. I can't have that kind of freedom. Instead the rules are is to keep your head held high, think of the safety of the Colony, stay alive. My father won't admit it, but he has fear driven in him.
All of this, all of this was caused by ignorant people. The virus was created to help people, but instead it killed off most of the planet.
Maybe things will turn up soon.
I wasn't named Miriam Grant for nothing. The name means bitter sea. In this time is bitterness, but the name is of someone who can survive.
And I have. With that I've made sure my family wasn't bitter as well. Our saying is that blood is thicker than water. We look out for each other.
Always.
I do want to help the Colony in a way, but besides to find more survivors. I want to find something that can help us.
Keep us hanging on.
Stay tuned for Chapter 1!