The sun shone through the window and fell upon Rachel Matheson's eyes. She stirred in the bed and groaned. Her eyes fluttered open, letting in the light. Rachel squinted at the brightness of the sun as she pushed herself up. The curtains swayed with the wind coming through the open window. She flicked the blankets off her body and swung her legs to the edge of the bed. Rachel's head turned to the sound of the door creaking open. In strutted Bass Monroe, leader of the Monroe Militia. He let the doors slam behind him as he walked up to her. "Good morning, Rachel." Bass had a smug grin stuck to his face, a grin that made Rachel want to slap it off him. He tilted his head at her as his smile diminished. "I have a little surprise for you. Come with me." Rachel stared intensely at him as she hated the way he spoke to her. Reluctantly, Rachel planted her feet on the cold wood floor and stood from the bed. Monroe waved his hand up and down, gesturing at her outfit. "You may want to get dressed." He smirked again. "I'll be outside the doors when you're ready." Rachel nodded gently at him as he turned to exit her bedroom. The doors slammed against their hinges, leaving Rachel to herself. She looked around the candle and sun lit room, hoping there would be a day she wouldn't have to see it. Rachel's feet pounded against the wood as she ventured over to her dresser. Opening the top drawer, she pulled out a light grey silk shirt. After setting it on top of her dresser, she went to the next drawer and fetched a pair of blue jeans. They were dull and worn, unlike her top which had been given to her by Bass. She traced the lining of the jeans and sighed. She remembered when there was a time that people made jeans. When people made anything. When they had things that made their lives easier. When they were able to entertain their children with TV and games. A time when people had power. Rachel reached into her drawer and fished around. She grabbed something and carefully pulled it out, looking around to make sure no one was watching. In the palm of her hand, she held a pendant. She held power; and that was something she could never let Bass get.
