Corruption

Years ago, The united nations fell to natural causes.

Some countries survived and re-inhabited these areas.

Russia, has named themselves the "Rules"

They rule over they're countries with an iron fist.

In an area earlier known as Europe,

different areas are now renamed.

One of these areas is called "Hanglin."

In Hanglin, there are acres.

Each acre has its own citizens.

Each acre has its own stories.

The acre of Tanim, is about to have its own legend.

It was cold when I woke up, my covers kept me warm though. Usually I could hear my alarm, screeching like a banshee or, whatever they call it. I smashed the button down wanting to get more sleep, but once I was up… I was up.

I walked into the kitchen to begin my day, and opened the refrigerator. The cold air rushed into my face as a grabbed a jug of milk from the shelf. Suddenly I was hit with a fading agony of dizziness. I didn't know whether it was because I was so tired, or the cold, but it lasted for a torturing 3 minutes. I had to prop myself against the counter the whole time. Watching the blackness close my vision. I never noticed my younger brother walk in and grab his breakfast. I forgot, this was the time of day when he would wake up and go out with his friends to the woods. "Heje? What are you doing up so early?" he asked. "Oh, nightmare." I answered. This did not actually happen, in fact, I had no idea why I woke up so early. It seemed a logical explanation though. "oh" he muttered. "Well I'm going out, see you Heje!" right as he began to open the door, I called out to him. "Damian wait!" He turned around and raised his eyebrows. "When you see Ian can you tell him I said hi?" Damian smiled sarcastically. "Suuuuuure." He ran out the door before I could tell him the rest.

"Dang!" I rushed to the door before it could close. "Damian I swear, if you do what I think you're gonna…" But there was no point. Damian was already down the road and gone. I slowly walked over to the table and sat down. My head had began to throb, and I rubbed my temples in an attempt to calm the aching down.

Soon enough my face was flat against the table, head pounding like a bass drum. Each thought of movement would spawn another pound. It took calmness, but I finally managed to get up and walk over to the counter. I open up a cabinet and pull out a bottle of pills label terribly by a piece of copy paper: "Heje" This bottle was subscribed to me years ago. I had, and still have, very frequent headaches. I unscrewed the cap and took out two pills. I took them both with a glass of warm tea.

I felt the stream fall through my throat. My father walked into the room, already with his clothes on. "Morning." I said. He scrubbed his eyes and yawned. "Morning. How long have you been up?" he asked. "Not long. Where's mom?" I responded. "She's still asleep." I rolled my eyes. "Figures" My father sat down. "Heje. I know you don't agree with your mother," he began to lecture. "but she is your mother. I need you to at least act like you love her." That was more than a challenge for me. I rolled my eyes again. "Yea. For what? Especially after what she did." A tear formed in both of our eyes. "Heje," My father insisted. "please don't bring that up. No one in the Riveria wants to remember that. It was sad times. Even I think something should have been done about it. But your mother did it for the Rules. Only for the reason she was afraid…" I had to interrupt him. "Scared? We're scared all the time because of her! She made everything worse! She made them kill innocent people! Dad don't you get it? Mom is a traitor!" my dad stood up and slammed his fist on the table. "Heje listen!" he snapped back at me. "I know all of that! But she is your mother and you will respect her, do you understand me?" I slowly sunk my head down into my cup. "Yes sir."

I didn't want to deal with this anymore. Tomorrow was the day. It was the day of shattering. The shatterings were terrible. It was when the Rules charged into each acre and stole whoever remained in their houses. We never know what they do to the people they steal. But we always pictured it was much worse for the girls. Nearly no one from my acre was ever stolen. We've learned to stay outside all day. Whoever even tried to hide would be severely punished. Which brings up my mother again. I left the room, put my boots and jacket on, and went outside. School was never in session during the winter, but I could still see the children playing on the playground. They did not completely understand the seriousness of the shattering. I really envied them, innocent, unknowing, and so young. I was beginning to become of age. In Hanglin, 17 is the maximum age before the law forced you to marry someone. And if you don't even have a male that likes you, they pick for you. I was nervous. I had so many things going on, the shatterings, my age, and well I don't even have a boyfriend.

I continued walking down the road. My friend Elise was also sixteen. I passed her house on the way to the park. She had always been nervous about things. Her birthday is even sooner than mine, its actually just weeks away. I can't imagine how she is right now. Probably curled up in a corner, sucking on her thumb. She would never get a boyfriend though. She was just a small bit of a lunatic.

The park's entrance was torn and destroyed, as it has been for the past 4 years. The Rules tore the park up after the riot, which was when my mother gave away the identity of our cousins. We never saw them again. I passed many burnt trees and benches. I stopped next to an old, torched, stone statue of a sculptor and his tools. That was my great grandfather; Francis. He founded this acre of Tanim. It was the only thing still standing.

A hand slapped onto my shoulder and a small scream jerked into my ear, I jumped; I was so scared. I turned around quickly and slapped whoever it was. My friend Niccoli covered his check. I boiled over. "Damnit Nicco!" I screamed. "What was that for?" He laughed a small bit. "Just a little joke." He answered. "Are you ready to go?" I stomped on his foot and crossed my arms. "I don't know if I should, you scared me just now." We were going to the old shack off the highway. Old settlers apparently haunted it from hundreds of years ago. "Oh come on," he said. "I was only getting you ready for later. You know there are ghost in there. They'll scare you more than I just did." He smirked a small bit. I smiled and turned back to him. "Thanks. Sure, I'm ready to go." Niccoli pulled a camcorder from his backpack and started walking towards the woods. He signaled for me to follow. "c'mon, we'll take the long way."

I followed him down the path. We crawled under thick briar patches, and crossed small creeks. Only after we passed a big boulder did we talk again. He asked: "So, what about tomorrow? Who do you think is going to be taken tomorrow?" I sighed. "I hope Claudia is taken. She is really just a lazy bitch sometimes." He smiled. "Me too. She just, pisses me off sometimes." I laughed. "That's another thing we agree on." I said. "Why did that have to happen?" he asked. "Why did what have to happen?" I asked him. "Why did those earthquakes have to happen? Life is terrible here. My grandmother told me what days were like back then. Sure money might have been down, but at least we had some freedom. Now we just have to follow rules." I worried for him and looked around. Checking if anyone had heard that. I knew no one could hear us, but I was cautious. "Niccoli, you know you cant think that kind of stuff! The rules would have your head!" I whispered. "Let them have it." He said. "As long as I get out of here. The only thing that's good about being here is that were not in acre 117." Acre 117 was the poorest acre in all of Hanglin. Life was terrible there. At least here we didn't die of sickness and starvation everyday. I slowly hung my head. "Nicco." I said under my breath. "We're all tired of the Rules, but the rest of us can put up with it enough not to show it in public. Just promise me when we get back you wont act like this ok? I don't think I could take it if the Rules killed you." I still agreed with him though. I despised the Rules. They were pure evil, and I hated them. Slavery was outlawed more than 240 years ago. But the Rules brought it back and use it all the time. They do whatever they please to them. And I mean whatever they please. The simple thought of it gave me a cold chill.

We continued walking. "Nicco, what's that?" I pointed to a black object off to the left, about an even 20 yards away. "I don't know." He answered. He eased towards it, with me behind him. We slowly approached it. A spark flew from it, landing on a blade of grass, catching it on fire. Niccoli covered his eyes with his arms. "Shit! Heje watch out!" The fire quickly spread across the woods. Trees leaped with flames. Braches fell around the object. We made a run for it.

We ran in the direction we were going before we caught sight of the object. The shack was about ten yards away when a fiery trunk of a tree separated us. I looked around in panic. Looking for a way around. There was none. I backed up, away from the fire. Smoke quickly spread across the land. I began to breath all of it.

I ran back to were Niccoli and Icame from, hopefully to get away from the cloud. I limped as fast as I could, until eventually falling to the ground. My eyes were closed. The air was thin, and the smoke consumed my lungs. I covered my mouth and nose with my shirt. The air was like poison. It had set in, and it was killing me.