Disclaimers: I really shouldn't have to say that this never happened. Seriously, if you think you're living in a society called "Dockeil," I... I have nothing to say. If you feel a sense of irony, like you've read something close to this before, it's because my sort of muse for this story was, y'know, the book? '1984' by George Orwell, y'know... But this is far from the carbon copy of that brilliant book, it won't come near its brilliance. I'm no George Orwell.

Author's notes: So, if you feel as if you already read this it is because I also posted it on LiveJournal. Since I'm more comfortable with Fanfiction's format, I'm just posting on here too. Hope you enjoy!

"Kill your prayers for love and peace, you'll wake the thought police..." - Muse, Resistance

Dominic sits in his room, pondering just what had happened to him. He had been feeling these strange sensations for nearing a week now. "What have I done to... Think so differently?" He asks himself as he glances at his journal entries in frustration, another new sensation that he did not yet know the name of.

10/11: There is a girl at Secondary School, whenever I look at her, I become red, and I find myself gawking at her. Her name escapes me...

10/12: I tripped on a tree root today, normally I would just get right back up and keep going, but today I was stunned, looking around... To see if someone saw me? But why? The people around just walked along...

10/13: Thinking about what happened these past few days, nothing crosses my mind. Today, I'm got red again, but my hands are shaking, my teeth grinding together. Each sensation had a different effect on me... Wha-

"Dominic," his mother calls for him at the bottom of the stairs, "Come eat, the Dockelifile has arrived!" At this, Dominic's head pops up, coming to a realization: 'That's it!' he thought to himself. Of course that's it! I've gotten away with not eating it for so long... maybe... maybe it's changing my way of thought! He finishes out his entry in a hurried scrawl, "It's the Dockelifile!" He grabs the notepad and hides it in his drawer away from the peeping eyes of his mom and siblings. To prove his theory right, he knew what he had to do, he had to test it. Eat it on and off for a week or two, observe the effects. And he would do it. "Dominic..." his mother calls again. "I'm coming, mother!" he exclaims in a tone, that he, nor his mother would not recognize as rude or disrespectful. He climbs down the stairs, and takes his seat in the kitchen, with his mom, and two younger siblings, Joseph, his obedient, 12-year-old brother and his even smaller sister, Kathleen, who had just recently turned 5 years of age.

You may have noticed the absence of a father figure? Well, about a year ago, Dominic's father was abducted by their leader and killed off for giving out secret information and plotting against the government. He worked under the Absolutist, and had close relations with the man. When he was executed, it went unknown; nobody remembered his existence, let alone his death. Everything about him was wiped away, and not even his family holds a memory of him.

As he sits down, a man dressed in an intimidating jumpsuit, holding a silver platter, stalks behind his chair and serves on his plate, the dreaded Dockeilfile. The man serves the rest of his family and exits, Dominic, being unusually observant spies the man's face as he exits, it almost looks...smug. Unaware, Dominic grimaces back at the man and then looks down at his plate and grimaces once more. Dockelifile, a repulsive, gelatinous food, ordered, under the words of the Absolutist that everyone must eat. For it is "medicinal" food, meant to improve the health of the citizens. It's named after their society, "Dockeil". Before forking at it, a thought comes to Dominic, "I wonder if the Absolutist actually eats this stuff..." He lifts the fork up to his mouth and takes the first bite; the first bite is always the worst, the gelatinous solid squirting a bitter liquid onto your tongue, stinging it until your taste buds are numb enough to put fire inside of your mouth without feeling pain. He cringes at the bitter taste and hurriedly takes another bite, immediately not tasting anything. The sensations he was formerly feeling dial down to nothing. His whole body goes numb. "What a blessed meal, we can only thank our dear Absolutist for such a blessing." His mother says. If Dominic weren't eating this meal, he would have laughed at such an absurd statement. But instead he murmurs, "I believe." along with his younger siblings. "You're all excused; you may go to bed...Good night."

"Good night, mother" the three youngsters say in unison, resembling the tone of an android. Unemotional, almost cold.

Despite being utterly unemotional, Dominic makes it a point to record his data onto his notepad the next day after school, when it started to wear off:

10/14: (Eaten Night Before) There sure is a difference in the way I acted today, I saw the girl again- I didn't react the same way I did when I didn't eat Dockelifile...I'm going to test it a few more times and record my observations, like this: "10/15: (Not Eaten Night Before)... 10/16: (Eat Night Before)..." and so on. My theory is when I don't eat Dockelifile, the sensations take effect the following day, and when I do eat it, nothing happens. - The girl's name is Claire Waters...

Claire Waters, the hands-down smartest girl in all Dockiel Secondary School. Despite her book-smarts, she wasn't aware of the lies told by the Absolutist, unlike Dominic, but in a way, she was aware. Some feelings could be actually felt by her and she could somewhat pinpoint them, unlike most citizens in Dockeil. Today, she felt... apprehensive... Apprehensive because she knew that when she got to school; she would be stared at by that peculiar boy. She wasn't sure of his name, but everyday... no every other day he stared at her from across the cafeteria during Midday Meal. She lets out a great sigh and makes her way down the stairs. She bids her "goodbyes" to her family, jumps on her bike and rides to school. She observes the community around her, taking in all of sights she sees every day during the week. The Kindergarteners are being escorted to school by their mentors, and some adults are driving to their assigned Job-Station.

Claire's friend, Ariel catches sight of her and rides faster to get next to her. "Good morning, Claire!" Ariel greets with a smile, of course they can smile, it's only one of the two facial expressions they can make, smiling and a face of indifference. Nothing really affects them. Not sadness, not anger, love... nothing, really. Unless they were to stop eating Dockelifile.

"G'morning, Ariel..." Claire replies, distracted, looking around for something or someone. "Are you looking for someone?" her friend questions, starting to follow her friend's suit. "Yeah... I'm just... not sure who..." The girl replies, her eyes growing tired from looking around. "Is it that kid from Midday Meal-Time? The one whose eyes are always fixed on yours?" Ariel adds more inquiries than answers. "Yes...I...I just don't know his name..."

"I wonder why he always looks at you. Do you think he wants to talk to you?"

"Maybe... I don't know... But that's why I want to find him; I want to confront him about it. There is something peculiar about him..."

They finally made it to school, mounted off of their bikes and headed off to their first period class. During roll-call, Claire's head perks up at the name, "Dominic Howard"

That... That's him! That is the name of the boy I was looking for this morning!

She turns around to glance at the boy, right next to her, who murmurs the word, "Here, Preceptor," The boy glances over at Claire and smiles. A smile different from one that Claire, or any other citizen of Dockeil, would recognize. It was a hopeful smile, Dominic smiled as if he had something planned for the girl next to him. And, in fact, he did. After visiting some "Allies" he understands the sensations that he has been experiencing. He wanted to so badly to talk to the girl during class, but it wouldn't be normal and this could get him in trouble with the Absolutist. So he would approach the girl during Midday Meal-Time.

Three classes passed and it was finally time for lunch. Dominic walked down the halls, trying to seem natural, having small-talk-ish conversations with a couple of his friends. He would never say this aloud, but he found these conversations tedious and irrelevant. When he finally made his way into the cafeteria, his eyes darted around the room in search of the girl.

Claire can see him, making his way towards her seat, masking his emotions, in case someone were watching him. "Hi." He says, struggling to keep a straight face. "Hello, Dominic." she replies, a polite smile stretching across her face. He sits down across from her, putting his tray down before and starts eating silently before beginning a serious conversation.

He takes a last sip of water before clearing his throat, "So, I have to ask you something..." he begins, forking his ravioli. She nods, just once, a solemn nod. "Have you...errm... Have you ever skipped out on, or thought about skipping out on eating the Dockelifile?" he inquires his voice dropping to a soft whisper, his right brow set higher than the other. She coughs, her eyes squinting, "Huh? Of course not. It's the rule, the law!" she replies in a matter-of-fact manner. "Before you jump to conclusions, please, Claire, hear me out... Please, I beg of you..." he pleads, she looks blankly at him, and he continues, "No, I haven't been eating it... Well, for the past week, I've been testing it on and off. I've noticed something about it; Every time I eat it, I have these extreme sensations, I won't go too far into the topic but they're called 'emotions.' And when I do eat it, those 'emotions' diminish, poof they're gone and I'm like a robot... And with that, I need you to join me...To stop eating the Dockelifile." The girl continues to stares at him, "I... I'm going to report you to the-"

"NO! Don't do that!" he whispers, his teeth clamped together in impatience. "It's complete rubbish, what you're saying! Do you really expect me to believe you, Dominic? And of all people, why did you confront me about it? You have closer acquaintances than I, don't you?" She asks a hint of nervousness in her voice. "Of course I do! But I chose you because...There's something about you... That makes me..." He pauses, trying to find the words, he ends up changing the whole context of his words, "I knew you would understand and accept it more than anyone else..." As he says this, Claire tries to process it, not sure at all if she understood his words. She wondered why he trusted her so much. How he explained something so difficult, so perfectly. He smiles at the girl, his unique way of smiling, his perfect teeth.