The Pill
10/16/30
I must be careful as I write this because paper and pen are forbidden since the first of the month. However, I feel my thoughts need to be put down in some way, so that when I am arrested, or worse killed, for all my transgressions, my words will still live on.
I remember the day they came. I was out walking my dog, enjoying the sunshine on my face and the newly bloomed flowers. This was on June 26. They marched down the streets in straight formal lines, like the lines on the sidewalk.
"It's time for change!" they announced through their megaphones. "It's time for us to all be equal, to be happy!"
They continued to march down the street, all dressed in white like a new fallen snow but not nearly as pleasant.
I watched as They reached the first house on my street. Two people broke off, walked up to the door, broke it open, and walked right on in. A few minutes later the people living there came out dressed in their own white outfits and joined the parade.
I then saw the only other person out on the street, like me, freeze and stand there gawking at them. He was closer to the mass then I, and I watched as one of the people in white approached the man and said something to him, then reached into his pocket and handed the man a pill of some sort. Hesitantly, the man swallowed the pill. Then I watched as his eyes glazed over and he took the white uniform being handed to him and changed right there.
I remember how stiff I felt, and scared. I let go of my dog's leash and whispered at him to run, doubting he would understand, but he quickly disappeared.
They continued towards me and I stood there transfixed, awaiting my doom.
When they finally reached me, a white figure broke away from the mass and walked proudly towards me.
"The world is finally going to be at peace and everyone shall be happy", he spoke to me. "Take this pill to cleanse your soul and then join your brothers for we shall all be equal."
I knew what he said was wrong in so many ways, but it was still so compelling. I took the pill into my hand. It was cold, blue, and hard. I don't know why exactly, but a little voice in the back of my head told me not to take the pill. Instead I broke it into crumbles in my hand as my hand went toward my mouth. I let a few crumbles fall into my mouth and swallowed them, but I let the rest of the crumbs fall down the sleeve of my jacket.
Suddenly my head started to get a little foggy, and before I knew it I was changing into the same white outfit made with some sort of stiff material.
I followed the white figure back to the group where I fell into line next to a tall blonde person, trying to shake that foggy feeling in my head. I knew what they were doing was wrong and I tried to resist the pull to follow the crowd but nothing I did would stop my feet from moving.
They led us to the center of town, collecting everyone on the way. During the whole march I couldn't quite figure out who was leading this whole idea of creating a Utopia. Once we reached the center of town, we all lined up and had our hair cut the same way and dyed black.
Once everyone looked basically the same, a man stood up before us all and spelled out all the rules.
Throughout the whole process my head still felt foggy but I slowly was able to get in clearer thoughts as time went on, but I seemed to be the only one as people stood there with this empty look in their eyes.
Finally we were released and sent back to our homes, which had somehow been emptied of everything now only contained a bed, table and lamps but nothing else. All personal items had been removed and the walls were bare.
Everyone was assigned a job, and every morning from then on our food was laid on our doorsteps at exactly 7:00, with another pill included every second day.
Each month they would restrict another thing. First is was anything electronic except lights, now five months later it's anything paper and any writing utensil.
Currently I am sitting in the basement of my house writing. Never once in these five months have I taken another pill. Each time I receive one in my morning meal, I crumble it up and flush it down the toilet. I must be careful when I go to work, to maintain a passive and blank look on my face. I cannot let on that I can see past their Trojan horse. Ah it is about time for them to power off the li...
10/19/30
Sorry to have left you hanging there, but starting during the third month they put up a time for when we all must go to sleep and to make sure that happens they turn off the power at 10:00 PM sharp every night.
For the past three days I have been making a plan. See, on the outskirts of town there is a giant forest. Everything about it is completely unknown but people have said there are beasts living in it and that no one could survive a day in there. I beg to differ because I remember reading adventure books when I was younger and I think I know just how to survive on my own. I can no longer live in this wannabe Utopia society. However before I can depart from the place that used to be what I called home, I want to figure out who "They" are, who orchestrated this whole society, who started this apocalypse. My plan is to find this out and then make a break for it and set up in the forest till I can figure out a way to start getting things back to normal. I have found no one else like me, no one who is different and ready to fight back, so I am on my own.
11/1/30
On my way to work today, I tripped over a loose maintenance hole cover. I had thought all of them had been wielded down but apparently not this one. Knowing I would be late for work but not caring, I slid it open and found the rungs of a ladder. Instead of being rusted out like I thought they would be, they were new and shiny and obviously well used. My curiosity grew the further down I went. The walls seemed unusually clean and I soon heard weird noises coming from below, it sounded like something electrical, like the sounds of a type writing. Cautiously I reached the bottom of the ladder. Ahead of me was a tunnel with a glowing blue light coming from the end of it.
Keeping to the shadows I crept down the hallway keeping my footsteps light and my ears open. I soon heard voices coming from the glowing blue light.
"Tasha, apparently one of the plumbing people hasn't shown up for work yet," said a deep grovel voice "When should we send someone to check it out?"
"Who is it? This is the first one in a couple of months," says another voice, this one feminine.
"A young man by the name of Dimitri. He had been under our watch list for people who may not be keeping up with the pill. "
"Give him till 8:00, if he is not in by then we'll have him taken down to the detention hall."
"Yes ma'am will do."
"Ah isn't it wonderful Isaac," says the female voice, "Our plan is really starting to fall together. The perfect society, where everyone is equal. Tonight I will announce that the next thing to be forbidden is any sort of house pet. I always hated animals and now I won't have to worry any longer about hearing stupid dog's barking or cat's meowing."
I start running back to the maintenance hole as soon as I hear this, not even waiting to hear what the man Isaac has to say in response.
I scrabbled up the ladder, my head reeling, and my insides a bowl of jello. I push through the top of the hole, sliding the top of it back into place and head for the plumbing station trying to calm my breathing.
I do not know how I managed to get through today at work knowing I was one, under suspicion and two I finally found out who "They" are!
After work was over I rushed home as fast as I could without looking anymore suspicious then I already was. I grabbed my dinner off my door step, ate everything that was perishable and rushed down here to tell of my discoveries. I must stop writing now however because I need to get my things together to leave. I cannot stay any longer knowing that I have a chance of being arrested. As much as I wish to go and explore the headquarters I have found, I know it is too risky. I will make a home in the forest and come up with a better plan. Maybe I can sneak back into town one night and go search around down there but now is not the time, I can tell in my gut.
11/21/30
This will be my last entry as I am out of paper it seems, I made it out. I made it out alive and made a wonderful discovery on the way. As I snuck out three weeks ago, the streets were completely empty. I carried with me some non-perishables food I had collected from my dinners and the knife I took from my last meal. On my way out towards the forest I kept to the shadows of the houses. It was well past ten, so the lights were all out but the moon shone brightly. I picked a bad night to try and sneak out. I was almost to the edge of town when I ran straight into someone knocking them and myself straight to the ground. I grabbed my knife and got ready to fight figuring it was an official of some sorts. Instead, I was greeted by two stunning, sparkling, deep chocolate brown eyes, looking just as scared as I was.
"Who are you?" I whisper to the figure.
"Are you going to hurt me?" they whisper back to me, taking on a defensive position.
"No of course not, I am no official," I say offended.
I hear them sigh in relief. "You just used the word "I" and your eyes are clear," the voice says, "You must not be taking the pill either! I haven't met anyone else yet who has figured out what is happening is wrong! I am Rose by the way." A hand comes out from the darkness and I shake it.
"You're correct; I am not like the others. I understand the importance of being independent, of being our own selves. You are also the first person I have met realizing the same thing. I am actually running away right now! I am going to the forest to build my own life and to make a plan on how to put things back the way they were. To make everyone their own self again. Why don't you come with me?" I ask, excitement dripping out of my voice.
"How will we survive though?" Rose asks.
I tell her all about what I have read in my books and about the supplies I am carrying with me. After a little persuasion she agrees to join me.
We then ran for the forest making it there without any further interruptions. That was the first night I spent in the forest. It was difficult and scary but having someone with me made it bearable.
We made our home not far from the town but far enough that we would not be discovered. We have been happy together and we have slowly been planning our way to fix our society. Rose and I have decided to wait a while till we try to go back into the town. We want things to settle down and have the leaders let their guards down. Then when the time is right we will return and we will bring society back to how it should be. We will teach people that Utopia's are impossible and that every man is their own person and no one should have to follow the rule of others. We have free will and I will make sure it is known. For now though, Rose and I will be content to sit here and wait, and plot until the time is right to, once again, make things right.