Disclaimer: I do not own Danger Days, My Chemical Romance, nor any music I may reference to in this story. All rights go to their respected owners.

Chapter One

My name is Abigail. Or, rather, Number 30427. As my brother once said, names are just a formality.

I am seventeen years old. In just under a year, Better Living will decide what they want to do with me. I shall either remain in Battery City to reproduce, if they deem me healthy enough, or, if I am unlucky enough, I shall forgo training to work for security, in some form or other. If they find me skilled, they might put me in the main building, working for Korse. My mother seems to have high hopes that I shall be held in high esteem while working in the main building.

However, there is also the off chance I am not suited for adulthood.

I don't enjoy thinking about that chance.

Right now, however, I am bettering myself in school. Better Living has created a most wonderful system of education. It's inside Battery City, and almost all the classrooms have a view of the main building, the Tower. They say it keeps us focused on our goals, and helps us be the best we can.

Miss Caroline agrees. She is my teacher. She says it's wonderful how the company can be so thoughtful in the way it encourages us. The way it gives us a home. A purpose. Miss Caroline is also a good friend of my mother's. She says she remembers me from the Dark Days. Before Better Living had fixed everything. She had lived next to us, and had even baby-sat my brother and me numerous times.

My mother admires her. To be a teacher, you must first join those in the Tower. And from there, if you show certain signs, they test you how well you retain and explain knowledge. If you pass, you become a teacher. My mother says that she was always very smart and always helped her out when she needed it. My mother says it's amazing how great my education is.

My mother works in the Tower. As does my father. They are lucky ones. They could choose companionship. Unlike many others. Many of my friends from school are without parents. They reside in group homes on the outskirts of Battery City, but are still considered part of it. They were born of the Reproducers. Some know their mother. None know their father.

Those working in the Tower can choose anyone they deem worthy of their companionship, be they Reproducers, security personnel, or other Tower workers. The Tower workers give them a free pass out of their current job, if they choose so. A family of three can live off of one Tower salary. A family of four is rare, and only for those with two parents who are Tower workers.

I am lucky.

I live in a comfortable estate, just outside Battery City, where everything is calm, and you are only a short walk away from the nearest store in Battery City. A short walk further away from the city lives my best friend, Number 30423, Liam, along with his brother, Number 30716, Ralph.

My mother seems convinced Liam and I will both be chosen for employment in the Tower, since we are both two of the brightest students in our class. My father believes Liam has the skills of Head Leader. Which is a very big deal.

There is also Ralphie, who is almost 15 now. He has big shoes to fill, needless to say. But Ralphie admires his brother very much, and has fulfilled nearly every task his teacher has placed in front of him. He has a youthful spirit, with dreams as tall as the Tower itself. He dreams of being Head of Security. For what reason is beyond me, but I think he likes whatever control he can get, since he is used to Liam making almost all the decisions.

The three of us are nearly inseparable. It's remarkable how well Liam and Ralphie get along, since many siblings often quarrel over the most petty of things.

My mother says we have the potential to rule Better Living one day. Liam always says he'd be afraid of that much power. I think he's being humble. Power is good. Power is the only way to get things done. It's like an unspoken rule. Although it isn't as obvious as some of our spoken rules.

On the right side of the door to every classroom, there is a framed paper. There are also copies in each of our handbooks, on the bulletin boards in our classroom, and on the teacher's desk. It is our principles.

I never understood the naming. Why they aren't just rules and regulations never clicked with me. Miss Caroline said something about principles being a nicer term. I responded by asking her why, since making it nicer would simply give rule-breakers less guilt. She responded by saying that Better Living is always watching, and rule-breakers will not be tolerated. Everybody knows that.

I asked my father once. He said the word principle should mean more, and make the principles last longer in you, so you are always a good person. That's what his teacher told him, at least.

Our principles state:
1) Your uniform is to be worn everyday.
2) Your teacher and peers must be given your utmost respect.
3) You are to be on time every morning.
4) You are to recite our pledge with dignity and honor.
5) You should always strive to do better.
6) Better Living is your future, so treat it well.

Those are just our basics, however. There are many other rules governing us. For example, curfew is ten-thirty sharp. We are not to leave Zone 6 unless given special permission. No harboring criminals. The usual, really.

I was never not content. My life is enviable, actually. By no means do I let it go to my head. I am a normal seventeen year old. I go to school, same as others. I walk home, same as others. I go shopping for my family, same as others.

My only fear is uncertainty. Even though Better Living has wiped nearly all of it out. The only thing I really have to worry about is-

"-whether or not I'll make it to the Tower." Liam voiced my own fear. We were walking home from school, and just crossing onto Gulf Road.

"Liam, you can be so BLIND sometimes! You're obviously going to make it." I rolled my eyes as I kept time with his feet while we walked. "You'll probably be number one in the class!"

"I highly doubt that."

"Who else is there to stop you?" I asked, laughing at his unreasonableness.

"You could give me a pretty good run for my money." He said, looking at me. His green eyes glimmered.

"I highly doubt THAT." I chuckled. We were now halfway down the block, almost to Daisy's. "Look, today's my food run for the family. I'll catch up with you later?"

"Sounds good. Come over when you can. We can finish science." Liam waved and continued down the block.

I pushed open the glass door as the bell above me rang. The shelves were always lined with food, beverages, and most kinds of supplies. I pulled out my list from my pocket and smoothed it out. The first thing I needed was more toothbrushes.

Toiletries were located midway down the third aisle. When I turned down it I saw a peculiar sight. There was a man, dressed in slightly soiled black jeans and a white jacket that was too big for him, even though he was taller than me. But the strangest part was the helmet he wore on his head. It was gray, but the paint was fading along the back, revealing a shade of red. It had obviously been painted to blend in, since helmets aren't exactly the most normal of headwear.

Getting a strange vibe, I stood behind the shelves in aisle two, and pushed the boxes of cereal aside to watch what he was doing. He looked around quickly and shoved a pack of four toothbrushes inside his jacket. Before he could grab toothpaste, I decided to stop him. I went around the side of the aisle.

"Hey!" I said with authority but not extreme volume, trying not to make a scene.

He apparently had the same idea. He shoved the toothpaste in quickly and started walking just an ounce faster then a normal pace and headed for the door. I jogged after him. He exited, as the bell jingled. I got to the door, made sure nothing was in my pockets, and pulled the door open. I walked outside and looked right, thinking it was someone from Battery City. No one was there.

I looked left, and saw him sprinting farther away from the city. "Hey!" I yelled. He turned, and ran faster than I've ever seen anyone run. I sprinted to try to stay close enough. When I was within a couple of yards, I slowed down, and cut behind a restroom. It worked.

His footsteps slowed, thinking he was in the clear. I walked around the side of the building and ran towards him. By the time he saw me, it was already too late. I jumped on him and tackled him to the ground. "Hey! Who are you? Why'd you steal that stuff?"

He simply grunted in return and pushed me off him. He scrambled back on his hands, walking like a crab, but I grabbed his shoulders and pinned him to the ground.

"WHO ARE YOU?" I yelled at him. He breathed heavily, the running taking its toll on him. I lifted the plastic part of the helmet up. At once I took in the brown and blonde hair, the hazel eyes, the rough-looking face. "Holy crap. James?"

His eyes widened as he slammed the helmet down again. He scooted out from under me and took off. This time, I didn't have the strength to follow.

What'd you guys think? This is my first Danger Days fic I've written, so feedback would be lovely. I was really excited to get this online, since I've been working on it a while. I'd love to hear what you guys think. Review? :)