Characters: Miriam Grant, Julia Matthews, Tanner Grant, George Grant, Hope R. Grant
Rating: PG-13
Romance, Suspense, Violence, Humor
Chapter 1: House on Fire
I catch myself staring at my cut up hands. Blood was present as I was shoved with such force into the pavement of the street. I was not good at this. In all honesty I don't even know why I was here in the first place.
"You're sloppy in your fighting Grant!" A voice called. It was my teachers. I spit out onto the concrete, revealing blood. I quickly forced myself up and tightened my fists together.
Remember when I mentioned about that I was stumped on picking an occupation? Well it seems that this occupation found me, one I actually dreaded the most.
Security.
I was actually hoping to at least be in the Founder's Council, or a teacher since my best strengths are writing, and of course art because of Malcolm's son, Alexander MacDonald.
"Hey, hey go easy on Miriam this is new to her" Thank God, it was Tanner.
"Well she should've been here Freshman year" My teacher commented and I winced slightly at his tone as I felt the sharp, metallic taste of blood in my mouth.
"Anyways, my Father wants her" I glanced my flaring, amber eyes to my teacher and he rolled his in annoyance.
"Fine, but Grant clean yourself up" My teacher explained as he tossed a towel and I quickly caught it. Flinching as I rubbed the fresh, bloody cuts on my hands, and the blood that dripped on the side of my mouth..
"What did Dad want?" I asked quickly, once we were out of earshot from my class and my brother smirked lightly.
"Nothing, I needed to get you out. It looked like you were getting killed out there" My brother joked as I punched him in the arm.
"I told you and Dad that I'm not good at this" I mumbled as I shoved the towel in my pocket "It sucks also that this is my last class of the day and I have to get to my shift right away".
"Hey, don't be so glum. You will be good at this, you're flipping fast, plus you have good climbing skills" Tanner proclaimed as his eyes brightened and I scoffed.
"It's still not enough to throw an actual punch at someone. Also this is easy for you to say all of this. You're in the Founder's Council, and engineering, heck even weaponry. Hope is a doctor, which Julia will most likely be accepted in. Alexander, well he'll be in the Founder's Council probably as well, or a teacher. Plus, I didn't even excel in this subject, I don't even know why this is going to be my occupation after graduation" I explained, feeling a bit one-sided for some odd reason.
"Look Miri..." Tanner began, using the same nickname I've been given during my childhood "You're sixteen now, a Junior and you needed to pick an occupation sooner or later. Alexander and Julia did their application's early like you were supposed to" He's referring back to Freshman year, and Eighth Grade. He's right, I did take too long. I had all the time in the world during Summer Vacation, but of course I was dumb enough to take a long time.
"On the bright side, you'll still be in the Founder's Council" Feeling a wave of relief, I had to agree with him on that. I wasn't so sure when I'll be in the Founder's Council, but once I am, I can actually really live up to my families name.
"So stop with the frown and wipe all that blood off" Tanner pronounced, back into his cheerful mood and I laughed as I threw the bloody towel that was in my pocket to his face and sprinted off as he yelled my name.
So, yeah.
This is my life, my world. I became lost in thought as I continued running from Tanner. Slipping past people who snapped at me in annoyance. I may put on a good impression and image for my family by always helping, but I also wanted to let out my free, spirited side.
Sliding around a corner, I quickly grabbed onto a rusted ladder and lifted myself up. Swiftly climbing, and finally made it to the top as I leapt onto the concrete and dashed.
"I'll get you next time Miri!" Tanner yelled, with a hint of amusement in his voice. I knew I was off the hook so I made my way down a fire escape and tied my hair into a messy bun. Along with a coincidence I was near where I have a halftime job.
Irritation began to take hold of my wounded hands as I rubbed my palms onto my pants revealing the rust that cracked and somehow caked into my fingernails when I climbed up the ladder. I walked inside of one of the old apartments that is near where I work and I lifted up a floorboard which revealed fresh clothes, a backpack, and a belt containing a few knives.
I usually hid some objects in here since well...my Dad doesn't know about my job.
I'm part of a food, scavenging group that also hunts. Which means we usually go into the old neighborhoods far from the city, and a few dense woods that were now present here.
We would have better game if we (And I highly suggest) went across the bridge. Though all of us knew it wasn't worth the risk of getting caught. I was curious on the side, but ever hear the saying that curiosity kills the cat?
I pulled on grey sweats, along with an old tank-top and black sneakers, with a jacket that went above my midriff. Hooking on the belt of my knives, I sneak a glance at the backpack. Nothing was inside of it, but I blew out a sigh as I put the loose floorboard back into place and I jogged down the block to meet up with my partner.
My reason for keeping this from my Father is that he's too overprotective, afraid of me leaving the city. I want to live my life and provide more for The Colony. He's stubborn as a bull though.
I'm still exhausted from class, and running from my brother, but there is so much to do for tonight. Its kept on the low that this is even my job, so on the side my friend Julia made an excuse to my Dad that we just organize of what's brought to us.
Hopefully this lie will continue on. I hated lying to my Dad though, he's risked so much for Tanner and I, but soon I'll be an adult. I should be the one taking risks for him, protecting him, my family.
It's foolish to say for a small, sixteen year-old like me.
"Miriam!" I turned my head to an oval shaped face, that was surrounded by light brown curls that reached to her shoulder's. Her eye's were a dark hazel as well.
"Jules? I'm surprised you're here this early" I began. Since Julia should still be in class as I was taken out of my last period early.
"Your brother took me out" Julia said cheerfully. Tanner was the only one who knew about my job, besides his wife Hope of course.
Hope and Tanner knew each other since they were fourteen, and dated when they were sixteen. The year of the Simian Flu outbreak. I took a quick liking to Hope, but there was more mystery to her than I know. I actually wanted to know more about her family, she never speaks of them, but something keeps nagging at me that I do want to know.
"At least the both of us have an early start" I spoke as I took out an old map of the city, and marked down a few, old neighborhoods with a highlighter.
"I guess your last period really did you good" Julia began as she pointed to my wounded hands, and my bruised lip.
I nodded in agreement "Yeah, just glad that Tanner made an excuse to get me out" I joked, and I folded up the old map as we made our way down the city center.
"Where are you two heard off to?" I tensed at the voice as I turned and saw my Father, George who was holding yellow documents in his hands.
"Just going to help out organizing the supplies" I replied too quickly.
His dark eyes trailed from my hands to my lip, and his expression became stern.
"They're going too hard on you kiddo, if you want I ca-".
"No!" I interrupted "I mean, I can handle it Dad. I'm fine, a few hits everyday won't bother me" I explained, I wasn't going to let my pride get hurt. Especially being the daughter of one of the founding leaders. I didn't want people to think I get my way with everything because of that privilege
"Alright then...is that why you're out of school a bit earlier than usual?" I nodded slightly.
"Tanner thought I was getting killed out there" I chuckled, and my Father chuckled as well. His worn out, expression brightening a bit.
"Okay, but why are 'both' of you out right now?" Julia casually looked away.
"Wanted to keep Miriam company Mr. Grant!" She chirped. My Dad shook his head at her, but excused us both saying that he'll see me tonight at dinner.
My shoes crunches above the gravel as we both start running down an abandoned alley. Going past old apartments, that were now covered in flourished green life. But imprinted by the horrific images that were painted of what happened ten years ago.
Reaching into one of my pockets, I grab onto a roll of old sports tape as I began to wrap the material around my cut up palms. My cuts continue to bleed, but it does start to dwell a bit to the point where it might become just mere scabs.
Before I know it, we're in the outskirts of The Colony.
Out of the corner of my eye is two sacks that Julia held. The material is thin, but strong enough to contain big and heavy materials. I make a mental list of what's important right now; Food, clothes, blankets, maybe a little hunting here and there for fur and meat, some school material.
I look up as the sun began to become hazy, covered with clouds. During the year we've been getting more rain. Which means next summer is major humidity how nice...
"Will we have enough time to get what we need?" Julia spoke as I was broken out of my thoughts and I licked my dry, cracked lips.
"Probably..." I trailed off, soon enough we tried to hurry to the nearest neighborhood.
Many of the houses were Victorian style, but worn down from years of no touchups. Even covered with lush, plants that twisted around the houses and even through the cracks of the discolored windows.
I send Julia to one of the houses on the west side, awhile I check on the east side. Walking to one of the doors, I found it was jammed quite well. Kicking it down didn't work too well. Wandering, I just used my elbow to shatter one of the windows.
Hitting the mother load I found useful items; Clothes, blanket's, and surprisingly a camera with a cord. Of course no food. I guess some people back then didn't think of end of the world food storage's. Or the place was ransacked of food earlier before.
Our patrol went by quite quick. Which meant we made it back just in time before rain started pouring. Julia and I didn't do so well on food this time, but Julia did managed to set up a few snares to catch rabbits and squirrels. It was probably impossible for a deer to even come here, but I couldn't bring myself to killing an animal.
By the time we got home, it was daybreak. Lights were dimly lit down the old roads, people on their bikes heading to their apartments, but my Dad, Tanner, Hope and I live in the main center of The Colony.
I handed my sack to Julia as we parted ways so that we can have dinner with our families.
My eyelids became heavy as I walked inside of a big building. It was one of the largest structures here that was available to live in besides our school. Which was the old City Hall. Clothing was hung tightly by strings that spread from window to window, people were carrying baskets, children running and playing with stray dogs. Even a merchandise market was present.
It may seem like a thriving life here, but it's not in all truth. We might as well be the only society living in San Francisco, California. Who knows? there might be others.
As I continued making my way through crowds of people, my dark, amber eye's catches a certain object.
My head turned as I faced the merchandise market, on a stand there was a woven bracelet. Hand sewn of material that were dark tones. Brown, was the main color that was braided with small stones of fine colors that contained a midnight blue, blood red, and my favorite color yellow.
I brushed my fingertips lightly on the material, it was rope. But in the mid-center was a token that was silver, and had a symbol carved in it; A clock, and what looked like a judgement scale.
"It's lovely huh?".
I managed a smile as I turned to see Hope. Her hair is an ebony, black, and her skin was a rose-pale tone. Her eye's were a darkened, soil brown that almost looked black. She wore a white shirt with blue jeans, and brown boots along with her hair pulled back by a headband. Hope's twenty five, awhile my older brother is older for now since her birthday is in December. I automatically accepted Hope as my sister-in-law when my brother announced their engagement a few years ago.
"It is..." I replied back.
"How about I get it for you, an early birthday present" Hope stated, and my eyes widened.
"You're serious? My birthday isn't until next month".
"I know, but something like this will probably be gone soon".
Hope then faced a little girl who was sitting on a stool. The child was possibly around eight or nine. Her face was streaked with dirt, but she wore a gray dress of thin material that held up with a belt, and she wore black boots.
The little girl began signing back and forth with Hope, smiling brightly and gladly accepted a small sack of food given to her. The child then made her way towards me and tied the woven bracelet around my left wrist.
"It's beautiful" I signed as I made a gesture with my hand with a light fist, as my finger's spread across my face.
"My mother helped me" She spoke in a quiet voice, it occurred to me that she was only deaf, not mute. The young girl is even in the textile works, I must say her work is amazing.
"Thank you" I grinned. The little girl excitedly ran behind the stand yelling for her mother. It hit a nerve in me actually. Brought back a memory when I used to be the same way.
"Let's get going" Hope announced as I followed. We made our way to the doorway as Hope opened the door and we went straight to the kitchen.
I almost laughed slightly at the sight presented to me.
"You can cook?" I gaped, my brother was actually cooking.
"There is a lot of things you don't know about me" Tanner pointed out giving me a slight glare, but the corners of his mouth formed into a smirk.
"Surprised me as well Miri" Dad commented and we all laughed. I walk over and take a seat, my mind wandering once again as I picked out the rust that was still caked into my fingernails until a bowl was placed in front of me.
It was soup with diced vegetables and cooked rabbits foot. The liquid had herbs in it as I can tell by the light, brown color.
In all honesty I wanted to get to sleep, I didn't feel like eating, but of course my stomach ached for some food. To my surprise the soup wasn't that bad.
"Where did you get the bracelet Miri?" Dad pointed out, and I nodded towards Hope.
"Hope got it for me".
"As a early birthday present of course" Hope called out as she began picking up our dishes, and heading over to the small sink.
"It suits you Miri, see the symbol's on it" Dad then traced the markings that were on the token of my bracelet and I hummed in response.
"It's of time and judgement, it relates to the time we're in right now, like your name" I smiled as my Dad began going on and on. It was nice to have a family dinner like this every now and then when my Father isn't in a council meeting so late.
"Get to sleep kiddo" As of that my Dad rustled my hair as I laughed swatting his hand away. I helped Hope with clearing off the table, I offered to help clean the dishes, but of course she said I had a long day and needed sleep.
With that I gladly accepted and headed into my room closing the door behind me. I made my way towards the bathroom and I lit a few candles so that I can clean myself up.
The cut on my lip had a stain of dried blood and I turned on the faucet as I rubbed off the stain. I paused a minute as I looked in the mirror; My hair reached above my waist and was a honeycomb hair tone, and my skin was a light tan. My face was even splattered with freckles.
My appearance and my memories were the only images I had of my mother. I bit my lip hard as I glanced away from the cracked mirror and scooped up water to splash on my face. I wonder what it would be like if my Mother was alive. So many what-ifs that crossed my mind for years.
As soon as I'm cleaned up, I sit up straight on my bed, staring at the peeling paint that was near the doorway. As the moon casted its glow in my room to where I don't have to light a candle or turn on the lights. I even began to peel away the sports tape that was wrapped around my hands. The cuts were now a light red. I trailed my fingers across the cuts and lines on my hands like what my Mother used to do.
I may be tired, but of course the urge of me wanting to do something took hold.
Tomorrow is the bonfire, and that means no school. Just spend time with your family, friends, and at night the teenagers have the time of their lives around a pit of fire, bulb lights hung around, along with rations that people will bring. Its my favorite time of the year to look forward to.
Everything is silent, as I lay down and stare at nothing. My eyes begin to become heavy again and all I see now is pure darkness.
Stay tuned for Chapter 2!