Its been a couple of days since my parent's little outburst, i guess you can call it. I had been trying to convince Hoobert to come with me for a couple of days and he reluctantly agreed. Finally, I was ready to go out into the wild.
That's when Lunie (otherwise known as my grandma) came in to talk to me.
"What do you want Lunie." I asked.
"Ani, don't do it.."
How did she know?
"Don't do what." I replied.
"You know what I'm talking about. Please baby-"
"Don't call me that. I'm practically an adult."
"Alright Anika, I won't but please don't go. Don't do it. You don't know what you're asking for."
"I love you Lunie, but I think I do know what I'm asking for. ANSWERS and if no one is willing to give them to me, then I'm just going to have to find out myself."
"Ani, please, I'll give you the answers. anything you want! please, I know that you're mad at your parents but they've been making it up to you!" Lunie pleaded.
"Yeah, they've been making it up to me with presents and money and things that I don't want. What I want isn't going to be satisfied with my parents coaxing. If you want to give me answers, then you better start with this: why do we live inside of towers and what is out there that is so dangerous?"
Lunie's face turned serious and her face began to crease.
"Well these walls were built after World War IIII when the nuclear bombs destroyed so much of this planet. When everything was destroyed, only the wealthiest of the wealthiest found a small area that used to be known as this place called Italy to live on. That's when the walls went up- not to keep us in but to keep the rest of the world out. This happened when I was a very young girl but I remember everything vividly. What was considered normal was so different before this city. You were considered an adult when you were 18 and you're gonna laugh at this but back when I was a child, being 12 meant that you were a child."
"A child?! How long did people used to live until then?! 200?!"
"No my love, they only lived until about 80."
"80?! That's too young to die!"
"Yes, yes, I agree my love but you have to listen to what I'm about to tell you next very carefully. The reason you can't go out there is because when 0.03% of Earth's population came to settle in Community City, the rest of the world went into total chaos. No one had homes, people were dying in the millions, there was no food to eat, no home to live in, and no water to drink. When the world is that chaotic and desperate, it is really easy for a group of people or in this case a powerful family to get everyone under their power. The Montiel family took advantage of this and the whole world is now basically their slave. Our city pays tributes to the Montiels to leave us alone. If you go out there, they'll capture you and who knows if you'll ever come back."
"If I get captured and ever come back, I'm sure that Mallielie and Monsuir will be happy."
"That's not true! Look at all the presents they give you! Look at your house! Ani, I need you. I'm 133 now and I only have 17 years to live. I want you to be there."
"Lunie, I'm coming back, don't worry."
Lunie sighed, all the fight in her had left her and she looked… old.
"Anika, please just- just be careful. The Montiels are not what you think. The whole Earth is in ruins and poverty."
"Lunie, I'll be careful. I just need to check this out for myself. And… I- I love you," Then in the slightest whisper, "Grandma."
Lunie actually smiled, "I love you too baby.. come back safely.."