Chapter 2

Luke neatly rolls up his sleeping bag and folds his blanket as I start to get out of bed.  I don’t really have to do anything because I don’t own any change of clothes or even a hair brush. 

“Here,” Luke says and tosses me a black, plastic hairbrush.

I’m too tired to really think so it never occurred to me that Luke, a boy, has a hairbrush.  I start to untangle my knotty hair.  Luke grabs a tattered gray towel from the closet and closes the bathroom door behind him.  I hear the shower turn on and focus in on the constant splash of water hitting the floor.  Ten minutes later, I the water starts slowing down until only a faint “drip, drop, drip, drop” can be heard.  Luke unlocks the door and comes out wearing a dark, charcoal gray t-shirt and black khaki pants.  After eyeing me for a second, he rummages through his wardrobe and pulls out a green shirt and running pants. 

“Here,” Luke says tossing me the clothes.  “I know these aren’t girl clothes, but they will have to do.  You can do in the bathroom and change.”

I catch the outfit with ease and gently close the bathroom door. 

The room is not too small, but not too big.  The shower doubles as a bathtub and the toilet seat is down (at least I am not living--no staying--with an animal).  The counter is fairly small and the mirror is cracked along the side and corners.  Though it is damaged, my reflection still stares back at me through the glass.

My brown, almost black hair, is mostly straight with a wave on the ends and highlights, probably from the sun.  The only thing that catches my eye is a little strand of blond hair underneath by my ear.  My hazel eyes create a unique combination.  Besides my tanned skin, I don’t really have any other striking features.  My lips are small and bland, and my nose is tiny.  You are ugly, a voice in my head hisses.  As soon as the words appear in my head, I dismiss it, but the phrase still sits in the back of my mind. 

I redirect my gaze to my clothes.  I haven’t paid much attention to what I was wearing, realize I am simply wearing hospital clothes.  I think of how everyone was looking at me and immediately strip down and throw on my new, fresh clothes.  The running pants fit weirdly and the shirt is too big.  I look at the glob of hair on my head and decide to try something.  I tear off a little bit of fabric off the bottom of the shirt and fashion it into a make-shift hair-tie.  Then, I rip off another bit and tie it into a headband.  I sloppily throw my hair up into a bun and fasten the headband around my head.  I figure this is the best I can do, and walk out the door.

Luke is lacing up some tennis shoes and says, “You can use these shoes for today.”

I sit down on a metal stool and slip the shoes on.  After I am done, Luke holds the door open for me and the robot--who has been waiting potentially by the door until now--swipes a card and locks it. 

“This is Rover,” introduces Luke.  “Rover, this is Aria.”

The white, silvery machine is an oval shape with “legs” and wheels to move.  Rover has two pieces of metal for arms with more joints giving him more movement options than a human.  There is a half sphere for a head with black screen and blue eyes for vision.  Also, on his body, a blue diamond (not a real one) is implanted in the metal.

“So I live in the main building because I am Captain of the Guard,” begins Luke.  “The barracks, mess hall, prison cells, infirm, and all important offices are here along with a few apartments.

We first walk by the mess hall and Luke explains that you can eat in your apartment, but most people eat main courses together.  The mess hall has at least ten rows of long tables reaching from each end of the room.  Along opposite walls, are kitchens in the wall with serving counters and stacks of plates, silverware, and napkins.  Large silver and blue banners hang on the white walls.  I stare at the magnificent ceiling in awe.  It is completely made of glass with cylindrical support beams crossing in the middle.  Next, we stride down a long corridor lined more doors.

“These are just normal apartments for citizens who work in the mess hall, small office jobs, and outside of the building,” Luke informs me.

            I follow Luke up a couple flights of stairs to the top of the building.  I am thankful that my strength has been replenished, otherwise I wouldn’t have been able to come this far.  When we finally reach the top, Rover slides the card and Luke types a number on the keypad and a green light flashes. 

“This floor is all offices.  We will be coming up here again later to meet with Boss,” explains Luke.

            The office is huge and has white walls with a beautiful dark oak accent.  Cubicles and desks fill the first room; even though it is still early, people are bustling around carrying out their normal business.  In the back, is a large windowed room framed with more wood.  My best guess is that whoever this ‘Boss’ is works there.  Luke continues to guide me through some hallways to a rather spacious office.

“This is where I work,” says Luke proudly.

“But I thought you were captain of the guard, shouldn’t you be in like a training room?” I question.

“Yes, most of the time I am.  But every once in a while, I get paper work for equipment or missions.  I just had to grab the report from your rescue two weeks ago.”

“Two weeks ago!  How long was I unconscious for?”

“Quite a while after you passed out on the ship, it took about 3 days to return and then you were in the infirm for twelve days before you were released.”

I take a minute to let that sink in.  Every time I fall unconscious, my neck hurts really badly.  It still tingles with pain, but not nearly as bad.  I had to be rescued.  How come I can’t remember why?  Before I have time to think, we leave the office and take the elevator down to the main floor.

I immediately recognize this place as the infirm.  It looks the same since we left"nurses milling around, patients laying in beds, and worried family members hovering over them.  Why wasn’t anybody by my bed beside a few people I’ve never met?

“Here are the ER beds and desks,” directs Luke.  “Over there are the rooms for overnight stays and there is the doctor’s office.”

I notice a group of people huddling around a bed in tears.  There is a man holding a woman, restraining her.  I can just get a glimpse of a teenage boy hooked up to similar equipment then I was before a female nurse draws the curtain. The neon green line on the monitors are static.  He’s dead

“You!” shouts the man, letting go of his wife.  “He saved you!”

Before I can react, he rushes toward me and clamps his hands around my throat.  I am wrestled to the hard, tile ground struggling to break free of the man’s over sized hands that fit too easily around my throat.  Luke is trying to pry the stranger off of me, but he only squeezes me harder.  I can’t breathe.  I instinctively curl my legs up and kick the man hard in the chest and he releases and falls backward, knocking over a table spilling vials of medicine all over the floor.  By now we have a small crowd gathered around us and I am sitting on the floor gagging for air.

“Come on,” mumbles Luke just loud enough for me to hear.  And with that, he helps me up and we hurry away through the double swinging doors.

“Wait!” a nurse shouts after us.  “I have to check you out!”

I risk a glance and turn around to look at her and also hear the man’s wife shouting at me about how cruel and evil I am.  What is he talking about?  I am practically trembling from the aftershock of these events. Then to make matters worse, security start chasing after us.  We round the corner only to be intercepted.  The guards forcefully tackle him to the ground and shove me down after him.

“Hey!” shouts Luke. “Watch it Gabe, you too Max!”

“Captain, is that you?” asks one.

“Ya, it’s me,” he replies standing up.  He’s about to help me up when the other stands in front of him.

“Sorry, sir, but we have direct orders from Boss to take her if she causes any trouble,” says the guard.

            “Come on Gabe, we have to take her,” orders Max.  “You can come, too Luke.”

            Gabe pulls me up and holds my hands around my back making it impossible to escape.  He tugs me though the hallway towards the elevator with Max and Luke unwillingly follows.   I don’t know what to say so I keep quiet, more confused than ever.  The elevator dings, and we exit on the office floor.  We walk towards Boss’s office but a lady at the desk stops us.

            “Do you have an appointment?” she questions staring at her computer screen

            “No, but this is important,” replies Gabe as he looks down and smirks at me.

            The receptionist started to say no when the phone went off and a voice said, “It’s okay Darla, let them in.”

            Shocked, Darla held down the button to reply, “Um ok Boss.  Right this way.”

            She walks up to the wooden door and knocks, but opens it before there is a response.  The room is even more intimidating inside than out.  A gruff man sits behind a desk with his fingers steeped.  Unlike the other office workers, he is not dressed in a suit and tie.  Instead, he wears a black jeans, a black t-shirt, and a leather jacket.  He also has an eyebrow, ear, and lip piercing.  Boss looks more like a biker than a leader. 

            Luke dawdles near the door as Max and Gabe take the two empty seats and push me forward.  I am more scared now because I have no idea what is happening, except that I must be in trouble.  I look back at Luke but he looks just as nervous as I do. 

            “Well, well, well. If it isn’t Aria Payton Brusly"one of the Branded It’s so good to meet you again.  You know, I like being on this side of the struggle better,” speaks Boss.

             It takes all my gut to speak up.  “What are you talking about?”

            “Of course, play stupid, not that you need to try little weakling,” he taunts.

            I still have no idea what is behind all this, but I can’t believe anyone in their right mind would make this guy in charge.  Even so, I’m still afraid because I bet he could snap my neck in half like that.  Out of the corner of my eyes, I see Luke slowly inching his way forward and tensing up after every word.

            “So, what kind of trouble did the little scoundrel cause this time and what punishment shall she receive?” sneers Boss stressing on the ‘punishment’.

            “Sir, she kicked and innocent by stander,” replies Gabe.

            “I suggest execution,” adds Max standing up and roughly kicking me.  Instinctively I turn to punch him but he’s much faster and catches me in an arm lock. I catch my breath in surprise and wince as he pulls my shoulder back.

            I can tell he just said that to intimidate me, but Boss seemed to take him more seriously.

            “Hmm, that is an excellent idea thank you Max,” he says calmly, a sly smile creeping up his face.

            Still holding me, Max leans forward and whispers into my, purposely spitting in the process.  “Ya you’ll like that won’t you little rascal.  Maybe he’ll let us toy with you before you die, too.”

            I attempt to squirm free but he just grasps me even tighter, and closer much to my discomfort.  Luke finally steps forward now bursting in anger and interjects:
            “Sir, honestly, the man tried to strangle her and now you’re sentencing her to death for defending herself! I very much think that is an irrational decision! And to go behind my back and order my troops to an objective I never cleared!”

            “Sit down boy! Leave yourself out of this filthy maggot’s fate!” roars Boss.

            “No! Aria is not a maggot!  She has no idea who she is or what is going on!” retorts Luke.

            “Luke, son, if-“

            “Don’t call me your son!” bellows Luke.  “Just give her some time to adjust and let the test results come in.  It’s been one freaking day!”

            “I hereby order the execution-“

            “You can’t just going around ordering executions for people you have a grudge against,” Luke says starting to calm down.

            “Fine,” declares Boss seeming to have also regained his head.  “But any more trouble, and I mean anything, is she sets one toe out of line, there will be consequences.  Now get out! Now!”

            I am thrown to the ground by Luke’s feet as the guards leave the room and Gabe kicks my stomach before Luke is able to help me up.  Now, I’m already beat up from this “rescue” and I can’t remember why.  Today, three people have caused me pain and at least two people want me dead for reasons I can’t explain.  What is wrong with me?

            I stumble for a bit before I catch my breath but then after we get in the elevator out of sight from the curious, staring office workers, I can talk to Luke.

            “Look, Aria I’m sorry.  I should’ve told you earlier, but I was scared of what you would think of yourself.  Now though, I guess you have to know,” confesses Luke.

            “Know what?” I exclaim.

            “I’ll tell you back in the apartment and we can get some breakfast.”

            Just then, my stomach growls and I never realized how hungry I was.  I knew we couldn’t go to the mess hall after what happened at the infirm, so we are just going to eat at his place. 

            The rest of the way back, I try to make sense of the short few hours we have been awake.  I start by recapping today’s events.  A man tried to strangle me after what looked to be his son died in the hospital bed.  Then Boss gave the security secret orders to bring me personally to him if I find trouble.  Then he just plain out hates me calling me all these names like ‘Branded’. I figure he got that from the burn on my hand, but I still don’t know what it means.  When Luke stepped in Boss called him son and Luke shouted something like “you’re not my father”.  What kind of dad would do that to a son? Obviously something where Luke pretends he doesn’t know him.  But why does he hate me? What could I possibly have done that makes everyone I meet want to kill me?  If I’ve done something that bad, that explains why I was discharged from the infirmary so quickly after I woke up and the staring.

            “Rover, open the door,” says Luke snapping me back to reality. 

            The little robot looks up at us and obeys his command. 

We walk in and Luke goes to the kitchen and I sit down at the table.  The clock now reads 11:47.  A few minutes later, Luke emerges with two peanut-butter & jelly sandwiches each on a paper towel and two cans of lemonade.  We both dive in because we haven’t eaten since dinner last night. 

“Well,” I ask after I finished my lunch.  “What is going on?”
            “If I tell you, you have to promise me that you will not think any differently about yourself for others.  Got it?”

“Ya,” I reply nodding.  I take a deep breath as Luke starts the story.

Author's Note

Hey I am so sorry for not posting recently for I have been extremely busy and I have just been going through a lot of crap at school lately. Well, I really hope you enjoy this. I personally really like where this is going, and am really excited. Please review this (once I have time, I promise I will return the favor) and give criticism as well as compliments. I don't think you guys understand how much your comments mean to me, either. People always are constantly dissing my writing, and while knowing how much I enjoy it, tell me how an author would be a sucky job. Oh and if anyone can give me any cover page ideas, that be great. Thanks so much, enjoy ☺