The Time Came Early

After World War Three, the entirety of what we call earth was damaged, collapsed but the few survival people. Hope, dignity and freedom was terminated, and bunch of lapsed habits and environments. Therefore, the pioneers of global factions were brought up together to form one unbreakable nation, under a single government who settled in an area near Europe which was the least dented, however, this government focused on straighten up the order like never before, they tried to evade every possibility of murder, theft, rape, family problems and especially divorce, Caring about the solutions more than the rules below one model ‘’ Peace Over System’’ and simply Pernotra was created.

Mrs.Merlow woke up this morning feeling fresh and renewed, she was the perfect model of a housewife, she was neat and well-dressed on daily basis, and she had beautiful green eyes and golden hair resting on hair fashionable suit.  Mrs.Merlow was the alarm of the house, waking up the family is a tradition to her; the merlow’s were actually sleep deprived because of moving to another house this year.

‘’Luna, wake up, you’re late for school’’ Mrs.Merlow said

‘’Can I skip it today? I’m really tired’’ said Luna moaning

Mrs.Merlow went straight to the curtains and opened them widely, then headed to Luna’s bed and took off the sheets off her and said ‘’ You can’t skip school and I won’t let you skip one day, you’re becoming lazy like your father, come on, you have ten minutes to meet me down for breakfast’’

Mrs.Merlow was just leaving the room while Luna rubbing her forehead on the edge of the bed, Luna waited for her mother to leave so she can go back to sleep, unfortunately as soon as Luna was resting her back down, her mother poked her head back to the room  and said ‘’Hurry up young lady’’ 

Luna was extremely wonderful, her beauty was indescribable, and she had her mother’s eyes and soft black hair with a fit figure that any man would want, Luna was coming down after fixing herself and Mr.Merlow was enjoying his morning coffee like always, he noticed Luna’s approaching; he closed the newspaper to talk to her.

“You’re up, how are you this morning my princess?’’ said Mr.Merlow

‘’I’m good dad, and haven’t I told you not to call me that, I’m almost 18’’ said Luna

‘’Almost’’ said Mr.Merlow

‘’ Can you scratch your pointless and cheesy conversations and eat quickly’’ Said Mrs.Merlow while situating the olive bread

‘’ Jealous? ’’Mr.Merlow

Luna chuckled silently

‘’Oh please, I have plenty of young trainees, desperately wanting me’’ said Mrs.Merlow

‘’But you can’t live without me, can you? ‘’ said Mrs.Merlow curiously

‘’ No, I can’t and that’s what bothers me the most’’ said Mrs.Merlow, rounding her arms around her husband’s neck and then they cuddled

‘’Guys, why should I see this? Get a room’’ said Luna

‘’Honey, we should get to work and you should get to school, come on, I’m waiting for you in the car, bye babe’’ said Mr.Merlow, kissed Mrs.Merlow goodbye, wore his jacket and left the house

Luna grabbed her bag and followed her father.

On the road, Mr.Merlow started paying attention to the radio and turned it up loud, Luna knew its political rubbish, she didn’t give a slight of care, she made herself busy with the streets, watching the passing cars and mixed people

Luna recalled that she’s missing something and it was money for the new history book, the school is insisting of teaching students about the previous events, Luna wasn’t entranced about it at all, however she was searching her bag for money but couldn’t find so she had to ask her focused father

‘’Dad, Can I borrow some…’’ Asked Luna

“Shhh, honey wait a minute ‘’ said Mr.Merlow and turned the volume even more, Luna felt horrible, her father never turned his back on her even for his job, Luna had to share her father’s interest, She was forced to use her ears but even a regular person could be aware of that what is being said is dangerous and unpleasant

‘’Tomorrow…..We will announce a contemporary reports about managing relationships between genders, we advise you to surrender any files about your young youth, the following week will be the actual date to do the partnership between the common couple, Thank you for your corporation’’

Then a song popped out explaining pernotra peace and how the government is working for its people, the song looked cheerful but Mr.Merlow wasn’t, he observed Luna and touched her face and told her that he loved her, however, Mr.Merlow handed Luna some money for that history book, Luna was curious but cautious, she left the car with troubled thoughts about what happened.

Another school day was over. Luna waited for her father but he’s late, she dragged herself to the very closest wooden chair, a tall handsome guy bended over in front of her surprisingly

‘’Hey beautiful, can you cover me or just act….normal?’’ said Sam, Sam was tall and in shape, he had brown hair and eyes and a few facial hair, and a marvelous smile that captured Luna instantly

Luna laughed and said ‘’ Okay, but what exactly are you doing?’’

Sam acted like an old soldier with a harsh manly voice and said ‘’ Defending your honor my lady, I’m just kidding, we are actually playing paintball’’

‘’It’s not real isn’t it? You will not die if you get shot…I mean you can run’’ said Luna

‘’well, I shot the principle by accident…or on purpose and I’m escaping from Freddy’’ said Sam

Luna said hysterically ‘’the janitor? , his name is roger ‘’

‘’ But ugly like Freddy, and why are you doing here alone?’’ said Sam

‘’Waiting for my parents, they forgot me’’ said Luna

‘’Their loss’’ said Sam, He started looking all around the place and got back on his feet and said ‘’Do you want me to walk home with you, I would really love that’’

Luna laughed and said ‘’Yeah, why not?’’

The shape of their existence together was simply miraculous and exquisite, this girl with the converse shoes and the lovely spring dress and the guy with the red shirt having a paintball gun hanging over his back, they were walking in middle of street swinging against each other

‘’What is your favorite color?’’ said Sam

‘’Blue’’ Luna responded

‘’And what….’’ Sam was interrupted by Luna ‘’ Why can’t I see you at school?’’

‘’Oh well, I’m not from your school, I’m just chilling with derrick, he goes to your school actually’’

‘’Wait, The tall basketball player?’’ Luna exploded

Sam burst laughing ‘’ that’s what you call him? , He’s really into basketball, last year he skipped the annual camp to watch the playoffs, and he takes it personal ‘’

Luna said’’ tell me about it, he fought with Mr. Ryan over a player called ‘’the prince’’ or ‘’the king’’, I can’t really remember, I mean they all died’’

Sam answered ‘’ LeBron James ‘’

Luna pointed her finger at her house and said ‘’that’s me’’

Sam gasped and said’’ Well, it was nice meeting you and walking home with you, and saving my butt from your school’s principal’’

‘’Yeah, thanks for the company and don’t mention it, so…’’Said Luna

‘’So…, I should be gone by now, this is becoming weird’’ said Sam

Luna said ‘’Yeah, Okay’’ they both turned around separate ways, Luna towards her door and Sam towards the street, Sam felt stupid for not leaving a magical touch so he decided to make a move to impress or touch Luna

‘’Hey Luna’’ said Sam Happily

Luna faced him and waiting for what he needs to say with a nod

‘’I forgot to tell you, you’re Beautiful ‘’ Sam said beaming 

Luna blushed like never before, her heart was running away from her body, butterflies were nothing to what she felt, Luna closed the door and took a deep breath and hurried back to the room to watch Sam as he leaves from the window, she thought she would witness this attractive young man leaving with a sexy smile on his face like the modern romantic movies, but she got a young man shooting a seventy-eight old man on his behind by his paintball gun

The relationship between them developed in no time, Derrick became jealous from Luna from taking too much time with Sam, They chatted all the time, midnight phone calls, Mr.Merlow was displeased from plenty of giggles in pretty late hours, Sam had a unique sense of humor, that’s precisely what caught Luna’s heart, They knew each other faster than anyone could imagine, in just three miserable days for Mr.Merlow, but that didn’t stop him from giving an approval to Luna to go out, a vital break.

Luna joined Sam where he wanted her to meet him, he surprised her, she was a little bit shocked but sensed shelter with him, and he grabbed her hand and led her through a secret basement, Luna weren’t concerned about where is she going with a new guy she met three days ago, but nervous about if her hand is sweaty or cold or feminist enough for Sam, They entered a room with a very huge screen, it wasn’t actually a screen but a projector on this unused wall, Luna was filled with joy, because she was talking about how she misses watching a film in the movie theatre.

‘’You wanted to watch a movie, right?’’ said Sam in overexcited voice

‘’Sam, oh my god, when did you build this? ‘’ Luna said startled

‘’Yesterday’’

Sam’s basement looked like an old military base , Luna was wondering about why does it look like this and Sam explained ‘’ They belong to my father, he survived world war three, he was collecting old guns and rifles , he was determined  to make me like him, I was trained every day , at least 3 hours’’

‘’World war three? Wow, my mom and dad met while they were in shelters, I forced my dad to tell me their romantic story every night before I go to bed ‘’ said Luna

‘’Are you sure about that?’’ said Sam skeptically

‘’I’m pretty sure, anyways what are we going to watch’’ said Luna

‘’I don’t know, I rented like ten movies, you get to choose ‘’ said Sam

They watched the movie quietly , their hands touched , they were busy with their feelings more than the activity itself, it was more than a date or two teens watching a movie for fun, it was a battle of knowledge for both of them, Sam wanted to burst out his feelings and Luna was waiting for him Impatiently, none of them showed truthfulness , Luna backing up was held back by a reasonable thought, she doesn’t know him so well, and she’s scared to be rejected , but Sam was held back by something else, something he knew , something Luna wasn’t aware of, neither of Pernotra’s teens, Something else.

The week went bumpy and jagged on Mr. and Mrs. Merlow, Luna caught the both of them argue numerous of times, she tried to ignore every possible area of fighting and she did successfully, it became a house wrecking problem, Luna was dying mentally, she wondered about the subject they brawled about, this time she couldn’t help not interfere but secretly

‘’We can’t hide this from her, she should know everything about this’’ Mrs. Merlow said furiously

‘’I can’t do that’’ Mr. Merlow squeaked

‘’You better find out a way soon, do you hear me?’’ said Mrs. Merlow threatening him

Luna noticed she was the one they were talking about, but never thought it was too deliberate or severe, lucky for Mr. and Mrs. Merlow having a shrewd and not a rational daughter, Luna was about to take a step back to delete her existence from the scene, a message from Sam ruined the plan as fast as road runner escapes

Mrs. Merlow was shocked and tracked the sound, Luna was clever enough to put on her headset so she can pretend being busy with her music, as she listened to roughly nothing

‘’Honey, what are you doing here?’’ Mrs. Merlow said curiously

‘’Nothing, just goofing around with my music’’ Luna said after taking her earphones off

‘’Oh well’’ Mr. Merlow muttered

Luna ran out straight to her room and called Sam.

‘’I was about to get caught because of you’’ Luna cried

‘’Cheating? Come on tell me you are not having exams in your house’’ Sam said in sarcasm

 

‘’Very funny’’ said Luna ‘’Where are you?’’

‘’Look down’’ said Sam deeply

Luna poked her head though to window and saw Sam waving his hand for signal, she was bare feet and the only thing spotted her eye was this old black boot, she glanced at it for a moment, a slip away from tearing up, she wore it slowly and went climbing down the backyard porch, he grabbed her waist and landed her softly on the ground

‘’Wait, Why are you wearing your dad’s black boots?’’ Sam asked

‘’They were for Rebecca’s, my older sister, she treasured them to climb mountains 

She passed away four years ago’’ Luna said woefully

‘’I’m sorry’’ said Sam embarrassed

‘’No, it’s alright, what are you doing here anyway?’’ Luna said nosily

‘’ Nothing, you were on my mind the whole day and I wanted to see your pretty face’’ said Sam freely

She blushed promptly

Sam lifted up something from his pocket; it was a very scarce unusual kind of rock, a gemstone drowning in a purple-blue color all over it, Sam was holding the stone watchfully then he gave it to Luna

‘’This is yours’’ said Sam brightly

‘’ I can’t take it seriously, this is just unbelievable, and this is like a fortune ‘’ said Luna Surprised

‘’Well yes it is, but my dad stole it or found it in the war, technically the stone is mine, since I’m the only child’’

Luna spread her arm at Sam with the stone on her palm and said ‘’ I’ve known for barely one week and I can’t accept this, no offense’’

Sam took it back and said ‘’ none taken’’, while still holding her hand, Luna looked into his eyes and moved a little bit closer to him, and he did the same, they were the mirror of each other, they both closed their eyes, they both had mini heart attacks, they both knew it was a bad idea, and they both knew it’s what they wanted for a long time, Together.

The enchanting moment failed the attempt, Luna’s sister Adrianna arrived along with her husband Frank, Luna didn’t know they were coming for dinner tonight, and she knows that Adrianna is not very close to her family, what happened before 6 years ago made her absent the entire time, the sound of locking the car was louder than their breaths, For Luna it was more challenging because her heart was accelerating from fear, it just conquered love this time, Luna pushed herself back from Sam and told him to leave nicely, making Sam leave was the last thing on her mind but sorrowfully strained.

Luna climbed back to her room and Sam jumped over the fence but before going away, he hissed for Luna, Luna rounded to Sam, He gave her a flying kissed, she beamed immediately at him and closed the windows.

‘’I can’t believe it man, it’s just illogical, how can a car stop you from getting this girl?’’ Derrick coming out of the bushes ‘’ it could have been a person, it could have been a phone, it could have been a fart but a car’’ he laughed and tapped Sam on his back ‘’you’re screwing things up’’

‘’ Man, this girl is different, that’s why I’m acting bad with her, I don’t know how to deal with love’’ Sam said stress fully

Derrick stopped Sam instantly and said ‘’ Sam, people don’t learn how to fall in love, they just do, what is happening with you now is entirely different, this girl isn't like any girl you know, she will not go on a date with some funky tricks or tips and definitely not a girl that will jump into your bed for fun, Love is the opposite of what we were doing with other girls’’

‘’Yeah, I know’’ said Sam

‘’And honestly leave that to me, I’m the lady’s man here, not you , not anymore, the famous Sam is in love, such a wimp’’ said Derrick moving forward with a funny kind of laugh

Sam followed him and told him ‘’ At least I know how to shoot a free throw’’ then ran copying the same laugh Derrick played

‘’Naaah, you didn’t, come here’’ said Derrick confused

They spent the night running after each other, throwing soda cans and wrestling on the walk sides, Derrick and Sam were free with their friendship and Luna was stuck with her family

Frank was a nerd looking guy; he had these glasses and fixed up brown hair, however, a big body like football players along with a scruffy beard, he wasn’t actually socially active, Luna never liked him and never will, she always call him ‘’ The Huge Dirty Snake’’, and what annoyed Luna the most is that Mr. And Mrs. Merlow liked him, Adrianna’s social skills weren’t any better than Frank, Adrianna hated the family meetings specially with Frank, Adrianna knew frank came for dinner, Literally, not for respect.

Luna was disgusted from the way Frank’s ate, but it couldn’t take her eyes off her sister Adrianna, Adrianna was sweating and snapping her fingers and staring at Luna from time to time, Luna sensed that Adrianna wanted to say something but couldn’t, she couldn’t tickle the frog out of the box, and she minded her own business

‘’Are you planning to make me a grandfather?’’ said Mr. Merlow, Mrs. Merlow kicked him beneath the dinner table to halt him from questioning

‘’Yeth’’ said Frank with a mouth full of food, ‘’we are working on that’’, Mrs. Merlow rounded her arm around Adrianna and sniffed ‘’Soon, pretty soon’’, Adrianna couldn’t help smiling at her mother, as Mrs. Merlow was trying to move the plates after Frank finished almost the whole feast, she tripped with a black leathery suitcase

‘’Adrianna! , Is this for you?’’  Said Mrs. Merlow

Adrianna jumped on her toes very baffled and said ‘’ Yes it is, Luna asked me for some past papers, you know how much I needed them when I was in her age, right Luna?’’

Luna was stunned for knowing nothing about the past papers, the past papers that she never asked for, but overwhelmed with happiness over her sister’s attention, since Adrianna got married, Luna felt like she never had a sister, Luna only remembers that she woke up one morning not finding her sister around, and informed that Adrianna got married and living in a new home

Luna nodded her head ignorantly

‘’Luna why don’t we go to your room and talk about it’’ said Adrianna

‘’Sure’’ said Luna

Mr. Merlow invited Frank for a game of chess, Mrs. Merlow was busy cleaning and scrubbing the table and washing the dishes and two away sisters united in a single night, the aim of it wasn’t helping Luna in her school stuff, it was more likely helping Luna in her future.

‘’Get in’’ said Adrianna inspecting anyone around the room and closing the room firmly

‘’What’s wrong with you? And what just happened down there? I never asked for past papers, in fact we haven’t talked for two years like this, since when you are willing to help me’’ said Luna heatedly

Adrianna covered Luna’s mouth with her hand to silent her and told her ‘’ Look, just act normal and listen to me very carefully, can you?’’

Luna nodded; Adrianna took off her hand slowly, Adrianna sat on the bed with the black suitcase waiting for Luna to come in front of her

‘’What’s wrong Adrianna?’’ said Luna inquiringly

‘’I don’t know how to tell you this, this day became one of my biggest fears, but I know, it would be the best achievement I will ever do in my life’’ Adrianna cried

‘’ Adrianna! Please tell me what is going on’’ said Luna

‘’Luna your life is a designed lie, your parents down there with my perfect husband frank are not what we think they are, The war love story is all made up, they didn’t fall in love, neither am I , I searched all over the internet of what is happening in Pernotra, I didn’t find anything but I found something that sums it all up’’ Adrianna said excitedly

Adrianna was interrupted by Luna, Luna took a step back and said ‘’No way, you are lying, get out of my room’’

Adrianna wanted to calm her down but Luna screamed not to touch her, Adrianna opened the suitcase and threw six different files at her

‘’Open them’’ said Adrianna mysteriously

‘’What are these? That’s for my mom, all her favorites and all her hobbies and memories are in here, how did you collect this’’ said Luna

‘’How about you ask me how they collected the information?’’ said Adrianna

Luna gathered her thoughts on that question and asked Adrianna, Adrianna told her to sit next to her and made her read this message in an envelope next to a CD in a grey colored file.

‘’Dear Adrianna/Luna

If you are reading this, I will probably be dead, the world we have been living in was just a beautiful lie, the worst thing about it is that I still believe it , but the memories with you both my precious sisters are the top of everything, I’m very blessed to know you, and this letter is not an explosion for my emotions towards you ,I am actually writing this as a warning, as an insurance policy of the lie I lived and discovered, if you remember rick my secret boyfriend, Adrianna knows about him, Sorry, Luna you were too young for this, helped me to gather all these stuff while I was married

The CD is very essential and enigmatic materiel, who ever find this, I want you to view it together, but if it was solid to arrange a meeting, make an exception and watch it as soon as possible

I’m very sorry for every time I yelled, mistreated, disrespect both of you, I hope and wish you could know how much I love you but for now the most appropriate phrase to tell you is…..

GOODLUCK

                                                         With love,

                             Rebecca         ‘’

Luna was shaking and dazed, Adrianna was limping at the edge of bursting tears like a baby, and sniffed

‘’Watch it’’

Luna opened her laptop immediately, and was about to expose the beautiful lie that Rebecca mentioned in the letter, the screen blacked out with a ‘’P’’ symbol, then transformed to ‘’Peace over System’’

A chubby man in a classy expensive suit with glasses with his hands crossed, was ready to speak and said

‘’The studies you demanded are under amenity, the ravages of divorce and marriage are negatively extreme, it turns that both of these statues are producing  more criminals due to broken lifetime situations unfortunately growing rage, violence, sadism and aggression that leads into breaching our model, the studies also shows the evolution of more wasted time that turns from regulation into expectations of finding another chance, the chance will transform to the very primary obstacle, I suggest we unleash system ‘’Providence’’ before it’s too late, waiting for your response’’

Luna was silent, she explained to Adrianna that she didn’t understand a single thing, and Adrianna told her that she didn’t until the following video, she exploded with multi questions, Like ‘’ Who is this man?’’, ‘’What is Providence?’’ but the voice of her sister that was becoming a memory interrupted her, not just her questions and her mouth but her heart too.

‘’ Hey, I don’t know how to do this, they never taught us at school how to solve a case or give a testimony in a video, the response wasn’t captured so I had to explain it all here for you’’ she laughed phonily

 

Rebecca was amazing just like her sisters however, she was blonde with capturing hazel eyes and a rounded face with pink cheeks, Rebecca started crying, her hair was covering her face completely, but she strongly wiped off her tears with bloody eyes and a pale face and said

‘’ The response is the ‘’Providence’’, it’s a system invented by the government, using this system that solves the case for them, it works like this, the government sends a reminder for your guardians which is our parents, they observe everything about you and write it down, they create a file that concerns you, when you become close to be legal, they leave to this tall-organized building, and supply the files to them, so does other guardians, after one week exactly, they match the files and see the common interests between two people and…….they get married……it’s the alternative for love, empathy and romance, the government select your life mate, you have no choice, and they move you to a house with the chosen partner, the perfect Mr. and Mrs. Merlow down there didn’t fall in love, they were like each other, had things in common, there is no freedom, you are forced to live with a person you know nothing about, it’s miserable, the worst thing about it, if you denied living with that person, you get killed.’’

An old grumpy voice sneaked into the video, Rebecca became motionless and was terrified, she told Luna and Adrianna goodbye and wished them good luck and turning off the camera heavily

Luna couldn’t breathe normally, she was grabbing Adrianna so firmly and she wasn’t planning to let go, Adrianna turned Luna’s face towards her

‘’Rick, Rebecca’s boyfriend died exactly a day before our sister, he got hit by a car, and suddenly that building closed for five days, Rebecca didn’t have cancer or some kind of disease, she was murdered by the government, they were breaking ‘’Providence’’ said Adrianna unmistakably

Mr. Merlow and Frank were done with their chess game, and Frank was heavy-eyed and dull, He wanted to go home as soon as possible, he called for Adrianna, Adrianna’s heart skipped a beat, the information she possess is unbearable

‘’Tomorrow they are going to get you, look into my eyes, I want you to run, get some help from any friend you know, just do It, I love you’’ Adrianna panted and left

Everything made sense to Luna now, the arguments dwelling in the house, the ‘’are you sure?’’ question Sam asked, the radio confusing warning, the ignorance Mr. and Mrs. Merlow was showing to Luna, Adrianna isolating herself from the family, Rebecca’s sudden death, Luna felt like a sick person wanting to throw up even though the only one on her mind is her crush, Sam.

‘’Hey, Are you there?’’ Luna said

‘’Yeah, Luna I’m here, is there something wrong?’’ said Sam worried

‘’Can you come back here, there is something I have to tell you’’

‘’Don’t worry, I’m on my way’’ said Sam untying his shoe ties

Luna spent the night telling Sam about everything happened, and Sam was quiet, he didn't say a single word

‘’I know’’ said Sam shamefully

‘’You know what?’’ Luna said

‘’I know about ‘’Providence’’, and I’m leaving tomorrow morning’’ said Sam

‘’ why didn't you tell me? I would have gone with you’’ said Luna furiously

‘’ You weren't someone in my life till last week, I thought you were this superficial person who accepts everything stands up her face’’ Sam explained

‘’No, I don’t want to live like this, this is unbelievable, Sam I need your help’’ said Luna

Sam searched Luna’s closet and threw her luggage bags to her bed, he hugged her and whispered to pack now, and Luna was excited and afraid simultaneously, an exciting adventure with the person she maybe fell in love with, and a scary escape from the most common fear for people, Death.

The next morning Mr. Merlow woke up sweaty, he had a bad nightmare and Mrs. Merlow wasn’t beside him, she was making him his favorite cup of coffee, but this time he couldn’t enjoy it along with heavy knocking on the door

Mr. Merlow opened the door slowly, Two men in suits with red ties with an enormous ‘’P’’ symbol on it, they were tall without any facial expressions

‘’Hello, Sir, We are here to apply the system’’ said the tall man in the suit

‘’But I didn’t tell her, not yet, you can’t just take her right now’’ Said Mr. Merlow

‘’That’s none of our business, now step aside’’ Said the other man, He tried to get in the house, but Mr. Merlow closed the way with his hairy arm

‘’Let me go tell her, and we’ll be down and ready for the system, sounds good?’’ said Mr. Merlow

The two men looked against each other and nodded for Mr. Merlow as they watched him taking the stairs and observing a gloomy mom with her mouth covered along wide open eyes

Mr. Merlow sensed the wind at the top of the stairs, and Luna’s bedroom is the last bedroom in the house, it was weird and shocking, Mr. Merlow hurried to the room breathing heavily.

All he saw is a girl’s bedroom who left them with extended windows and a messy bed.