Chapter One

The boundary line was like a bad word to children: off-limits. There was yellow caution tape crossing it off, even though it was a simple white line. That boundary line, however, separated a perfection utopia and the outside world. Nobody was allowed in, and if they did venture inside, they didn't come out. There were hundreds of men up in the trees, bows and guns ready. They didn't care if you were an infant or a mother; for all they know, you're an outsider. And that's when Eugene Smith got dared to enter the forest or his clothes would be dumped in the river. He wandered in, got shot in the head by an arrow almost immediately, and died at the scene. Nobody cared that he was a child, for it was his fault that he went in there in the first place. From then on, everyone kept their distance and the "perfect town" remained settled.

I hate waking up and not remembering my dreams. It's like trying to say a word, and it not coming off your tongue. But Miss Marshall, our town's headmistress, insists on us recording our dreams with a necklace. We wear it to bed, wake up, and then place it in a bin to get shipped to the data specialists. They do it to make sure that no one has any intentions of going rogue, or if they are dreaming of forbidden stuff. I take off the necklace and watch as it flies up the chute. I wonder if I have any dreams that are alarming. No officials have warned me yet, so I guess I'm good. I click on my television, which isn't what you think it is. I can't watch TV shows. The only use it has is to play a recording of my itinerary for the day. A list appears on the screen, telling me what my plans are:

Breakfast; Brunch Café

Therapy; meeting room A

Chores; Mess Hall

Free Time; Corridor

Lunch; Mess Hall

Examples: Lab 18C

 Great, the only free time I have is after chores. I sigh and trudge downstairs, looking at my Tracker watch. That's another thing that Miss Marshall installed. We have to wear these watches just in case you run away, so they can track you down. Besides that, it can tell the time and weather. It's half past nine, so I need to take the subway down to the Brunch Café. I have three minutes before I have to go out, so I sit at the kitchen table. My mom is at the table, filing notes on her laptop. Normally, outside technology is not permitted, but my mom works for the town's database. My dad is already gone, since he is a surgeon at the lab. "Hey Mom," I say, peering at her screen, "did you get my dream yet?" She shrugs, and then clicks on my name. It's blank. "Nope, and even if I did, I couldn't tell you." I sigh and kiss her on the cheek, and then walk out the door. All the kids on my block, old enough to work, are lined up. I take my place between a girl and my best friend, Jace. "Hey, Sam," he whispers, and I can almost see him smile. I nod for my reply and march to the subway. There, it's nice and loud so we can talk. "You're going to the Brunch Café, right?" he asks. I nod again, and then file onto the train. The subway lurches to a stop, and we get off along with two other people. The cold air hits my face, and my hair blows all around me. Jace is staring at me, and finally I slap him on the arm. "What?" I playfully whine, and he smiles. "Nothing. You're just so.... you." I stop and he grabs my hands. "What do you mean by that?" I laugh, and then turn serious. "Wait, Jace, what are you doing?" His face is turning bright red, and he stares into my eyes. "Well, Samantha, we've been friends for a while and..." I pull away and watch as his face crumbles. "Jace, we should probably go inside," I say, and wait for him to walk. "Yeah! Of course!" He jogs through the door, and I stop for a second. I know what's going on. Jace likes me! But here's the problem: we can't like each other. We're not sixteen yet and a Match ceremony has to be done to find my Match. If we're caught dating and he's not the one, we'd be in loads of trouble. That's not saying that I DON'T like him. He's cute, funny, smart.... WHAT AM I SAYING? I can't like him. The specialists would read my mind and I'd be changed, they would alter my brain.... Jace steps back outside. "Sam, you coming?" I nod and follow him inside, hoping that our conversation won't be as awkward as I think it's going to be.

Author's Note

Feedback is appreciated... just getting started! Let me know if you have any ideas...^^

Reviews

[A.Tarek]

Amazing chapter 1.. liked its pace, and the description of her life, the place she lives in, I like the part of itinerary. I enjoyed the chapter very much.. new and Innovative

[Cassidy14]

Thank you so much! ^^

[Coyote Poetry]

A very good opening chapter. I liked the way your described life and plans. You have set-up the story well. Create strong character and interesting story line. Thank you Cassidy for sharing the excellent opening chapter.

Coyote

[Cassidy14]

Thank you very much.
Cassidy

[Coyote Poetry]

You are welcome Cassidy.