Chapter 3

“Freeze!” a huge man bellowed from the newly created hole. There were around nine control force officers standing behind him, all equipped with riot shields and taser guns.  
    We knew there would be no point in resisting. So we did what we were already doing... nothing. Me and Veronica looked at each other then put or hands on our heads and got on our knees. The leader of the pack stepped through the hole and threw a pair of handcuffs onto us, handed us over to two other people that proceeded to push us down the hall. I took a look back at the class room to see the leader cuff O’Brian and throw him to another officer. Then set his sights onto the class. He reached into a compartment on his belt and pulled out an unnatural colored orb. I knew what it was instantly, a mind cleanser.
    “You will forget everything that’s happened in the past twenty-four hours. You will go home and think this was all a hazy dream.” he said in a calm, but stern voice.
    Every eye was transfixed upon the orb that made their faces glow with a slight purple tint.     “Nooooo!” I mentally screamed. All of our work, the only true goal me and Veronica ever pursued full heartedly had been fulfilled in vain.
    The head officer put the orb back into his belt and every student got up and left, under the technology’s spell.
    I felt a sudden volt run from the middle of my spine to the top and bottom, sending me to my knees, only to find a foot brutally contacting with by ribs. Then pulled back onto my feet by the aggressor.
    “Keep moving!” the officer that cuffed me screamed before giving me a rough push forward.
    The walk to the office was brisk and silent. We walked through a huge, arched door that could only be the principals. Only the principal wasn’t inside, but president Aubry was.
    Me and Veronica shared a glance of pure terror. What torture did he have prepared for us? Putting a fishing hook into our belly button and pulling out our intestines? Or maybe he would have us whipped to death in front of the whole nation.
    “Why are you so afraid?” he asked, grinning an evil smile that could only be described as pure corruption, “I don’t bite!” He then looked me and Veronica up and down before turning his head towards an officer.
    “Did you erase the minds?” he asked in a professional tone.
    “Yes, they’ve already left for their homes, sir.”
    “Very good” he replied satisfied before returning his gaze to us.
    “What do you think you’re punishment should be?” he ordered in a sarcastic tone. Me and Veronica just looked down at the too-clean office floor.
    “This is the first time in nearly three hundred years some one has committed a crime serious as this. You know the only reason there is a recommendation against public laughter is so there is never another uprising like when we were the country named North America. I worked my a*s off in the arena to make that recommendation, it is the one recommendation I chose to remain in use next term!” he said in a voice that would make the mightiest mountains crumble.
    Each president chooses one “recommendation” to be kept another term after their presidency, such as last terms president George and his recommendation that  parents and children past the age of 6 be separated to promote dependence. Unfortunately Veronica’s little brother turns six today. He’ll be bussed to dorm in a sector that fits his needs and attend elementary school alone like me and Veronica did. If he were born only one day later his life would have been spared with the recommendation’s term ceasing and he would remain in sector 32 living happily with his parents...
    I quickly glanced away from the floor to Aubry’s face when he had been silent too long.
His eyes shown a hint of light that could only be an idea.
    Oh no! My brain triggered, he’s finally thought of a suitable punishment. I looked at Veronica and could tell her brain was going through the same process as mine. The silence made itself evermore present when an officer coughed, almost making me jump for the window, which caught my eye.
    As I peered out the window it looked so perfect. There was a valley snugged between two smooth hills, blue and yellow flowers everywhere. I could see the trees dance to the winds soft song. I slowly comprehended the true beauty of nature and it seemed as if the world were at peace... but I knew it was not.
    “I have decided your punishment” he said with a sinister smile.
    Here it comes I thought closing my eyes in nervous anticipation.
    “You will be on probation for the next month. I feel you have learned your lesson in the area of this matter. And I know you will never, ever attempt something like this again.” I opened my eyes in shock. Is he letting us off the hook? H-how? If you stole something as small as a piece of food you’re hand got cut off! How can this slide by?!?
    I felt the officers take off my handcuffs from afar, still is disbelief.  The president began to walkout, but not before picking up Veronica’s hand and kissing it.
    He then spoke in a suave voice, “As they say in sector 48, “à toute à l'heure!” Then he was gone. But is words lingered in my mind, à toute à l'heure... it sounded very classic French to me. Then hit me. It was “I will see you very soon.” And this gave me the feeling that we would be meeting with Aubry again soon... too soon.