A World Divided

Chapter 1

The Year 2292

258 years after The Rising

The Floating Island

Aaliyah Alexandria

     I stare at the clouds, sitting on a park bench near the edge of the island. Sitting so close to the dome you can barely see the rays of color that bloom around it. The sun sits underneath the clouds letting slips of orange seep into the sky, blending into blue and then to black. 

     "Everything ok? I lost you for a second." Asher interrupted my train of thought, my eyes fazed back into reality and I looked away from the sunset. His hazel eyes met mine and he looked at me with a slight grin.

     "Yeah, I was just staring at the clouds. How are you not in aw? Does this sight not amaze you?" I questioned.

     "I mean it does, but we were in the middle of a conversation." He laughed at me. Honestly, I laughed at myself, I can't even remember what we were talking about. "I guess it's for the best, we only have a little bit until curfew anyways." He stood up and placed his hand out waiting for me. 

     I grabbed his hand and stood up next to him. We started walking back into the city, where everything you do is constantly watched. Cameras on every street corner, officers walking down the road on patrol. I took off the bracelet Asher gave me for our one-month anniversary. It was black, lined with silver and gold, with a tiny compartment holding a tiny diamond.

     Any jewelry was to be given to the officers immediately due to limited recourses. If given willingly you will get a large sum of money depending on what it was. If you were caught with it you were executed. "I told you not to bring that here," Asher argued.

     "If I'm not supposed to wear it, then why have it?" I joked. 

     "Good point, but Aaliyah, if you get caught with it." He paused.

     "I won't. I promise it's not like they do random searches. I make sure to hide it in the bathroom, like everything else." I assured him. We made it back into the city and people making their way back to their homes. 

     The males wear black pants, dress shoes, and a white button-up shirt. The females wear a white dress, with black flats, and a choice of a black jacket on top. The uniform was a rule made recently by the council, many were opposed, but they demanded that it be in place to enforce structure. 

     The only real way to express yourself through looks was your hairstyle. My hair was split into two fishtail braids that curled out at the end. On the inside of my jacket, I hid a pin that I found at the island's edge. I thought about turning it in, but I didn't want to do that in case it was important to someone.

     We quickly made it to my building and I hugged Asher goodbye and went inside. I went over to the front desk to talk to Jax, only kids under 18 work the small jobs and then after their evaluation whether they pass or fail, they are replaced with a different kid. His evaluation was in a week, it was crazy that he was going to be gone. 

     Any negative emotions were frowned upon by the council. You could either be happy, or emotionless. Most don't show any emotion, but Jax stays happy. He was always joking around and making everyone laugh when they passed through. "Shit, I didn't think you were going to make it this time." He laughed. "Good thing that man of yours lives in the next building or I'd be worried for him too." 

     "I'm not late that's all that madders. How's Freddy doing?" I smiled as he gave me my keycard. 

     "He's pissy because he has to cook tonight. Katherine's orders." It was nice of the Smiths to take Jax in. Freddie's mom found out he was living in a detention center in the South Wing of the island. 

     "Sounds like fun. Good luck with your evaluation." 

     "Thanks." He ended, I walked over to the elevator and swiped my key card to get to my floor. The elevator dings every time we pass a floor, soft sounds of a saxophone playing over the speaker, with a camera in the top right corner. As I reached the fifteenth floor the door opened and I walked out and onto the gray carpet, with white walls, and paintings with no frames. My apartment was fifteen C, on the right side of the hallway. I swiped my keycard and my door slid open and then closed behind me.

     I immediately went into the bathroom and placed my bracelet under the sink in a hidden compartment under one of the drawers. I flush the empty toilet, wash my hands, and quickly leave the bathroom. I walk into my room my cot lying on the floor un the corner, with a grey nightstand next to it, and an algae box for fresh oxygen. I couldn't afford a lot of furniture, most of it is what my parents gave me. I sit on my bed and look at the camera in the top corner of my room

     Sometimes I think about just smashing it. Just to get a comfortable nights sleep, but I would get sent to the ground. Their idea was that if you thought you could escape their cameras on the island, then they would send you to the ground to attempt to escape their drones. The light turns off for my set sleep schedule and I lay down. Letting the island drift away so I can finally relax.