Chapter 1
Narrator’s POV
It is the year 3604 and the world has taken a sharp turn since the Sex War of 2798. The war began when Madison Sycamore created the Hydra council. The Hydra council was created to overthrow the misogynistic government that was letting men do whatever they saw fit, as long as they contributed donations and other incentives to those in charge. Madison found out about these transactions when her brother Michael came home drunk one night blabbing about how he got passed up for a promotion at Translantic Industries because he was considered middle-class. Madison didn’t really know what Michael did at Translantic Industries, except that he was able to pay for their father’s cancer treatments. So as Michael was venting to his younger sister about David getting the job over him, because his parents donated a million dollars to the business, Madison had a lightbulb moment and started her plan.
August 2797
Madsion rubbed her brother’s back with one hand and grabbed a box of tissues while saying, “I got some rocky road ice cream today.”
Michael looked up with unshed tears, “Did you get just one or two?”
Madison laughed and got up, “I actually got four, they were having a six for ten-dollar sale because the expiration date is soon.”
Madison grabbed two spoons and two carton pints from the deep freezer and sat on the couch offering one of each to Michael. Michael took the spoon and ice cream, ripped the top off and dug in. While Michael was shoveling ice cream into his face Madison pulled out her phone and set it face down on the table while the recording app was in use.
Madsion’s POV
I looked at her brother, “A thank you would be nice”
Michael hiccupped and said “Thanks Mad”
“Yeah, yeah. Now how do you know you really didn’t get the promotion the interview was only two days ago.”
“Yeah but Gnarly Gina was walking out of the interview office today and her lipstick was smeared. We passed each other when I was getting back from my break and she said, ‘tough break on the promotion’ then laughed and walked on before I could ask her about it.”
Michael was able to say all that in only two breaths and went back to shoveling ice cream into his mouth. I turned on the television and turned to Alvin and the Chipmunks. Michael always watched the movie when he was down in the dumps while eating rocky road. I can’t tell you how many times I had to watch this movie; I ended up having nightmares about those creatures. *internal shudder*
Out of nowhere Michael pulled me in, “Aww you put on my favorite movie I love you so much Mads.”
I smiled and let him have his moment until he pulled away singing along with the opening credits. I was about to start on my ice cream until Michael interrupted me, “Ugh you forgot the napkin Mads,” he said as he licked some ice cream off his chin.
I got up and went to the kitchen. Picked up the paper towels and brought them back. I sat back beside him, “here crybaby.”
Michael took the paper towel and wiped his chin, “I am not a crybaby Mads, I worked really hard for that promotion, and this is second time I’ve been passed up because of my economic status. I’ve been there three years Madison.” Michael sighed and ate some ice cream before speaking again.
“And what’s crazier is that I got a spam email saying they would give me half a million dollars a month if I started to spy on Translantic and give up their secrets.”
I looked at Michael with bewilderment and said, “How do you know it’s fake?”
Michael looked at me like I was the dumbest person on earth, “The email is literally from [email protected] And he spelled ‘yahoo’ wrong.”
“Oh well that doesn’t mean it’s a scam, plenty of people misspell things wrong.”
Michael laughed for like a good five minutes, wiped the tears from his face and gave me a pat on the back, “Oh baby sister you’re the best. You always know how to make me feel better, such a kidster.”
“I was being serious,” I said as I put the top on my ice cream and got up.
Michael pulled me down and looked me in the eyes, “Hey, you know I didn’t mean any harm. Now sit down because we have to finish this movie.”
He didn’t even give me a choice before he yanked me down. “I’ll watch the movie just let me put up my ice cream.”
“Ha, ha yeah. Sounds like a plan.”
I looked over and he was on his phone blushing like a schoolgirl. I got up, put up my ice cream, and began washing my spoon. Michael paused the movie and said he needed to use the bathroom. When I made it back to the couch, I saw Michael had left his phone and it was still unlocked. I went to his email, found the spam email, forwarded it to myself, and deleted the forwarded message from his device and the email from the original sender. I also blocked the emailer just to be safe. Michael came back and started yelling,
“Awe man I didn’t pause it. Guess I should just start it over, only fifteen minutes in anyway,” he said as he grabbed the remote.
“We have work tomorrow and you’ve seen this movie a billion times,” I said while rolling my eyes.
Michael still started it over and said, “So what”
The movie began again, and I got on my phone, stopped the recording, and made a note on my phone to contact the emailer the first chance I got tomorrow.
Narrator’s POV
Two days after Michael got passed up for the promotion their mom fell and broke her hip. They went to the hospital and performed surgery the next day. She is now scheduled to go home in two days; after requesting to have a bed set up so she could be with her husband. Three days later Michael was in the kitchen making an omelet for breakfast. He finished cooking, plated his food, and sat at the counter with his newspaper.
Madison walked in and saw him, “You didn’t make me anything.”
Michael looked at her and took a bite of his food, “You know how to cook”
Madison walked to the fridge and opened it, “There’s no more eggs”
“It’s called a grocery store Mads, go to it”
“It was your turn to go, you said you did it yesterday. And what’s with the bug in your ass Michael, get over the promotion already.”
Michael turned around and threw the plate in the sink
“What the fuck Michael,” Madison said while backing away
“That was a bitch move Mads, and this isn’t about the promotion. It’s about you not pulling your weight around here.”
“You can’t call me a bitch just because you’re gay, it’s not a get out of jail card Michael.”
“I’m bi you bitch, and you can’t just assume me calling you a ‘bitch’ is because I like men. It’s an offending stereotype and I can have them cancel you with ease.”
Madison walked out of the kitchen and headed back to her room and started to pack. Michael followed her
“I don’t know where you think you’re going, but if you’re whining to mom and dad bad idea. I’m selling their condo”
Madison swung around furious, “You can’t just abandon our parents. Mom just had surgery, and dad is literally fighting cancer”
“I’m not a heartless bitch like you Mads. I’m moving them in with me and bringing in two stay at home nurses. They’ll be staying in the guest room.”
“And mom and dad are staying with you in your room?”
“Of course not, I don’t want to see old people sex. I’m kicking you out and moving them in here,” he said waving around Madison’s room.
“You’re kicking me out Michael”
“You were leaving anyways,” he said eyeing her duffle bag.
“I was going to stay with Faith for a few days until you plucked your head out your ass.”
“Madison, you work at a flower shop and only bring in thirty thousand a year. Mom’s unexpected surgery took too much from my savings and dad’s cancer is drying me out. I can’t keep letting you suck me dry and not contribute to anything. Your names not on the lease either so I can evict you from here no problem.”
Madison stood there speechless with unshed tears filling her eyes. Michael checked his watch, “Oh great, now I’m running late. Be out of here by noon the movers will be here at 1 and I need the cleaning lady to come in and clean before they get here.”
“Michael it’s about to be 8:30 that only gives me three and a half hours to make arrangements and pack all my belongings.”
Michael walked out shrugging, “Guess you better get started”.
Michael walked to his room and was ready twenty minutes later. He walked out of his room and stopped by Madison sitting on a pile of clothes crying. “Tears aren’t going to change my mind, Mads. Tick tock Maddy, only three hours left,” he said while walking away laughing.
Before Michael was able to leave out the front door Madison yelled, “You’re going to regret this Michael Felix Sycamore!”
Michael laughed, “We’ll see Mads, tick tock.”
Once the door closed, Madison started throwing items everywhere and screaming. She pulled out the only two suitcases she had and began packing them with the clothes she deemed most important. She threw in five pairs of shoes, a couple of jackets, and grabbed her most important documents. Before she left her room she looked around and took down the sign of her name that was nailed on the door. Madison walked out the door and left the door of Michaels condo open. Madison walked with her two suitcases in hand to her best friend Faith’s house. Faith was married and had three kids; she loved dearly. When Madison walked the one mile to Faith’s and made it up the stairs Faith’s daughter Vanessa answered before she could even knock.
“Vanessa,” Madison said as Vanessa hugged her and made her lose the grip on her suitcases. “What is your mommy feeding you, you’ve grown like five feet.”
“No, I didn’t silly. The doctor said I only grew three inches since last year,” she said while giggling.
“Vanessa, I said open the door for Madison and let her in, not tackle her to the ground,” Faith said while walking to the door.
“Sorry mommy, I just got so excited,” she said shyly while looking down at her feet.
“It’s okay Vanessa, your mom is just mad she couldn’t hug me first.”
Vanessa got close to Madison ears, “Oh, so she’s just jealous?”
I shake my head yes and she giggles more. Faith helped me up and reached for one of my suitcases. We walked through the door, and she showed me to the guest room downstairs. We settled in since the oldest two were at school and it was Vanessa’s nap time. Faith sat on the bed next to Madison and gave her a glass of wine. Madison told her about everything that happened with Michael and even included the plan she made to spy on Translantic before leaving Michaels.
“Isn’t this a bit dangerous,” Faith asked worried.
“Yeah, but not for me. If anyone ever found out they would just assume Michael made the plan since he got passed up for a promotion twice.”
“I know you’re mad about what Michael did, but he’s still you brother Madison”
“No, he’s not Faith,” she said as she took a gulp of wine.
“Okay maybe the rage is blinding you, so different take. If Michael gets caught what will happen to your parents?”
“I’ve already planned for that. I’ll save up the money, put it in some sort of trust that they will only be able to access when they no longer have Michael, and check in on them once a week.”
“I’m still not sure about this Madison.”
“Well, I already contacted the unknown emailer and set up a meeting in an hour. So, there’s no turning back now.”
“Well, you’re welcome to stay as long as you need.”
“Thank you, Faith. I really appreciate it.”
They hugged and talked for a little bit more. Faith dopped Madison off at her meeting spot and said she would pick her up after she got Vanessa ice cream and picked the kids up from school.
Madison sat in the classified section of the library and waited for about twenty minutes. Just as she was starting to give up and leave two people in hoods showed up. They sat down and removed their hoods.
“Umm hi, I’m Madison Sycamore.”
“We know who you are. I’m Jenny and this is Joseph,” Jenny said. They both shook hands with Madison and started their discussion. This discussion would mark the preamble of the 2798 Sex War and be added to the history books when the country reconstructed and became known as The Unified Hydra Nation.
Present Day
Today is September 2nd of 3604 at 8AM. The nationwide alarm has gone off and awakened everyone from their slumber to notify them that the two-week preparation for the 806th celebration of The Unified Hydra Nation is now commencing. During the next two weeks everyone is required to volunteer for four hours every day to help with the progress of the annual freedom celebration.
All the citizens are required to be out of their houses by 10AM and start their day. As the day goes on and preparations are being made everyone seems to get along well. That is, until everyone gets a Hydra notification that an attempted assassination on President Maple has been made.
