Chapter 1
When I sleep, I dream of a perfect world. The world we live in is corrupt. It’s never safe. You can’t go out after a certain time or the guards will take you. No one knows where you go, but you never come back to tell anyone. Except for me. I know where you go. I know what happens there. I came back.
My name is Jace Rogers. I’m nineteen years old. I live in a remote part of Pennsylvania. Jace is short for Jaycee, but I prefer Jace. I am not a guy! Do not let the name fool you! My mom is a nurse at the hospital downtown. My stepdad is working in the mines outside of town. My dad was the professor of law at the college next to the hospital, until they closed it and sent him away. Back then, I didn’t know who they was, but now I know.
It was summer. Hot and humid. It never rained in the summer. All the families had a pool, so kids would swim every day of the summer. Everyone was happy. I was only seventeen at the time. I was watching my little brother, Kaleb, while he was swimming. I smiled. That was the last time I smiled. Suddenly, the sky went dark. I knew it wasn’t rain. The darkness was caused by a large plane only 1000 feet off the ground. We were under attack.
Now the guards are watching us 24/7. We can’t leave the house. Ever. I was taken. I had to leave the house. My brother was in danger. He went to school to learn. He’s very smart. I continually told him not to go.
“You know it’s against the rules,” I said as if he was five years old.
“Jaycee, I’m thirteen. You don’t have to baby me. I can take on a couple guards,” he said. He’s the only one besides my mom that calls me Jaycee.
“I love you,” I said. “Don’t get caught. Don’t stay for too long.”
“I know. Don’t worry about me,” he said.
“You know I always worry,” I said.
He got caught. He said he was bringing Mom her lunch at the hospital. He brought it to her, and snuck out the back. He walked calmly toward the school to not be suspicious. Kaleb was going in through the window in the back when a guard saw him. The guard grabbed Kaleb from the window. Kaleb freaked. He punched the guard and took off. He didn’t stop running until he got home. He slammed the door and locked it, but soon guards were pounding on the door demanding to see us. They wanted me, too.
“I’ll go. You stay here,” I told him as I walked through the door. I could hear the wind being knocked out of me as they threw me to the ground and searched me. They put me in restraints and loaded me in the van parked sloppily in our yard. They took me away. I was never going to see my family again, but I was determined to escape and see them again. I knew as long as they have me, they won’t worry about Kaleb.
I prayed every day for Kaleb. Everyday they brought in new people. I searched their faces for my brother. I sighed with relief when I didn’t see him. I wouldn’t be able to live with myself. I’m torn, I want Kaleb to be here, but I don’t know what they will do to him. I hope he’s all right.
