ahs-fan3000

[ahs-fan3000]

The wire

The year is 3024, half of civilization died in 2064 due to a fast spreading pandemic leaving no one older than 50 alive. This might be your worst nightmare, but for me, this is my reality.

I’m Eliot Rowan, me and the half of humanity that is still alive stayed in Washington DC. We are called The wire. The pandemic was called genesis, named after the unknown cause of the outbreak.

Our leader is the oldest person alive in the wire, Astroia. She lived to see the pandemic and explains that we are lucky we were born when we were. Her second hand leader is Gale blue, he is 44 years old and saw the end of the virus. He’s what people before Genesis would call a vice president. Both of our leaders stay in the White House.

You’re probably wondering, how do two people control half of humanity? They don’t. Most people who survived are all over the world. We call them free spirits, these people are uncivilized and have weird ways of living. People who stayed in The wire gain a chip in their ring finger at 17. This chip makes us happy and makes us become a real citizen of the wire. The only person above seventeen in the wire who doesn’t have one is Astoria.

My best friend Michelle turned seventeen last week and got hers. She told me she didn’t feel anything and that it’s practically unnoticeable. I’m scheduled to get my chip 3 days after my birthday on February 14th. 10 days from now.

But anyway, I have nothing planned today. Usually Michelle breaks through my window to complain about how strict her parents are. I pretend to be annoyed but I actually enjoy her talking. Shes been my best friend since birth and I can’t imagine life without her. But recently she hasn’t come over.

*ringg*

I hear a ring from my door. In the wire every door has a doorbell. It’s probably my mom. I’ve been avoiding her for awhile,since my dad died she’s been a ghost in her own body. I can’t be around it.

*ring*

I hear a ringing again. This time followed by a knock. I walked to my window and unlocked it. Jumping out to the grayish grass painted green outside. “Michelle’s house doesn’t seem so bad now.” I thought. I then walked to the backyard and grabbed my blue bike. The bottom of the bike seat still has a note from my dad. “airotsa si hturtnu “ it reads. Most dads would have left “I love you “ but not mine.

I started pedaling to Michelle’s house thinking of any excuse to use on her parents. But everything sounded made up, especially because I’m horrible at lying. I decided to

*BANG*

A loud sound rippled from the White House. I tripped over my bike hearing it, landing on the road. I slowly picked myself up to see the damage, luckily it was a small bruise on my knee that could be hidden by one or two badges. I kicked my bike back up and started pedaling, this time lighter on my right leg. By the time I reached Michelle’s house all I could think about was that sound.

What could they be doing In there that made such a sound? Did anyone else hear it?, I sneaked to Michelle’s back yard to get a clear view of her window. Her parents would never let me in past 11. I knocked on her window, she opened the window and saw my confused appearance. “Woah are you ok?” Michelle asked. “Did you hear that sound?!” I asked while climbing through the window. “What sound?” Michelle asked “The big boom sound coming from the White House?” I resisted. Michelle shook her shoulders.

“maybe your just stressed out because your birthdays soon.” She told me. No matter of words could change what I know I heard. I look at Michelle’s glaze and it was similar to the look of my Moms. A ghost, like she’s not even there. “Are you feeling ok?” I asked her?

Suddenly she snapped out of it “yeah i don’t know what got into me, can you help me with this homework?”she told me going back to her desk.

In The wire we don’t have colleges or jobs, the only thing we have to do when we’re older is start a family. Which is Michelle’s worst nightmare. She’s been studying since she was 10 to become the new head leader.

“Michelle I don’t know why you would think I would Know anything about that stuff” I said with quiet laugh, she looked up at me with a sarcastic stare

“Eliot Rowan you might be stupid, but you’re clever” she told me.

I layed down on the couch Michelle had in her room. All of our houses in the wire are no farther then 15 minutes away. You could see our school, my house and the White House in an eye lengths view. Because there are no jobs all houses look the same, a small box tv in every room that barely works; a bed and if your lucky a closet. But Michelle’s room was different. Her dad is Gale blues younger brother. She never saw Gale blue, her uncle because he’s always busy working for Astoria.

Michelle put her pink pen down and asked me a question “hey how did you get here?”

“By my bike like usual Michelle” I told her. Was she under some memory loss spell? “Oh..wanna go to the balcony and get some air?” She asked. “Sure”I tied my converse and met her outside. The wind was blowing in her hair as she turned around and asked me “Do you ever think about the free spirits?”

I always did. “Not really?” I told her a confirmed voice. Dropped her head down,”I just hate this place. That’s all” Michelle whispered, “atleast we’re actually safe here!” I didn’t notice that I raised my voice at her. She lifted her head up “Are you saying that because you believe or because that’s how your dad died?” She said in frustrated voice.

“What the hell Michelle!?” I walked back, “ I’m sorry.” Michelle panted. “There’s just a lot going on and I Know you don’t believe a word you’re saying. There’s something wrong with The wire.” Michelle had never commented on my dad before.

The last time I saw him was when I was ten. 10 days before my birthday he vanished leaving a note. Everyone thinks he tried leaving The wire and died. I don’t know where the note is, Michele’s uncle, Gale blue took it. I begged Michelle to ask what he did with it but she was faced with no answer.

“No Michelle there’s something wrong with you.” I told her walking away. “Wait!” Michelle came running after me. I turned around to look at her, she turned around and opened a drawer in her vanity to reveal a notebook. “I’ve been forgetting things but I write everything I do remember in here. Look” she pointed to the 8th page “ask about the bike seat note.” It said. “What about it?” I told her. “ I don’t remember how but the note under the bike seat means something.”

She grabbed my hand and led me outside to where I parked my bike. I held the notebook for her. “airotsa si hturtnu” she read out loud. “Write that down Eliot Rowan.” She was starting to sound like herself. I didn’t know where this was going but did what she said. Maybe I should have been more persistent and mad at her for what she said earlier, but I feel more bad for her than mad.

“Okay I wrote it down” I told her. “I already told you Eliot your clever. What does all those words backwards say?” She asked me.

““airotsa si hturtnu..”-“Astoria is untruth..” I read aloud. My face went pale with confusion.” Why would he need to tell me this” I said, “Was he trying to warn you of Astoria or the wire or maybe about the Genesis?” Michelle panted. Did my dad want me to go with him?

“Michele how did you know to do this?” I asked her. “I already told you I don’t remember! “ Michelle yelled dropping the notebook. Michelle’s mom opened the backyard door.” What are you guys doing outside so late?” She asked. Michelle knew to come up with an excuse before u messed it up.”He was helping me study and we wanted some air. He’ll leave now.” She said.

Michelle’s mom closed the door and went back upstairs. “Let’s just figure this out in the morning.” Michele said,”before I forget anything else.” She walked back inside. “Good night!” I tried to yell back at her. She closed the door before she could hear it.

I hopped back on my bike and pedaled through the dark wet road. No I couldn’t go home, I couldn’t go to Michelle’s. I was stuck figuratively and literally. I decided to pedal to rock creek park. This park used to be the biggest tourist destination before the Genesis now it’s just a place with a couple fake trees and benches. It was my Dads favorite place to go to think.

I took off the old flannel I had around my waist to make a suitable pillow. I pretended the park bench was an actual bed. I looked up to the stars. No matter what happens the stars still stay the same forever. I turned to my side and slowly drifted asleep.

(part 1 ) credit to @ahs-fan3000 idea from @mavvys-corner

[ahs-fan3000]

I'm a big fan of grungy and dystopian settings with a character that tries to rise up from the depths by lifting their community up and bettering their life's. The bigger the struggle and angst in the midst of building up hope for everyone around them the better. Kinda burning the clothes of your back to keep others warm kinda thing ya know?

Is that something you are interested to write?

I can try!

[ahs-fan3000]

Looking for request for things to write!