The smell of sulfur was in the air. Machinery creaked and clanged in the distance and the air was hot. 28 opened his eyes. Before him was a house, built of yellow, sandy stone. Ash fell from the sky and blanketed the ground around him. He stood in a street lined with similarly colored buildings of various designs. And above him through the shroud of smog and ash he saw towering structures that reached for the heavens, though the details were blurred in the haze. 'What is this?' Laughter brought his attention back to the house, the metal door was a rickety thing and was stained with rust. 28 quietly made his way inside.
The main floor was a cluttered mess, papers covered the floor in a sort of makeshift carpeting. There was a small kitchen area, a communal tub in the corner and a creaking set of stairs led up to an upper floor. A woman knelt at the tub with her back to him, her long brown hair was pulled back in a messy bun and was streaked with grey. The woman was dressed in a long dress that may have once been white, now stained grey with age. Around her shoulders was a faded pink shawl that she clutched at with one hand. Her other hand was busy washing similarly ratty clothes in the tub.
28 slowly made his way towards her, wary. She did not react. As he knelt beside her she Tossed down a shirt with a particularly stubborn stain in frustration. Despite her graying hair, judging by her face and eyes, she could not have been more than thirty. A slight knock came from the door. The woman quickly glanced towards the front of the house, her eyes passing over 28 entirely. Hurriedly she made her way to the window set above their sink, peeking out through the blinds before retreating backwards for a moment. Her breathing steadied and she opened the door as swiftly and quietly as she could, omitting another woman.
"Liz! What are you doing on the street?"
The second woman, Liz, was dressed in a red blouse and a long brown skirt. A dark cloak was cast over her shoulders and she pulled back the hood to reveal her golden blonde hair.
"I had to come Marlene, I need to speak to you."
"My God, is it Ri-"
"Don't speak that bastard's name," she snapped, "I could care less what happens to him, but I can't seem to be rid of him as it is."
Marlene frowned, "Then, what is it?"
"He sent me a letter via one of his little Confederates. People are going missing, Marlene, being taken by shock troopers in the night. Normal people like you and me, not Confederates or rebels."
"But, why? Why would they?"
Liz shook her head, "I don't know, I'm just as in the dark as you."
"Did the government condone this, surely the council wouldn't allow this."
"The council hasn't said a word. It's likely that without actual nobility heading it they don't have the necessary influence to stop this even if they wanted to. Andrea is only twelve after all."
"My God, what are we going to do?" Marlene sank to her knees, tears rolling down her face.
"Get a hold of yourself, you and Robert need to get yourselves to the upper levels. You've been saving for a while now, surely you can buy yourway up a district. And with Robert's skills he should be able to find work. They're only plundering the lower districts."
"Liz, you don't understand. We can't. Not anymore anyway," She turned her face up towards her friend, tears streaming like rivers, "I'm pregnant, twins."
Liz stared back in shock.
"But I thought that you were...my God"
"I know, It's a miracle really. But we can't leave, not now."
Liz sank down beside Marlene and there they sat for several moments.
"Liz, what will you do. You and Stella? Did you manage enough to escape?"
"N-no," She muttered shakily, "I don't know how but, we're moving up to the Noble District."
"What? The Noble District? How is that possible?"
"I don't know, I was given two days' notice. That's why I came when I could. I had to tell you before it was too late."
"Is he coming with you?"
"No, he's not. He can rot down here for all I care. But you two need to get out as soon as you can. I don't know how but you have to."
Footsteps thudded on the creaking stairs as a man descended.
"Liz, I thought it was you I heard. Thank you for coming, but we'll make do. We always have."
"You were listening, Robert?"
"That I was, I'm happy for you. Really I am. You and Stella take care of yourselves."
28 turned to look at the newcomer and his heart leapt into his throat. He knew this man. Behind the orange beard and round spectacles he saw a tall, lanky boy.
"Eighty-two?" He whispered in shock.
"What?" The man responded, shaking his head in a daze.
Robert stumbled forward, catching himself on the wall. Liz and Marlene were unmoving, frozen in time. Robert swayed back and forth.
"No, no no no!" He groaned, "That's not right, that's not…"
"Eighty-two? Is that you? What is this?"
"SHUT UP!" He roared as he tore at his hair, "That's not, that's not…"
82 sank to the floor, sobbing.
"That's not right…"
28 yanked his hand back from 82's forehead. He was back in their dorm, the images of the ashy street and yellow house fading away. 'What the hell was that?' He gazed down at 82 and was astonished to see the tall boy crying. Tears leaving salty streaks down his cheek as he lay in bed.
28 retreated to his own cot and forced himself to try to sleep. But sleep never found him that night.