Her eyes. That’s all I can really remember, her eyes. They’re everywhere, the badges our protectors wear, even the pin in my mother’s hair.
As they laid her down to sleep finally. I, Elizabeth Jackson, refuse to succumb. That was me before my whole life burned to the ground, literally. I watched my elder brother burn to the stake for speaking up, leaving me as the crown of our family, Family as in the 6 younger siblings I protect. As a different district than the capitol, in the lumber district. I was looking over some workers creating a new factory as my brother, Gabriel, approached me with a nod. I nod back and back up for him to take my post. Once I left the area my pace quickened, sprinting to our home on the tree line. My youngest sister laid in one of the many beds writhing in pain and a cold sweat down her face. I set the four-minute timer and rushed to her side.
“Blu?” I asked softly, not speaking too loud, so she doesn’t get startled.
“Mom…mom isn’t..”
“No Blu, Mom’s gone, for good, so is James.” I replied quickly, its better to rip the Band-aid off. Blu looked up at me with her sharp thistle eyes. I helped her wipe the cold sweat off of her forehead, calmly whispering reassuring comments.
“I want to go home…” Blu whined weakly, tossing and turning. I couldn’t help her, she’s just 17.And soon I might have to work harder just to keep everyone safe.
The timer went off and I turned it off before kissing her forehead and running out to Andrew at the woodchopping site. I nod to him hen nods back. Keeping a vigilant eye on all isn’t really taxing on the mind for me. If I continue this progress for another month I can be promoted to captain and help the general. My thoughts are diminished when I hear arguing from the workers, clutching my taser rifle, sliding down the hill with expertise, arriving at the conflict.
“Break it up! Or I’ll call backup!” I had to shout, had to look authoritative, I knew General Greenwald set this conflict up, both workers looked fed, clean clothes and skin.
I turned over my shoulder and called in the drones, the robotic soldiers. “Split them up.” I ordered. Looking back further I could see the generals and captains sitting at a table overlooking the construction, observing my work. I hope I led well: I hope my sternness was good enough for them to take me into consideration. Over comms I heard General McDowell’s cigarette deteriorated voice.
“Jackson.”
“Sir?” I respond quickly with my radio.
“Come up here, serve us some tea.”
It’s always my job to serve them something, one day i wish to serve them their heads. I arrive at the gazebo. They were drinking tea, the teapot was hot but i clenched my jaw through it, pouring the hot tea in their teacups as they spoke.
Captain ‘Lens’ was first. “She’s quiet.”
General Greenwald smiled. “She’s aggressive when put into active combat.”
General McDowell leaned in with a question, “Which weapons?”
Greenwald simply stated, “All.”
The group of Officials murmured with praise as I remained a few paces away, waiting for further instructions. Greenwald whispered, “she listens well to commands like a drone, watch.”
He turned to me, “Go patrol Howard.” I nodded before leaving. In a fitted rage I stormed down the stairs. My anger blinded me so much that I’ve quite literally ran into some worker lugging lumber. My eyes dart back to whomever it was.
“Watch where you lug your work.” My tone left no room for backtalk. I clutched my taser rifle, wishing they’d say something back.
“
Yeah, I mean Yes Ma’am, I’ll watch where I’m going, have a good day Ma’am” The worker said with a hurried tone before turning to walk away. I glared down at my rifle, then up back at the gazebo. The comms went off with an alarm of a fight, I rushed to the old factory. My eyes came in contact with dust from recently collapsed debris. I find my way to the fight. As I pushed through the crowd the group separated, some running off. I didn’t care, I was here to see who was fighting. Two teens, one I could recognize as my fourth brother, Jupiter, a nervous teen that was hot headed, mostly out of peer pressure, Like he had any peers in the first place. I yanked my brother back and raised my rifle to the other teen with a stern look. I
gestured to the teen to kneel. The teen was defiant, so I spoke up while taking a half step closer and my rifle powering up slowly. “Do as I say or you might just be caught in something you don’t want.”
The same worker again, rushing to the day to save what seems to be her brother. “I’m so sorry ma’am, I don’t know what got into him, I’ll talk to him”
I scoffed and Jupiter tugged on me.” I had kept my rifle raised but it powered down
-Howard Jackson
