Young Writers Society

Year 2100

“Jules, please take care of your dad. Eat and sleep well, too. ” Hearing Esther’s words made Julian’s heart ache. He knew he should be happy that she was one of the lucky few who were picked, yet his mind refused to believe that the day finally came when she would stop visiting him at The Border.

He saw the news on the big television broadcast earlier that day, that very gamble that everyone held their breaths for. Nearly everyone he knew huddled in front of the screen just to watch it unfold with baited breaths. Nicholas Abbott, the creator of the spacecraft project ‘REINVENTION’ himself, had picked out of a hat the names of people who lucked out. The electronic was chipping away at the edges and cracking on the bottom left. The frayed wires barely held on, sparks occasionally being set off from the only device they had access to, the only source of information they could rely on; a huge screen planted right on The Border. Nearly every country had one, and even if they did not, news travelled fast.

When Esther’s name was called, he had not yet known whether to be ecstatic that she was going to live a much better life, or envious of all the struggle she did not have to go through to be so easily picked like that.

Yet, he swung his legs as he sat at The Border’s edge, his mind refocusing from the height he would have to climb down later, setting his sights on the horizon where the Sun kissed the dry, fissured land. He forced a smile. For her.

“Thanks. I’ll tell him.” He whispered, swallowing down the bile that had formed at the back of his throat, and his guilt of cheating his best friend of an honest pillar of support. She beamed at him. He looked away. “I’m happy for you, really.” His voice faltered ever so slightly, envy eating away at him.

They sat in silence; him picking at his chipped nails, and her staring at the barren ground before her, foreign and uninviting.

After some moment of hesitation, she finally stood up, a quiet “Goodbye” echoed in the space she sat in just minutes before, her shoes clicking as she descended the ladder. He, in turn, said nothing, his sweat stained shirt clinging onto him as he took one foot after another, making his way down his own side of The Border. He caught a glimpse of what he had always known as ‘Paradise’, where trees actually grew, and animals frolicked and thrived. A place where people lived in actual buildings and not run-down ‘shacks’, a place with hovering cars and working traffic lights, a place where families had three meals a day.

He gritted his teeth and disappeared behind The Border. And for the first time, he wished so badly to be in her shoes.

“Dad, Esther’s going. Even her family wanted her to-..” Julian stopped in his tracks the moment he stepped foot into his home.

Piles of papers and garbage littered strewn on the floor. The stool with the already broken leg was completely unusable now, the table flipped and the furniture a sordid mess. Calling that place a junkyard would have been a massive understatement. A nasty smell of blood traced back to the pool of it right in front of him. He gaped at the scene in front of him, and his mind wandered to the only other person he lived with.

Dad.

Immediately, Julian scrambled to find his only living family member, his heart clenching tightly in his chest, his feet aching and his fingers trembling. He swallowed his saliva, his lips chapped and his mouth dry, remembering how long it had been since he last had a sip of water. Alas, no one in the streets knew, or even cared to know, where his father had been.

After all, his dad had been the only one, out of millions who applied, who got the job to work at Reinvention. People still resented them for it, even if Julian had always been proud of his dad.

Slumping onto the floor, he mentally prepared himself for the worst.

Was it the loan sharks? Or maybe someone who threatened him was serious enough to-

He stopped his train of thoughts. He wanted to at least have hope. That was something nobody could take away from him.

He ruffled through the pieces of paper on the floor and everywhere at once, yearning and searching for a clue about his father’s safety. Sure, he had always been busy working at Reinvention, but it certainly could not have been a thief, not when everyone knew how poor everyone else was. And the blood. A dead giveaway.

I have only been gone for an hour to say goodbye to Esther. What did you get into, dad?

A feeling of uneasiness tugged at Julian’s heart, yanking it down and sinking it into the bottom of his stomach. Just then, as he picked up his shoe box, used to keep all his precious things, a small, folded note fell out of it. He crouched down, noticing a card sticking out of it. Hope blossomed in the pit of his stomach as he unraveled the note, watching the sleek keycard fall out and onto the dusty, creaking floor, sending a roach sprinting for shelter. Almost instantly, Julian recognized his dad’s scribbles. Only this time, they looked much more frantic than ever.

Jules. He read, gripping tightly onto the crumpled note. Please listen to me. I do not have much time, but I will explain everything to the best of my ability. Reinvention has a plan to transport all the people picked to the moon for a period in order to give them a ‘better life’, this much you already know. However, I came across a forbidden file, and I am being hunted. The people that were chosen were handpicked based on categories; Attractiveness, talent, intelligence and wealth. They planned to have these few people drink a serum that allows them to age much slower than others, allowing them to reproduce faster. Doing so will also allow them to chip them. I’m not too sure how it works, but it allows the people in charge to track your location. They are taken to the moon, and promised the safety of their families, when in fact, no one on Earth is spared. Scientists have planted landmines around every single piece of land, which will go off nearly the moment the spacecraft departs. They plan to eradicate the world of people who were not ‘perfect’ enough to board their spacecraft. I want you to live, Julian. Take the key card, the profile picture resembles you, but please try to hide your face as much as possible. I do not want them to find out. Do not drink the serum. The coordinates you must go to are on the card. I can hear them outside now. Trust no one. I love you so muc

Julian’s hand shook with every word, his lips quivered as tears pelted the piece of paper, knowing that his father had not even the time to finish writing a proper letter to him. He could barely even make out some of the words from dried tear stains that smeared onto the ink. Shoving the note into his pocket, he grabbed the key card.

Esther.

He could not salvage what had been done, but the least he could do was to make sure that people knew what they were getting into.

He was going to persuade the captain himself.

As he entered the Arena, a place where people usually gathered to watch the news, he watched in surprise as people from both sides of The Border were finally seen in one place. They were easy to differentiate. People like him wore close to rags and sleeveless tops, while people from the other side carried bags with names, brandishing their phones.

As he slipped into the small crowd that formed in front of the spacecraft, covering his eyes with a hood, he felt like he was deceiving countless people at once. Countless people who could have been given the opportunity to run away and leave everything behind, something he was shamelessly doing. He nearly turned back, but not before spotting Esther in the crowd, laughing and chatting with her family through her phone. She had always droned on and on endlessly about how lovely her family was, that Julian almost felt jealous of her at times. But at that moment, he wanted to run up and hug her, to let her know that he was coming with her, and to tell her all the horrible things Reinvention did. Julian glanced back at a boy who bumped into him and apologized meekly. The stranger had average looks, just like him, but there were three other categories to be in, anyways.

When Julian turned back, Esther had long disappeared into the crowd.

He waited in line, anxiously fidgeting with his key card, and his bag strap, filled with his favorite trinkets, smushed in front of an old polaroid photo of his dad and mom when they were his age; 16. He could feel his palms sweat, even as he furiously wiped them onto his hole-y jacket. Julian ended up stuffing them into his pocket.

At last, dreadfully, it was his turn. A guard held out his hand, and shakily, Julian placed the card on it, keeping his eyes glued to the ground. He held his breath as the guard checked the identity on the card, his heart pounding like he was tied in a race against time.

“Cassius Kentworth.” Julian could swear that he heard a scoff coming from the guard in front of him. “Yeah, that’s me.” He swallowed his fear, making eye contact with an ant that was crawling on the ground.

“Can you look up?”

“...This photo is quite old.”

“It’s okay, dude. Don’t be insecure. It’s not like I’ll kick you off the spacecraft if you’re ugly.” Julian could hear a light chuckle from in front of him and snickering from the back.

But you will. Not because I’m ugly, but because I’m committing identity fraud.

Julian squeezed his eyes shut and slowly tilted his head up, finally meeting the guard face to face. It felt like he had aged centuries while the guard meticulously scrutinized his face. He suddenly felt much more conscious of his disheveled appearance.

“You look better in photo.” The guard grunted after a few seconds, shoving the key card back into his palm and pushing him to move along. Julian could almost feel a boulder rolling off his shoulders as he exhaled a shaky breath.

Finally, he could bring himself to look up at the towering spacecraft, while concierges heaved people’s heavy bags and wheeled their luggage up to their transport. Their personal pods, as they called it.

Julian, or Cassius, eyed the spacecraft which was sending a few thousand people into the dark void. Would he be able to stop it from happening? There was a greater chance of him growing a third leg.

However, he refused to just sit back and do nothing while families are being torn apart, and the world flips into chaos.

The spacecraft was a sleek, jet-black color, with vibrant blue lights lining it and brightly illuminating the night sky. Would this have been what stars looked like? A huge windowpane sat at the very front, likely hiding the control panel, and the place where the spaceship's pilot would definitely be. Julian directed his attention to the many cages of animals being wheeled in, the noises either scaring or annoying the people nearby. The spaceship resembled a dome with huge engines fixated on its sides, and Julian almost forgot what his mission was.

Almost.

As Julian maneuvered and squeezed his way around the crowds of people, he spotted the next challenge he had to overcome.

The serum was a bright, shining blue liquid, glittering and dazzling like a liquidified jewel. People did not even question before downing the liquid in a clear cup for everyone to see. And right after, an unknown substance was injected to the body. Sure, they called it ‘antibiotics’ because going into space might be a huge change for people, but Julian knew that it wasn’t just antibiotics they would be forcing into his body. If he went there, he’d be chipped, and being chipped would be bad for an unwelcome guest like him.

Julian's gaze darted around the perimeter. In front of him were guards that instructed people to drink the serum, behind him were guards who ushered people into the spaceship. And all around him, were guards who would not hesitate to shoot him on sight if he continued being suspicious.

However, a light bulb seemed to flicker in his head when he spotted the cargo being wheeled into another door. That heavy metal door with no security would be his ticket.

Immediately, he glanced around, before not-so-stealthily making his way to the door. The guards were busy trying to make a good impression on the ‘chosen few', so much that they had their backs turned to the metal door. Perhaps they believed that no one would be stupid enough to try and sneak in. As a cargo was wheeled in by a distracted worker in blue and white overalls, heaving the cargo as he climbed the many steps, he followed right behind, jolting as the door slammed shut behind him.

He slunk into the darker parts of the lowest level of the ship, using his hood to cover the glint of light in his eyes.

As one worker after another joined each other for a break, smoking and wheezing, Julian slipped behind shiny pipes and cages of chickens and cows. The smell of animals seemed to overwhelm him all at once. He had never even seen a sheep up close.

Finding circular framed windows lining the ship, he cautiously peeped out, taking in the scene of many families waving at their loved ones, knowing that despite there not being windows in the upper levels other than the control room, they would always have their support.

The very thought made Julian's heart rip.

How could the scientists so heartlessly exterminate everyone on Earth? What was their plan?

Julian's fist clenched as he swallowed down the remaining doubt he had about the mission he entrusted himself with.

“Jules!”

Whipping his head around, an out-of-breath Esther emerged from the shadows of the pipes, panicked and surprised.

“Esther.”

“I saw you enter the ship through the cargo door. What are you thinking? Why are you here? You’re supposed to be out there on Earth! What would you do if you were found out? How’d you even get in here?” Esther bombarded him with questions, frenzied.

“Esther I-”

“The guards are merciless, Jules. Why would you put yourself in danger like that-”

“Esther!”

Esther's lip quivered as she stared up at him.

“What, what is it?” She said quietly.

“This whole thing is a façade! Reinvention isn’t sending people to the moon so that the people on Earth can have a motivation to ‘make the world better for their family in space' like they said it was. They’re doing this because they plan to exterminate the rest of the population! Esther, you must help me. I’m not supposed to be here, but you are! You must persuade them not to do this! There are millions of families out there, even if there’s only 4 billion people on Earth right now. We can still save it. Please!”

Esther's heart lurched, her face pale.

“What are you saying, Julian? Who told you that?”

Julian's heart hammered in his chest. It had been so long since she said his real name. What, two, three years?

“Esther, you must trust me. I’m telling the truth!”

“I know.”

Julian's heart seemed to stop for just a moment. It was like the world suddenly revolved around them, and time seemed to move slower and slower.

“I know, Julian. We all do. We signed a contract to leave everything behind.” She whispered, her eyes travelled to the window right in her sight, overlooking the many families.

“That included the people who took care of you and fed you, clothed you when you were young, and raised you? Those who befriended you and taught you?” Julian’s voice shook as the ground tremored, the deafening whirring of engines filling the empty silence.

“Yes, Julian. I would know.”

“I was the one who proposed project Reinvention. “

“I’m an Abbott. Esther Abbott. My uncle is the one who designed the ship.”

The floor rattled and vibrated under their feet, the wind picking up dust and dirt as the people on Earth grew smaller and smaller.

Until palm sized explosions lit up Julian's view, rendering him speechless as small specks on Earth ran for cover, all while guards sacrificed their very lives to ensure the project’s success. How could they be so cruel? Julian could almost hear the gunshots and screams as he turned his head, unwilling to be a witness to the horrible massacre. A bystander who could do nothing.

“Julian, I did what I could. The Earth has to have time to regain what was lost while humanity was in charge. Look! We have the best of the best right on this ship. We can restart and do what we couldn’t the first time!” Esther placed her hand on Julian’s shoulder, and squeezed it reassuringly, something she had always done when she attempted to comfort him.

It always worked. But not anymore.

Julian swatted her hand away, grimacing, disgusted at her vile thoughts. Esther merely stared at him; her expression unreadable.

“Don’t pretend like you never meant to leave me, albeit everyone else, behind.” He scoffed, taking a tentative step back.

“Julian, you know it’s not like that-” Esther reached for him, the sweet, kind and endearing friend she always cherished. She had not meant to betray him so, but things must always be sacrificed for the greater good.

By then, they were long out of Earth's atmosphere, high above the thin patches of clouds. Jubilant cries echoed from above, people celebrating left and right.

Julian could not take it anymore. Hearing the excited laughter, seeing his home fall into chaos both in and out of The Border, witnessing the irreversible damage his best friend had caused to the whole of humanity.

“Do you even know what you’ve done?” His voice was low, his fists were trembling. His dad, his friends, that lovely old lady who would stop by his home every day to give him fruit.

They were all dead.

And it was because of her.

Julian yanked Esther's hair, forcing her to look out the window at the pandemonium right below them. She screamed as he bashed her head into the window, over and over again. She begged him to come to his senses and stop, clawing at his hands uselessly, gasping and spluttering as her head burned with a splitting pain.

That was probably what everyone else on Earth had sounded like, before they were brutally massacred.

Hell, he had no one anymore. If Esther had been a normal person with no affiliations to Reinvention, could it have turned out differently?

Blood dripped out of her skull as she shook and heaved, tears trailing down her cheeks. Right as alarmed shouts echoed from behind the pair, Julian snapped out of his thoughts, and released the grip on her brown curls. Esther slumped onto the ground, while Julian tore his eyes away from the splatters of blood on the floor, finally looking out of the window to let everything that happened dawn on him.

A miniscule crack crept up on the window as Julian was dragged away.