Chapter Three

I slid into the white limousine sitting in front of my house. I struggled with how to place my legs with my short dress. How do northerners wear these?

The coachman closed the door behind me with a thud that jump starts my heart. Now I was truly stuck inside this car. I looked around me. The seats were padded leather and upholstered with diamonds. I ran my fingers along the empty spot next to me.

How many people have sat here before me? On this very same trip?

The vehicles engine started with a faint roar. A white, expensive beast here to carry me away.

I snapped my head to the tinted window that faced my home.

There my mother stood on the garden stone path, clutching a porcelain doll from my childhood. I couldn't see her face, but I could only assume her cheeks were wet with tears.

My poor mother, alone in that gigantic house. Father had never come to say goodbye but I expected as much. And now she would live the rest of her years alone. At least emotionally.

The car moved forward and onto the street, I waved frantically at mother. I knew she couldn't see through the dark tint but I waved anyways.

"Mother! I love you!" I cried out. But she only got further away. Until he made the first turn out of the neighborhood I screamed out for her, like a little girl.

I curled my knees up into my chest and wrapped my arms around myself, seeking any kind of comfort. We hummed along the thin roads of my once city, it was past noon now. The sun was starting his commute back to the west. Unlike me.

It was cold and lonely in the backseat. A thick gray divider hid me from the driver. An old man my father had the selector alter for us recently, Jerald. He never spoke but his stained, tattered clothes and crooked teeth lead me to believe he was from the east. The division of labor.

Thank goodness the selector held his meetings in the North and not there. Mother always told me ladies were not safe east. She used the words "gangs" and wouldn't elaborate further.

I peered out the window, we were approaching the exit gates. I pushed my cheek against the cool glass to get a closer view.

A dozen rozzers surrounded the car, their jumpsuits making a sea of Forrest green around us. One made direct eye contact with me, and suddenly my window was rolled down.

He had a face full of scars and grime, his hair seemed to be slicked back with thick oil making him look unwashed. He gripped his riffle to his chest with a smirk.

My knees knocked together is fright.

"La-dy Eliza-beth, do you a-uthorize this travel?" He spoke with a thick accent. The kind the eastern farmers spoke with.

My lips seamed sealed together. He was asking me to authorize? Since when was that decision mine?

"Yes" I squeaked out. My throat felt as if I swallowed the sun.

He nodded his head and then gave a thumbs up towards the man at the gate.

My window rolled up as we began driving through the massive wrought iron gate. There was even more rozzers on the other side. All holding weapons.

I searched the crowd for a particular face, but we continued forward before I could find him. He might not even be at this border. That made my blood go cold.

If he was at the eastern, he was surely in danger.

I pushed that thought out of my head, I couldn't worry about Brandon right now. I need to focus on me.

My jaw nearly fell onto the limousine floor as I looked around me.

Instead of grand marbled mansions and blooming gardens there was cozy brick homes and families strolling sidewalks.

Honey bees, sprinklers, and pet dogs on leashes.

And women wearing pants!

I blinked and rubbed my eyes just to make sure I was really seeing it. Never in a million years would a women be able to wear pants back home. That would be indecent, right?

I was so deep in awe I almost didn't notice that the gray divider in the limousine slid down.

"Ahah! There's no champagne or maids here I assure you, if that's what your looking for."  A raspy voice from the drivers seat chuckled.

The sudden noise caused me to jump as if lightning had struck me, sending the top of my head into the cars paneled ceiling.

"Owe." I muttered holding my hand to the sore spot.

He laughed again, "Or private infirmary's! Bwahaha."

I scowled knowing he could see from the rear view mirror.

"I do not wish to speak with you if your going to laugh at me." I said pouting.

We made a turn onto a busier street. The cars here were certainly not upholstered with jewels. Maybe buttons if anything at all.

"Toughin' your skin or you'll get fried out here." He said, the rasp of his voice so deep I knew he smoked tobacco.

Fried? What could that mean? He spoke very... strange.

I cleared my throat and fixed my voice into the proper tone I was taught and mustered my best fake confidence.

"Your opinion on my well being here does not matter. Because you will be driving me back to the west after my rebirth today."

He was silent for a moment, perhaps I had reminded him of our positions. But then he gave a shrug without looking back towards me.

I frowned, I was too harsh with him. I opened my mouth to apologize but realized I didn't know what to say. So I said nothing.

We rode in silence for a long while. The sun was faltering in the sky, ready to introduce his friend the moon.

We rode past many family homes, some a different color but all made of sturdy brick surrounded by white picket fences. Some dogs barked loudly at us as we past, it made me smile.

I pictured what those families in those houses we're doing. Maybe all sitting at a small dining room table in soft candle light, excitedly telling each other stories of their day while eating warm home cooked meals their mother had prepared. They'd excitedly smile to one another, happy to just be in everyone's presence.

I realized how deeply I wanted that. A family.

The homes suddenly disappeared, nothing but foliage on either side.

But then we approached a large building. It was the tallest thing I had ever seen. It seemed to stretch into the sky! It was made of steel and glass, the sight of it was intimidating.

Jerald drove up to the round about at the front door.

We were here.

I quickly smoothed out my dress and raked my fingers through my hair attempting to get the knots out from the drive.

A suited men opened my door, silent. I took a small step out, my legs shook like rattles.

I turned around to say goodbye to Jerald but to my surprise the limousine was already gone. As if it was never there.

The gray suit man adjusted his glasses before taking my arm leading me through the glass doors.

"Welcome and happy rebirth Elizabeth Roberts." He said looking forward into the lobby.

My heart froze, how did he know my name?

"Your father had us meet you at the door to take you directly to testing." He said.

That explains it.

He walked me through the full waiting room. Folding chairs were lined in rows and not a seat was open. Some people stood leaning on walls waiting for a spot to be free.

People with suits and handbags while others had taped their shoes together. All three divisions in one room. Everyone was my age of course, we all shared a birthday so therefore our rebirth days were the same. I wondered if they felt the same as I did, so many destiny's unknown.

It took everything in me to pull my gaze away as I was being half pulled into a hallway.

"Here, this second door is your testing room. When you finish your exam please slide it through the slot by the door. Then the selector will meet with you shortly."

He said then walked away quickly deeper into the hallway.

I took a small step towards the door and slowly pulled the handle, inside it was small. Tiled floors and stark white walls without a window in sight.

In the middle of the room was a small desk, like the ones from school. A thick stack of paper sat on top.

I closed the door behind me, there was a small click as it shut. I quickly pulled the handle back up only to find that I couldn't. I was locked inside!

I looked up and spotted a camera pointed directly as me, my eyes widened.

I was being watched.