(Leopold’s P.O.V.)
We get off the car in half a second and run towards the building. It is time to save Bastian. We go in and run up the staircase to the sixth floor. Sabrina is waiting for us in front of the apartment where she heard him cry. As soon as the four of us are together, Jareth kicks the door open.
“Ministry of Bravery! Hands up!” Wilson yells at the top of his lungs as soon as he takes the first step inside. Sabrina and I go in behind both of them.
We are immediately greeted by a burst of gunfire. Jareth drops to the floor in time to avoid the bullets, but Wilson is not fast enough and he is shot twice in the chest. Sabrina and I take cover behind a wall and start shooting back at the Eels. Ahead of us, we hear Jareth shooting at them too. I lean my head slightly to see what is going on, Jareth is crawling inside the apartm
(A few months later) (Aubrey’s P.O.V.)I fix my eyes on the TV screen, I look at the news anchor for a brief moment trying to pay attention to what he is saying.“The secession movement has gained enough support in the Fourth District and now they have separated from Estermond. This is the third district to separate from our nation in the last two months. Unfortunately, without the Righteous Regime, there isn’t anything we can do about it as we witness the downfall of our nation…”I turn off the TV. I don’t care about the news, I am uninterested by Estermond’s destiny. Since the fall of the Righteous Regime a lot of changes have occurred in our nation and there is no one who can stop them. People are taking back what once was taken from them, the life that we once knew is over. We don’t have a unified powe
I look at myself in the mirror and smile at my reflection. I look cute today. My face is glowing with excitement, although I’m not sure whether that’s because of the test or what’s coming afterward: my date with Zack. Our very first date. It’s probably the latter. Even though I am a little bit anxious about the fertility test, I know the chances of me testing positive are slim, most people test negative, which means they are infertile.That is the whole point of the Righteous Regime doing what it does after all: People are barren and we are getting extinct. Which is why everyone in Estermond at the age of 19 has to take a fertility test to see if they are barren or not. Given the low fertility rates we have, every girl who tests positive in her fertility test has to give up all of her ambitions and dedicate her life to have as many children as possible. These fertile women are known
It’s been two weeks since I was arrested. I don’t know what is going to happen to me, all I know is that my entire body aches, and I have never been more terrified in my life.The Keeper is staring at me with disdain. She loathes me and has made it clear since day one. She takes a step forward, towards where I am and I instinctively flinch. I know how fond she is of using the whip she carries around her waist.“Speak, Eel. Tell me what you know,” she says with a menacing look.“I’m innocent, I don’t know anything…”The slap she clouts on my face silences me. Tears well up but I blink them away. I don’t want to crumble in front of her, not again.
Trembling as I am, I follow the Keeper through the door. We go to a plain office, there is a simple metal desk in front of us, on the back wall hangs a framed picture of our beloved president Lucas Laurent, next to the picture there is a banner THE MINISTRIES OF ESTERMOND says in big red letters. Then it lists the different ministries we have. Ministry of Health: To maintain healthy Good Citizens. Ministry of Females: To take care of our Bearers. Ministry of Education: to preserve the minds of our children. The Ministry of Press and Information: To spread the truth. Ministry of Bravery: To fight the Eels. Ministry of Obedience: To punish the Eels… I look away from the banner, I already know all the Ministries we have and their functions, they made us memorize that information in First School. Sitting behind the desk, there is a corpulent woman with brown hair and small round eyes looking attentively at me. I immediately feel intimidated by her. On the edge of the d
(Leopold’s POV)The secretary indicates me to go in. I take a deep breath before I open the wooden office door. The first thing I notice is the tall woman standing next to Mejor Anderson’s desk. I can tell she is a Matron because of her brown uniform. A simple blouse and skirt, boring and plain, just like the Matrons are. The woman stares at me attentively.“I’m sorry, Major Anderson, I thought you requested to see me but I see you have company. I’ll leave” I say as I turn around to exit the spacious office.“No, Commander Mortensen, I did request to see you, I have news for you,” the major says with a wicked grin on his face. He then turns his eyes to the Matron and she gives him a knowing look. What is this man up to now? “This is Matron Sarah, she is a member of the Assignment Committee. M
(Leopold POV)I storm into my office. I am so mad I could punch a wall. I think I’ll better go for a run or something to calm myself down. Major Anderson is doing this to mess with my career, I am certain and I can’t do anything about it. This is so frustrating!A soft knock on the door, I turn around and Sabrina smiles at me.Oh, no, I completely forgot about her. I let out a soft groan as the brunette walks towards me with seductive moves. The black tight uniform suits her perfectly, she is undoubtedly attractive, and yet I could never really fall for her, in spite of how hard she tries.“Is something wrong, dear Leopold? You are fuming,” she observes.
(Aubrey’s POV)I look at my feet, every now and then I venture a glance at the Matron, who hasn’t said a word since she got here. I waited for her all day yesterday and today all morning, now it’s way past noon and she just got here like fifteen minutes ago and has been silent the whole time. Just by looking at her face I can tell she dislikes me. That is no surprise. She thinks I’m an Eel, so of course, she hates me. Everyone in Estermond hates Eels, they are the enemies of our good and peaceful society, they threaten our existence as we know it; I hate them too and I hate that everyone thinks I am one of them.The Matron sighs, like she is already bored with me.“Did Keeper Winder explain to you what is expected from you?” She finally asks.
I draw my breath in as the intimidating commander stands before us. His penetrating stare burns like fire. His deep blue eyes convey all his might and self-confidence, his comb-over black hair is perfectly in it’s place, just like his uniform is impeccable. It is evident that he likes to present a clean and neat appearance, like any respectable commander would. He is so tall and impressive he makes me feel tiny and insignificant.The dog won’t stop barking behind him, eager to scare the visitors away. I can tell by his face, that the commander wishes for us to leave too. Neither the dog, nor the owner are glad to have me here.“Good evening, Commander Mortensen,” Matron Mary Ann greats him and then she places her hand on my back. “This is Aubrey, your new Bearer.”