The Escape Route, Chapter One

        Privacy.

         Privacy and freedom.

         These are the only things I dream of anymore. For sixteen years, all I've ever wanted was the courage to leave the small confinement of Mica. Although to have courage, in this sense, would also be extremely ignorant. Anyone who's ever tried to leave has ended up dead, or worse, imprisoned. This is one of the things the Government stresses on above all else. We learn in school about the so-called "riots" our city has had to deal with in the past, and how each and every person involved was tortured to the point of no return. The Government has portrayed these courageous individuals as a small smudge on the screen of "perfection" Mica tries their best to embody, wiping out everyone who's even hinted at rebelling. It was never my plan to become a part of it all.

         As I sat in the cold, metal desk chair assigned to me, I was faced with projections of burning buildings and charred trees. History was always the worst subject to endure in the morning. I'd seen the same slides every day since my eighth birthday, and I would have to sit through them every day for two more years, until I turn eighteen. That's the system in Mica. Ten years of schooling, then you're to be placed in a "suitable" job. Suitable meaning whatever the Government needed at your time of placement. We'd go class to class, mindless zombies, for hours until free period. That was the only thing I'd ever look forward to. The only time I got to see Gage away from the crowded hallways and classrooms. He'd been my best friend ever since the first day of third year, and to be honest, that's the only day I'd ever really seen him away from the cameras. You see, in Mica, the Government finds it necessary to always watch you. Because deep down, they're scared of anyone going against them. Personally, I think they're cowards

         The gong finally sounded and I jumped out of my seat, into the sea of faces that filled the hallways. I stopped at my book shelf to drop off my History things, then bolted to the front doors, throwing myself into the warm air of the grassy area just outside the learning center. Gage was already waiting for me as he took my hand and led me away from the doors.
         
         "Ouch, Gage, quit it!" I yelled as he nearly tore my hand out of it's socket, pulling me farther towards the woods.

         "Oh don't be such a baby, Claire." He pulled me closer and closer until we were right next to the line of trees that marked the edge of Mica. As soon as he stopped I tore my arm away from him.

         "What are you doing!" I shouted, rubbing the spot on my wrist where he took hold.

         He moved about a foot to his left then looked up at the camera facing the cover of trees. He crouched down to the forest floor and did the same thing. He repeated this process for a good minute before motioning me to join him.

         "They can't see us here," He whispered, noting the microphones attached to each camera he was avoiding. I knelt down next to him and glanced up at the cameras, strategically placed so there really was only one spot they couldn't see.

         "Gage, they do head count every few minutes, they'll know we're missing," I whispered back, watching him as he kept his eyes locked on the cameras, no longer tracking our movement.

         "Don't talk to me like I'm five, Claire, I know. Look, just take this," He pulled his backpack off his shoulder and reached inside for a small leather-bound book. He tore my backpack down and shoved it inside before whipping his head back up, checking the lenses.

         "Where am I supposed to read this?" I pushed the backpack up my arm and readjusted to a more comfortable position.

         "There's a map inside, of all the spots the cameras can't get to. I found it under one of the floorboards of the gym," I opened my mouth to say something but he covered it with his hand and and continued "Don't ask questions, just read it and find me tomorrow, same spot." He sprung up, grabbing me by the arm, and kissed my cheek before he left. Incase the cameras figured out we were gone, they would now think we'd been engaged in... other activities.

         I rolled my eyes and slowly made my way to the 16th dorm. I pushed my way through the clutter of students and into the lunchroom. I picked up an apple and threw it into my bag for later, paying the woman behind the counter as I did so. She took the dollar and wished me a great day, but I highly doubt it would be. I trudged up the stairs  and scanned the numbers on the walls, looking for my own. Once I reached the familiar number, I punched in my security code and waited for the silver door to slide open.

         "Welcome, Claire," Said the robotic voice coming out of the speakers attached to the various cameras, as the door granted my access.

         "Three-Ninety-Four reporting," I responded, letting them know I was alert. The door shut behind me as I walked over to my desk, pulling out the apple and throwing my bag into the chair as I crossed the room to my bed. I pulled out the remote and flipped it to a movie I'd started yesterday.

         As I finished eating, I started thinking more and more about the book. Gage had never been so forceful with me before, so I knew it had to be important. There was no way I could pull out the book, or the map, without the cameras catching me so I knew my only option was to venture back to the spot next to the woods. But the room would probably be curious as to why I had only spent about an hour in it. I threw the apple core into the trash bin and laid back against the pillow behind me. I looked at the moving pictures in front of my, but my mind drifted miles away, plotting of how to get the book read for tomorrow. My eyelids suddenly grew far too heavy to stay pried open, and I was thrown into dreamland.
         
         The next thing I remember was waking up to the warning chime, filing the ears of everyone within the entire city, calling for an emergency meeting to be held in the Projection Area. I flew out of bed as my room started giving my orders.

         "Daytime attire, tennis shoes, two minutes. Projection in five minutes, Claire."

         I slid on my tennis shoes and grabbed my bag thinking I might have an opportunity to look at the book before I was scolded.

         "No, Claire. No belongings."

         I rolled my eyes and threw it back down, heading out the door. I was surprised to find the halls almost completely empty, however Gage was waiting outside my door. Once he saw me he started walking forward, knowing I would catch up.

         "What's going on?" I asked, stupid question.

         "No idea," He replied as I fell into step with him. We kept quiet the rest of the walk, running into maybe five people the entire time. As we finally reached the doors to the Projection Area, Gage threw them open and allowed me to enter first. I found three open seats at the very back and took the middle one, knowing Gage hated strangers. A very timid-looking twelve year old finally occupied the space as the meeting was called to order. Mayor Prince took the stage and was handed a microphone as the ushers silenced the noise of a full auditorium.

         "Welcome residents of High Mica. I assume you're all wondering why I've called you here. It was recently brought to my attention that some of you..." He trailed off, searching for the right word. "Have gone 'missing' from time to time. I don't mean to alarm anyone unknowing of this deed, but for those of you who are well aware of what I'm explaining, I would very much appreciate the end of this. We did not form this Government for rules to be defied. We've already taken three prisoners who've been using this method as a way of passing along messages. Messages in which we've intercepted," He continued as he gave a warning look to the ushers controlling the left side of the room. Two ushers walked over to the stage and pulled a chord, raising the curtain behind Mayor Prince.

         As the curtain flew up, the city was faced with three bloody, helpless prisoners cramped behind the metal bars of their cages. They kept their heads down, willing to become invisible, but it was obvious to everyone that this was not their first time disobeying the Government. As the remaining ushers did their best to silence the gasps and cries of the crowd, the attention was placed back to Mayor Prince as he cleared his throat and continued.

         "That is all. Please do your very best to comply with the rules we've set out." As he exited the stage, the ushers closed the curtain and started tapping the rows of seats which were allowed to leave. As our row was tapped, Gage and I walked very slowly to dorm 16. Once we were out of the crowd he took my hand and squeezed it. I looked up into his eyes and his apology was clearly spelled out. I shrugged my shoulders to let him know I didn't think it wasn't his fault

         "Eventually," I said, meaning that I'd get around to reading the book someday. At first he shook his head and replied,

         "Forget it, Claire." But I enclosed his hand with both of mine and gave a reassuring look, causing him to fall silent.

He walked me to room 394 and gave my hand another squeeze before heading in the other direction. I punched in my code once more and was greeted with a familiar robotic welcome before I went back to my bed, and resumed laying down. Within minutes I was asleep again, to be woken up once more when classes began the next morning.