10 Seconds Until Midnight

In the year 2085, the Treaty of the Nations was signed to end the use of Nuclear weapons. As a result, all Nuclear weaponry was disabled and disposed of across the world. This marked a turning point towards world peace.

However, 14 years later, World War 3 broke out. Opposing countries spent the decade following the Treaty developing Chemical Weapons which were launched across the globe on 12/25/2099. This date has gone down in history as 'The Date of Revelations'.

The chemicals caused a mutation in the human genome that affected the rate of growth. Generation Genesis were the first to experience the side-effects of this, lowering the average life-expectancy from 81 years to 67 years. In the centuries to follow, that number would only go down.

Now in the year 2436, the oldest person alive is 32 years old. Generation Malachi is the last generation expected to survive unless action is taken.

Due to humanity's ever-shortening life-spans, technology has significantly regressed. Individuals are given roles at birth: Farmers, Scientists, Politicians, etc. For the first 11 years of their lives, they receive a general education. Then, the following 5 years, from 12-17, they are trained in their field where they will spend the rest of their lives.

***

In a hospital room, Eugene Greenbury sits in a chair by his wife, Molly's, bedside. The couple appear to be middle-aged, meaning that they are in their early twenties. Molly is hooked up to an oxygen tank, and the constant beeping of her heart monitor fills the silent room.

Molly forces a smile as she takes off a heart-shaped locket from around her neck. She places the locket in Eugene's hand. Eugene sits forward and takes her hand in his, while holding the locket.

"Remember when you gave me this locket?" she asks. "We were young and just began dating. You were so nervous that you were taking things too fast."

Eugene returns the smile. "I remember like it was just yesterday," Eugene responds.

"It was the best day of my life. I knew that no matter where life took us, we would have each other, and that was enough." Molly continues, "I've worn it every day since then and now I want you to have it to remember me."

Tears running down his face, Eugene leans forward and kisses Molly on the forehead. "I love you," he tells her.

"I love-" Molly begins to cough violently. The heart monitor beeps faster and faster. She grabs her chest.

Eugene frantically looks around the room. "Somebody, help us!"

Molly stops coughing and takes deep breaths. Eugene grabs her head and holds her in his arms. She looks up at him and her face lights up. The heart monitor slows down. "You freed us..." she says.

The heart monitor stops beeping. All expression leaves her face and she becomes limp. Eugene doesn't understand what she meant by her final words but cries as he holds his dead wife in his arms.

Knock, knock knock.

Eugene wakes with a start. He is much older now, in his late twenties. He sits in an armchair in front of the T.V. which was left on. He lives in a one-room apartment, a typical set-up for a middle class man such as himself. Behind his armchair lies his bed on the floor. There is no bathroom as each complex has a community bathroom.

Knock, knock, knock.

"Coming," Eugene calls out. He gets out of his chair and walks to the door, T.V. still on. He looks through the peephole in his door. Standing on the other side is Officer Garris in full Mediator uniform.

The Police Force was abolished several years ago and in its place the Mediators were created. The Mediators are more akin to the Army in that they are highly trained special forces under direct order of the Consociation.

He unlocks the door and Officer Garris addresses him, "'Evening."

"Good evening, Officer Garris. To what do I owe the pleasure?" asks Eugene.

"The Commission received notice that you did not pay this week's tax. I have come to collect your dues and then I'll be on my way," answers Officer Garris.

Looking defeated, Eugene responds, "Can't I get an extension? I'm good for my money, you know this."

"I'm sorry, but-" Officer Garris is cut off.

"-What about last year? You were able to give me an extension then. I paid my dues, plus interest!" exclaims Eugene.

"Times have changed and policies have changed. We can't do that anymore," explains Officer Garris.

Eugene brushes his hair back with his hand, "There's nothing you can do? For an old friend?"

Officer Garris shrugs, "I'm gonna need some collateral. Something of equal or greater value. I've gotta know you're going to pay."

Eugene smiles, "Sure, yeah."

"So what do you got?" asks Officer Garris.

Eugene holds up a finger, signaling Officer Garris to wait a moment. He rushes over to his bed and digs through a pile of clothes, uncovering a box. He brings the box over to Officer Garris, who examines it uncertainly.

"What is it?" asks Officer Garris.

Eugene opens the box to reveal the heart-shaped locket. This catches Officer Garris' attention.

"Go ahead," urges Eugene.

Officer Garris takes the locket out of the box and holds it up close to look over it. He then places the locket in his breast pocket, "I'll take good care of it." He extends his hand to Eugene and the two shake. "I'm doing this because I respect you, don't disappoint me."

"I won't," Eugene eagerly replies.

Officer Garris leaves and Eugene closes the door behind him. He walks back over to the T.V. A commercial plays for a Cryotank company:

There is a man standing in front of several Cryotanks in a factory. He is addressing the viewer: "Guaranteed 5 extra years of life! Only $999 a month or $11,000 a year. Call us today to have one shipped to your home within a week!"

The following day, Eugene heads out for work. He lives in a complex about 100 miles from the outer ring of the Great City.

When it became clear that the world population was rapidly declining, back in the early 2300s, all of the nations came together to create the Great City. It spans over 60,000 square miles and is a site to behold. The buildings grow taller and the residents grow richer the closer to the center you reach.

The Borough that Eugene resides in neighbors 158,000 acres of farmland which is the second largest of the three major farms in the Great City. Eugene works as a porter on the farm.

Eugene takes the Metro to the farm. The Metro is the only means of transportation, other than walking, in the city due to the worldwide shortage of oil. On the way he passes by Boroughs of other countries that share his class status: China, Russia, and Egypt.

Once he reaches the farm, he punches his card to start his shift. He steps in line next to his friend, Charlie, and grabs an oversized basket. There are hundreds of other porters all in line, walking out to the field to pick corn and other vegetables.

As they walk out to the field, the two men talk. "Everyday, hundreds of us come out here and pick crops all day in the blistering Sun while the men in charge sit in their air conditioned towers watching over us," Charlie gestures to a watchtower in the middle of the field.

"What about it?" asks Eugene.

"It doesn't seem right. The ones doing the real work have to scrape by while they get to live comfortably with all the accommodations you can ask for," answers Charlie.

"Well, what do you expect to happen? There's been plenty of revolts in the past, it only ends in death and lack of resources. As long as we do as we're told, we can live our lives until we grow old and die. I'd choose that over the alternative any day," says Eugene.

Charlie laughs and turns around to face Eugene. Walking backwards, he continues talking, "They really did get to you, didn't they? See? This is exactly what they want, for us to conform. As long as we keep our heads down, they can keep living in their high-rises, drinking champagne and eating lobster."

"I'm not getting caught up in your conspiracy," states Eugene.

Clearly offended, Charlie responds, "It's not a conspiracy! We're forced to pay this weekly tax to keep 'the last person immune to this mutation' alive for research." Charlie pauses for a moment, gathering his thoughts, "Have you ever seen him? I sure haven't! That's because he doesn't exist. Where do you think the money is actually going? I'll give you a hint; look at where they live, what they eat... It goes to them!"

Eugene shakes his head, "You're something else."

"Fine, don't believe me." Charlie turns back around. "I know I'm right, though. Just imagine if everyone of us collectively decided to put down our baskets and just say 'No'. They couldn't stop us."

That evening, when Charlie gets off work, he takes the Metro back to his Borough. Instead of heading home, he decides to go for a walk. Hands in his jacket pockets, he walks down several streets looking into all of the different storefronts until something catches his eye...

On display in the window of a pawn shop is his heart-shaped locket. Confused, he tries the door, locked. A sign on the door reads, Closed. He takes a step back and looks around to see if anyone is watching. He then takes off his jacket and wraps it around his right hand.

With all of his strength, he punches the glass window, shattering it. Eugene looks around again, still no one. He reaches inside and grabs his locket, then rushes away.

Then, a Mediator turns onto the street and sees Eugen running. He then notices the shattered window and makes the connection. "Hey, you! Stop!" the Mediator calls out. He chases after Eugene.

Eugene turns down a busy street, dozens of people walking. Due to his old body, he quickly runs out of gas. The Mediator catches up with him and grabs him by the shirt. He turns Eugene around so they can face each other.

It's Officer Garris. The crowd of people around them all stop to watch this play out. Some of them begin recording on their phones.

"You lied to me! You sold it!" Eugene holds the locket up.

"Listen, I-" Officer Garris struggles to explain himself.

Eugene addresses the crowd of people around them, "-It's all a lie! The taxes, the research, the system, all of it!"

Officer Garris grabs Eugene again. Eugene pushes him away. "Let go of me!"

Angry at Eugene, Officer Garris makes a split-second decision and takes out his baton and beats Eugene with it. Eugene falls to the ground and Officer Garris continues to violently beat him. With a bloody hand, Eugene reaches up to Officer Garris and leaves a handprint on his chest. He then goes limp.

Officer Garris takes a step back to look at what he's done, then he looks up to the crowd around him, they're all watching. He's frozen in shock.

The next day, as the porters all walk in their line out to the field, carrying their baskets, they stop and set their baskets down. They all turn to the watchtower.

The Mediator at the top takes out a megaphone, "Get back to work!"

No one moves.

Suddenly, someone in line yells out, "Let go of me!".

Then, everyone in line rips off their jackets to reveal that they all are wearing t-shirts with a handprint on the chest. "Let go of me!" they begin to chant in unison.

As they chant, Charlie looks around to his brothers and sisters, smiling.

Eugene united them.