I'll Hold it in my Heart

The sun began to dip down low beneath the hills, bathing the land in rich pinks and oranges. Stars began to twinkle, bidding each other goodnight in a way that meant good morning. Anaya Andilet made her way down her street, reveling in the glorious feeling of the warm dusk. The houses on her lane all looked the same, short, squat and calmingly blue. The only difference was the type of flowers planted in boxes by the steps. Her’s were gardenias, the white blossoms drinking in the last few moments of sunlight. A little ways down, at the first house on the left, the patrollers were beginning to inspect the houses for the last time that day. Inspections were to ensure every family was following their schedule, and keeping up on their responsibilities. Seven a.m to make sure all were risen; noon to assure the house was clean and orderly; and seven p.m to be sure each member of the household was back in time for curfew. Anaya had been late once, it had ended in a cut in her breakfast rations.

She opened the door, light from the kitchen flooding out and kissing her dark skin. Her mother was placing their premade dinner on the table, steam floating up and filling the air with delicious noodly aroma.

“Hello, dear,” her mother said, smiling warmly as she peeled the foil from a container of vegetables. “How was your day?” Her mother’s hair fell in thick black ringlets around her shoulders, and her deep brown eyes held the light of youth, despite her age. Her voice was deep and quiet, not quite matching her bright and gregarious nature.

“It was nice, mama, how was yours?” Anaya asked, slipping her shoes off and heading through the living room and into the kitchen. The carpet was soft between her toes, tickling the soles of her feet. As she entered the kitchen, her brother, Anthony, came zooming from his room, nearly colliding with Anaya. Their mother laughed as the two children squawked their displeasure. Their father exited his study, stretching and groaning loudly.

“Good evening, family!” he exclaimed, red hair flopping as he bent backward. His sparkling emerald eyes held as much laughter as his voice did. He stepped up to his wife, twirling her around and kissing her through her giggles. The two children looked at each other, making faces of disgust.

“Lucas!” she yelled, smacking him on the shoulder and grinning widely.

“Dennise,” he said in a deep voice, waggling his brows and leaning in to kiss her again. As he barely brushed his lips against hers, the door opened, and they both straightened, faces heating up.

The Inspectors stood in the doorway, their eyes roaming over the near perfect family. One stood in front of two others, his perfectly neutral face roving about and then landing on Lucas.

“Good evening, Andilets,” the front one said, voice deep and lacking emotion. Each one of them had the same suit, same haircut, same blank expression. The only difference was their rank, the two in the back were rank fives, and the one who stood proud and tall was a rank two. “Are you prepared for your evening Inspection?” he asked, stepping into the house. His large boots mushed down the carpet as he inspected the rooms, making sure there were no stowaways.

“Of course,” Dennise said, composing herself, “Come on kids.” Anaya and Anthony slid into their seats, awaiting the end of inspection. The blank faces of the Inspectors always made Anaya uneasy, so she tried to keep her head down while they tromped about her home, large boots clicking loudly. Five minutes passed, and they departed, leaving the Andilet home without so much as a nod goodbye. As soon as the door clipped shut, Lucas sighed, big and loud.

“Finally, I’m famished!” he said, plopping haphazardly into his seat. “Thank you for preparing this, Doll.” Dennise smiled at her husband as they began to eat, discussing all the important happenings of their days.

“How was work today, dear?” Denise asked.

“I could hardly keep my eyes on it,” he said through a mouthful of asparagus. “I could only think of you.”

She laughed, swinging her head back and forth, curls waving across her back, “Luke, that kind of talk is going to get you in a great deal of trouble.”

After dinner the family went to the living room, sitting on various chairs and couches. They clicked on a movie, Anthony playing a game on his pad instead of paying attention. Dennise sat with Lucas, hand in hand, her dark fingers interlaced with his long pale ones. They were whispering and giggling to each other. Anaya watched the screen with rapt attention as the heroes faced their daunting foes. She loved watching movies, even if nobody else paid any sort of attention. When the movie finished, the four of them headed into their respective rooms, Anthony unwillingly giving up his gamepad. Anaya sat on her bed, popping her medication, and then lying down. She tucked herself into the soft blanket, relishing in the soft fuzzies on the ends. A calming tune began to play from the clock on her bedside table, sending her off into a deep, unavoidable sleep.

The next day she rose at six, and got herself ready for school. She showered, leaning her head back into the warmth of the water. Then she exited her room, greeting her mother and father and Anthony. She also nodded at the Inspectors who tramped through the kitchen. She ate her breakfast quickly, and skipped her way to the bus stop. The ride to school was clunky and loud, and Anaya’s backpack dug into her lower back.

When she arrived she went straight to her class, and plopped into her seat, turning to see her desk partner. She was a quiet girl Anaya didn’t know very well, named Lia. She had shoulder length blonde hair and blue eyes. Her face was thin, and rather pretty to look at.

The final bell rang as students filed in, going to their newly assigned seats. The teacher droned on about the day’s assignment, and began a movie.

“200 years ago the world was decimated in the Great War. Since then we have built the beautiful colonies we know today. The world beyond those colonies are smoking husks-” Anaya’s eyes were dropping from boredom, when Lia leaned in to whisper something.

“They’re wrong you know,” she said, and Anaya turned to see what she meant, cocking a brow,

“It’s beautiful out there, with trees and hills and-”

“Girls!” the teacher snapped, startling the girls into their proper sitting positions, “No speaking.” Anaya’s cheeks warmed at the chastisement, and she smiled tightly at Lia.

“Tell me later,” she whispered.

The day dragged on painfully slowly, Anaya’s teacher’s voice horridly monotone; more so than usual. She was teeming with excitement, wanting to know what it was Lia meant. When the school day was over, Anaya rushed out of the room, and stopped in the hallway. When Lia exited, Anaya grabbed her wrist, pulling her close.

“Come on! You can come to my house and tell me about what you were saying earlier.” Lia nodded, and the two rushed through the busy streets, weaving between people and shrubs. By the time they arrived they were both huffing, faces pink with exertion.

The girls rushed to Anaya’s room, offering a quick “Hullo” to Dennise, who laughed at the girls.

They entered the room, dropping their backpacks which plonked on the ground. Anaya bounced onto the bed, patting the spot beside her. Lia sat, her long pale legs stretching out and resting on the carpet. She pulled a chain, which Anaya hadn’t noticed, from her shirt, revealing a glimmering, golden, heart shaped locket.

“I got this from my Nana,” she smiled, showing it to Anaya. It had curlicues around the edges, which spiraled into each other delicately like ballerinas. Lia clicked it open carefully, fingers elegantly working the latch. Inside was a very small photo of a sunset over a wide green field.

“It’s… a sunset?” Anaya asked, unimpressed.

“But it’s a real sunset!” Lia gasped, voice full of wonder, “The colors are brighter, the air, well you can’t tell from the photo, but it’s fresh Anaya!”

Lia told stories of how she had gone just to the border of the colony, and looked far out beyond the walls. She told Anaya of the sunsets, and how much more exquisite they were when they weren’t artificial. Hours passed, and Anaya only listened in wonder.

As Anaya started to speak, she heard the front door open.

“No! Lia, you have to-” Lia shushed her, pressing her hand over Anaya’s mouth. Neither had realized how long it had been. Their breath sat trapped in their lungs, and tears stung Lia’s eyes.

“This will be my last offense,” Lia whispered, turning panicked blue eyes toward her new friend.

“What?! You should have said something!” Anaya said, trying to keep her voice low, but it didn’t matter. The door swung open, and the Inspectors stood in the doorway, glaring at the two girls.

“Alia. You need to come with me.” The man in front intoned, glaring down at the girls.

“I’m sorry, I’m so sorry,” she started.

“No,” was all he said. It was the most emotion he had ever shown.

“Alright, father,” she said, hanging her head and standing, silently slipping the locket into Anaya’s hand. Her brown eyes were wide, mouth agape. This man was Lia’s father, and that meant her punishment would be horrifying.

“Wait!” Anaya shouted, “Please, show her leniency!”

“For your outburst, you will go with us, where she is going,” the two men in back looked appalled.

“But, sir, this is her first offense-”

“Quiet! It’s a heinous one.” They still looked nervous, and confused, but shrugged, heading into the room and apprehending Anaya. Dennise looked worried as they carted Anaya from the house, she tried to inquire after them, but was hushed. They dragged the girls- who fought them and tried to get away, but to no avail- to the train station, and boarded a train. Lia’s dad whispered something to the conductor, who paled.

“I really shouldn’t-”

“You will.” Was all the man said, before taking a seat as Lia and Anaya were shoved into spots of their own. They looked at each other, eyes wide and worried, but neither said a word. The train ride was smooth and silent. No passengers looked out of the windows to see the landscape change from urban to rural, the colors becoming richer and brighter.

As the train halted, Lia’s father shoved the two girls from the train, holding one of each of their wrists with seemingly inhuman strength. A strong wind brushed their hair across their backs. The man pushed them out toward a field, open and bright. Lia had certainly been correct. It was beautiful out there. Lush hills with waving grass and multicolored flowers, all growing together, the sun setting and washing the world in it’s glorious palate. But when Anaya looked down she was horrified. A gargantuan pit, at least a mile wide, sat like a monster with his mouth open, ready to devour whoever stepped within his maw. People sat in a circle around the edges of the pit, their wrists chained upon the stone wall, and their feet fettered together. Their emaciated bodies were in many different stages of decomposition. The heavy wind even made it seem as though some of them could still be holding onto life, but their gray, papery skin betrayed their fates. A few at the edges still lived, it was clear they had only been there a couple days. They still held the light of hope deep in their sorrowful eyes.

He led them down a stone staircase, which led to the center of the pit. It smelled of decay and mildew. Flies as large as Anaya’s knuckle buzzed around the worst bodies. The two girls were shoved down next to a small boy, with gray eyes and tear stains down his flat cheeks. Extra shackles laid beside the boy, and the girls were hooked into them. They both began to scream, Lia pleading with her father to let them go, to give her another chance. But her chances had been spent. When they were hooked in, looking horrified and angry, the Inspector turned on his heel and strode back to the train, not even turning to say goodbye to his daughter for the last time.

~

An angry knock sounded on the door of the Andilet home. Dennise started, standing and heading quickly to the door. Her nerves got the best of her and she began to shake. It was five p.m, and even if it had been inspection time, Inspectors didn’t knock. She opened the door to see, to her surprise, the man who had carted Lia and Anaya away.

“Where is my daughter?” she asked. Lucas approached then, standing angrily behind his wife.

“I regret to inform you,” he said, face blank, “that your daughter has been found dead.” Dennise gave a cry of anguish, turning and burying her head in Lucas’s chest, who too began to sob. They knew what he meant. Anthony poked his head around the corner of his doorway, tears trickling from the corners of his eyes. He may not have gotten along with his sister, but he had loved her.

“Good day, you will be exempt from Inspection tonight, but tomorrow your lives will resume,” he said, turning and heading down the street. He gently brushed a gardenia on his way out.