'new democracy' - - ( supposed to be )short story
we had to write a short story for my composition class, and this is what i came up with. i would enjoy feed back if you take the time to read it.
thanks :)
“We’re gonna get out of this. I promise”
Those were the last words he said to me. I haven’t seen Carter in months, it feels like years. I don’t even know if he’s still alive.
Ever since the war ended, everything took a turn for the worst. Families have been split, innocent people have been killed, and the only person you can trust is yourself. The history books have been burned, and we are forced to live like this is how it’s always been. It’s now what our children are being taught. And that’s what I am forced to do everyday, being an Apple (which is what teachers are now referred to as), I have to lie to these innocent children as if this is how society is supposed to be; if they only knew.
The worst thing about this society is that everyone is constantly fearful for their lives, and they should be. The General has claimed Fascism to be the ‘New Democracy’, and has spies everywhere, to make sure everyone’s doing what they are supposed to; and not conversing with the other castes about rebellion. The scariest thing is that they could be anyone. Apples, Layboures, Generelites; anyone.
I pray to the General that Carter is not in the Preservatory everyday. It’s funny how the General refers to it as the ‘Preservatory’, it’s such a relieving name, yet it’s where people useless to society go to die by starvation, and the rebellious ones as well; if they’re not tortured and hanged. A year ago you would think that this whole situation would not be possible.
On my way walking back to the colony with Linea, a fellow Apple, wearing our red dresses, I saw a group of Generelites recruiting for the militia. I was quite embarrassed to be seen in the presence of these men, since I was so much lower than them, and wearing this ridiculous dress. Most of them were very good looking, but I would be sent straight to the Preservatory if someone even thought I was thinking about them. “You are not to converse with anyone that is not in your Caste”, I remembered the General saying. “It’s what’s best for society.” Besides, the Generelites were only allowed to be seen with Daisy women. The women who were chosen to be like the common housewife back in the day. They had years of training, and are only allowed say certain phrases while conversing, which is only with their husband, (though that is not astray to anyone’s common conversation these days). Daisy and Generelite marriages are basically chosen out of a hat, not literally, but you know what I mean. Two people are paired and that’s that.
As I continued walking I tried not to look over at the Generelities but I could feel someone staring at me. As I nonchalantly turned my head I saw him. As much as I wanted to stop and scream his name I couldn’t, and I just wanted to cry. But it was an overwhelmingly good feeling to know that he was still alive. I bit my lip and held back my tears and continued walking. There was nothing either of us could do. “What’s a matter?” Linea asked.
“Oh nothing, I forgot to go over something with my students today”
“Ah, well there’s always tomorrow” she said with a slight disappointment with my answer.
“Yes, of course. Thank the General.”
“Thank the General” she repeated back.
I thought I played it off well, I didn’t know if I could trust her, and I wasn’t bargaining on it.
When we got back to the Apple colony, I was greeted by the others and looked forward to writing in my journal. Though they were prohibited since journals were “like a book of secrets being hidden from the General”, I still managed to keep it under my mattress and write in the lavatory late at night. There was really nowhere else to go, since the Apples shared one long room with multiple beds; men on one side, women on the other. “No privacy, no problems”, another one of the General’s favorite lines.
Though promiscuity was looked down upon in society as a whole, it was not uncommon, which sometimes made it hard to get any rest. I’ve gotten sick of getting offers at all hours of the night, but most Apple men have learned to stop trying with me. Many think I’m odd, but none have any idea about Carter and how I feel about him. No one else is worth it to me.
An announcement came on over the loud speaker, it was The General. “All units report to the meeting center in one hour.” I never looked forward to gatherings in the meeting center. They only enforced my feeling of inferiority, and the majority of meetings were for hangings and new rules; neither was good.
As the Apples made their way to their designated seats of the meeting house, I avidly searched for Carter in the Generalite section. He was nowhere to be found. I quickly gave up, to not seem too obvious to the others who were already questionable of me. The General appeared on the scaffold next to a man in chains. It was a hanging.
“This man has been caught preaching about a higher being that is not your General! He is inflicting his lies on to innocent people and must be punished.” The crowd went wild, many were chanting ‘Hang him! Hang him!’
Unlike most people I’ve seen on the scaffold awaiting their death, this man stood with dignity. He did not beg for mercy, he did not cry. He stood up to the General with no intimidation and no sense of regret for his actions. It was nothing anyone had ever seen, I myself was shocked. This made the General furious.
“Are you not thankful for the life I have provided for you? Do you have any respect for your General?” the General screamed in his face. The man looked over to the General and sternly said “No.” The General clenched his hands, then grabbed his pistol and shot him. Not once, but repeatedly. After realizing that the room went silent, he took a deep breath and said, “That man was a traitor and did not deserve to live this wonderful life I have appointed to all of you”, then walked away. He was not a man of many words, and he didn’t need to be. He had enough men enforcing every decision he mad and every word he said.
As we were filing out of the meeting house I was quite shaken up. I felt someone grab my arm and pull me around to the back of the meeting house. It was Carter. “Rae, I’ve missed you so much.” He said, hugging me. I couldn’t help myself from crying and was at a complete loss of words. I never thought this day would come. “I’m sorry it took so long to find you.” I shook my head.
“We can’t be seen together Car, we both know this.”
“I know I know, but I can’t be without you. I must go. We are going to get out of here.”
I nodded. But I knew it was never going to happen. He has always been optimistic in all situations, no matter how impossible they may seem. I used to be that way as well, but throughout these past few months it’s hard for me not to be a cynic.
I went back to the Apple colony thinking of when it could be possible to see Carter again. As everyone was falling asleep I made my way to the lavatory for my nightly journal writing. Within ten minutes I heard a slight tap on the window. I froze, I didn’t know whether to open it or not. What if it was a spy? Despite my better judgment, my curious tendencies got the best of me and I cautiously opened the window. It was pitch black outside, and hard to see anything.
“Rae” I heard a whisper.
“Carter? What are you doing here? Do you want to get killed?”
“Stop worrying so much. Just get out here!”
“Why? Where are we going?” Without another word he yanked me out the window and we were off. After managing to find our way in the dark we were at the Generelite Condos, I had never realized how nice they were, compared to the Apple colonies. We snuck inside, via window. I was sure to have torn my dress. His room was like a sanctuary, with luxuries I didn’t know still existed; television, radio, books. It was fascinating. After settling from the rush of sneaking out of the colony, Carter and I got to catching up. He poured me a glass of wine, I didn’t ask where he got it because I didn’t even want to know; most likely the Black Market. He sat me down and looked quite worried.
“There’s talk of rebellion, and I want in.” he said. “I just need to know that you’re with me on this. I need you to get others in on it too.”
“I can’t. It’s too risky. No one in there trusts me already.”
“Rae, do you want to live like this forever? Do you want to be apart from me?”
“Of course not. How can you even question that?”
“I’m sorry. But I would rather die than live like this. I was set up with a Daisy the other day and we’re getting married. I cant do it Rae. I don’t want to. But I don’t have a choice. We need to do something, and quick.”
I was shocked. Married? I wont allow it.
“You’re right.” I said. “I’ll do whatever you need me to.”
After hours of planning it started to get light outside and I knew I needed to get back to the colony. Carter kissed me goodbye and I sprinted as fast as I could, I clearly hadn’t ran in years. When I arrived the window was shut and I was worried. I tried as quietly as possible to get in the door without waking anyone. As soon as I was inside I was relieved until I was yanked aside.
“What are you doing! Where were you!?” Linea yelled in a whisper.
“I… I..”
“ Don’t you make excuses. Tell me the truth.” I couldn’t hide it anymore. I had to tell her, I had to tell someone. After explaining, she sat with a puzzled look on her face. I couldn’t tell what she was thinking.
“Please say something. Lin you’re the only person I have.” I could sense a feeling of sympathy. She enjoys being confided in.
“I think it’s adorable. Two lovers, separated by force and then reconciled.” She sighed. It was good to know she wasn’t actually a robot like I had thought. “I’m compelled to help you two. I’ll talk to some people and see if I get any feedback.”
“Thank you so much Lin. You have no idea how much it means to me.” We left it at that and went into our beds to make it look like we had been asleep throughout the night like everyone else. I was starting to become hopeful of my situation. But I couldn’t help but be fearful of what could happen if something went wrong. The image of the man being shot on the scaffold still hadn’t left my mind.
I got out of bed along with everyone else and couldn’t find my journal. I had written of mine and Carter’s plans, and everything about how I felt about the General and this society and my entire life! I was frantic and seemed crazier than usual to the rest of the Apples. I didn’t have time to do anything about it. I rushed to the schoolhouse and even the children could sense something wrong. In the middle of class there was an announcement for everyone to go to the meeting house immediately. I couldn’t stop shaking. My body froze and I couldn’t speak. But the children were excited to see what was happening and pulled me along.
When we arrived to the meeting house I sat in a cold sweat and waited for the General to arrive on the stage. He walked on with a book in his hand, which I immediately recognized; my journal. “This journal was found earlier this morning near the Apple colonies.” Everyone gasped. I tried as hard as I could to sit still and stay calm. “There are traitors among us. We know what is said about journals.”
“A journal is a book of secrets being hidden from the General” everyone said in sync.
“That’s right. Now will anyone admit to being the keeper of this book?” Everyone looked around the room. I sat still. “Well then, may I have all the apple women come up here?” All the women were nervous, though none of them had done anything. Slowly we all made our way up to the scaffold. I saw Carter as I made my way up, the look on his face could have killed me right there.
The General had us all lined up with my journal in one hand and a gun in the other. He questioned each and every woman, all were shaken up. All of a sudden the gun went off and down was one of the Apple women. I couldn’t believe it. The guilt rose upon me yet I couldn’t speak up. He continued questioning the women at gunpoint who were stuttering uncomprehensible responses, and shooting whichever ones he felt was lying. He came to Linea next. She was crying uncontrollably and the General was screaming at her “Was it you? Answer me!” He was about to pull the trigger.
“Stop! Please stop!” I shouted. “It’s mine. I wrote it!” the crowd gasped.
“Traitor!” he shouted. I dropped to my knees in tears waiting to die. I felt someone pick me up. I looked over. It was Carter.
“I was the rebellious one” he said. “They were my ideas. Please don’t hurt her.”
“Conversing with an Apple?” The General said furiously. “I am disgusted.” Carter stood shamelessly and held my hand. “I want them both dead out of my sight!” he yelled.
The nooses were tied, we were sentenced to hang. “Be strong for me” Carter whispered in my ear. I once again remembered the fearless man on the scaffold who was happy to die for what he believed in. I composed myself and kissed Carter for the last time. We both would have rather died than live and be apart. We both stepped up, and looked at each other. Carter mouthed ‘I love you’ to me and I smiled and said it back. We waited and never took our eyes of each other. We knew, no matter what, our love would live on forever.