The Encroacher's Trilogy: Dystopia (COMPLETED)

Chapter 6

At the age of 6, a rumour was spread around the village that World War 3 was to begin. The villagers prepared their homes while the Lab took matters into their own hands and created a 'safe haven' for all children aged 6 years and upward. Cities were split into towns, and towns into villages to minimise attention.

I was taken away before any other child of my age. They never specifically said why but my mother told me it was because I had a 'smart brain'. The truth was (I 5 years later found out) that the Lab thought I would learn secret information and had to be away from dangers, however I didn't understand how my parents were a danger.

3 years later, it began with riots in every country. Some were asking for human rights, equality and a democracy while others wanted communism and a dictatorship. My country wanted a democracy and so we joined up with other countries that had the same view. We all allied together against the countries who wanted a dictatorship.

Unfortunately we lost, and so Communism took place. That is why there was rubble everywhere because all of the houses were bombed and rebuilt to look identical to its neighbour. Luckily all of the houses had bomb shelters in their gardens so most took refuge there.

"Most?" I interrupted, "What about the others?" My father cleared his throat,

"It is best not to speak about them at this point in time." He looked warily around my room as if there were hidden cameras.

"And the man?" I ventured, "The man in the rubble?" My parents let out a heavy sigh.

"He was a traitor. He traded our secrets to the enemies and told them how we would attack them. The enemy believed he was a traitor to them, and so they threw him out onto the streets once the war ended."

"And... and... how are you two involved? He seemed to know you rather well...."

"Ah. Yes. Some things are left unspoken about Flora. Surely you can understand that." Mother said poignantly.

"Yes, sorry for asking."

"No need for apologies, my dear."

For several minutes we just sat there thinking about the damage the war had done. It was father who brought everyone back to their senses for he looked up at my window and leapt with fright.

"The time! The time my love! We need to feed you and send you to bed!" I was perplexed at this sudden paranoia.

"The windows Flora. They are set to mirror the sky outside so that you always get as much light as possible. We are behind schedule and... no... no... not yet." Father turned away and scarpered down the stairs.

"Dinner will be in 5 minutes." Mother said in a panic, and she too fled to the kitchen. I on the other hand simply sat on my bed in an utter state of confusion. Once again there were secrets in the house and once again I had a feeling they wouldn't tell me for a long time. I'd have to find out myself.

***

The kitchen was another cosy room. It was like an elongated rectangle with the two Bamboo Bowl chairs in front of me, and a white washed Kitchen Island opposite the chairs. To my immediate left against the wall was another bookshelf with books about the war. Next to the bookshelf was a small and round wooden kitchen table that seemed to be able to expand. Behind this table was an open door to a pantry.

Already a beautiful aroma had filled the room. It smelled of a mixture of vegetables that even overpowered the lavender. I watched my mother rummaging around in cupboards, presumably looking for kitchen utensils, when instead she stood up with batteries in her hand. She turned towards a towering fridge in the pantry and opened doors that lead to a microwave, an oven and another cupboard. She chose the oven and pressed her finger onto suggestions.
Immediately a hologram appeared and projected an image of food into the centre of the kitchen.

"Dinners." She spoke clearly to the hologram. It spun in a blur until suggestions for dinners appeared.

"Casserole." She spoke again. I had to look twice to make sure I wasn't hallucinating. She put her hand into the hologram and pulled out a magnificent pork casserole in a translucent pot. She put it in the microwave for 5 minutes. Throughout the process of heating the casserole, invigorating smells were emanating from the pot. I could almost taste it in my mouth as I watched it.

***

Dinner exceeded the expectations I had planned.  There were dumplings and vegetables of all different flavours, along with the most succulent pork I had ever tasted. It seemed that you only had to think of a flavour you were craving and that vegetable or dumpling miraculously turned into that flavour! I wasn't sure if I enjoyed the dinner so much because I had spent the last 9 years of my life on bread and a soup which should not have been soup, and therefore I apologise for boring you with my description of my dinner but I felt like I was actually cared for.

We finished the dinner with a rich and indulgent chocolate Swiss roll that came with creams of all different flavours of one's imagination. Vanilla, Chocolate, Cherry, Coconut, Lemon, Orange, and Marshmallows were only the basic flavours you could order!

I went to bed with a superbly full stomach and an aftertaste of the extraordinary meal. For the first time in 8 years, as soon as my head hit the down filled pillow, I was oblivious to the world.