Year E3029

Ocea

His deep brown eyes watched me as memories of a young kid flashed around my head. My childhood best friend stood before me, but I couldn't do anything. I wanted to yell his name, but I could get caught walking around the city. I could get caught for having my memories, being a Savior, being me.

"Here," I said, handing over the drink to him. He took it, bobbing it in his hands, about to drop it to the ground again.

After he had the energy drink secured, he smiled at me. "Do I know you?"

In shock, I held my breath. "No," I said, rushing by.

Thomas set down all the drinks in his hands, following me. "You sure?" he asked, studying my face. "You look like someone I know."

I closed my eyes, pulling at my hair. "Nope," I said, pointing behind me. "Now, I have to go."

I rushed away from him. As much as I didn't want to because he remembered me, I knew I had a task for the Saviors, and they were waiting on my signal right now.

Finding an empty aisle, I pulled off my backpack. My sleeve fell to check my watch, showing I was already late. If I don't set my decoy soon, delaying Dylan, Wyatt will be stuck trying to steal the map to the MOS with an audience.

I opened the backpack to see the bomb Dylan had made within it. The bomb was going to destroy this aisle but not leave anyone injured. I started the timer on it, waiting for the green light to turn. Once it flashed at me and turned yellow, I stood up, spinning around to be face-to-face with Thomas.

He was pointing at the backpack on the ground. "W-What are you doing?" His eyes widened when I side-smiled at him. "You're one of them!" he yelled. "You're a S-S-Sa—"

"Savior," I said, finishing his sentence, causing his mouth to gape open.

I watched his reaction for a second. He didn't have the same facial expression as everyone else. Thomas seemed amazed.

Then I heard the timer for the bomb stop ticking. I tensed and jumped toward Thomas, tackling him to the ground. I took my leather jacket around the collar, pulling it up to cover both of our heads as I whispered to him.

"Three, two, one." When I said the last number, the bomb exploded, crashing into the ceiling. Parts of the produce fell on us as the smoke set off the alarms.

I gazed into his mesmerizing eyes while he looked at me like I would murder his puppy. The fire sprinklers on the ceiling clicked, pouring down the pink city water.

With a huff, I looked over my jacket as Thomas lay under me, still frozen. "Done." I stood up and ran toward the back door.

I tiptoed over the bread scattered on the floor, trying not to smash it. The convenience store would "donate" the food to the trash. Luckily for the Saviors, there will be free food for us. We didn't care if the bread was soggy from the sprinklers. When you are hungry enough, you will eat anything.

As I opened the door, smoke seeped beyond the store into the alley. My eyes looked around, trying to figure out where to run. The sirens in the air told me I needed to ditch my bike. I tried to dart, but felt a hand on my forearm.

I grabbed the hand, twisting it enough to flip the person to their back. I stepped on their chest, looking down at Thomas on the ground. He held onto my ankle, trying to get my foot off him. The safe decision right now would be to ditch Thomas and never come back, but he was different. Not because he was my best friend, but because chipped individuals don't remember their past.

I crouched down closer to him. "Don't be a hero, President," I said, hoping he would remember the nickname I gave him when we were twelve.

We learned about President Thomas Jefferson from our history books about Earth. Thomas looked nothing like the older man with the powdered wig, but I got a good laugh.

I stood straight up, winking at him, and took off running.

"Wait!" he yelled from behind me.

I glanced over my shoulder to see him stumbling to a stand, getting ready to chase after me. I laughed at the ground, then saw a tall wood fence ahead of me. Let's see what Thomas has in him. I sped up, jumping at the barrier, skipping up the sides. I grabbed the top, pulling myself over with one smooth motion.

Landing on the other side, I listened to his footsteps approaching. I watched the old wood fence, hearing a loud thud hit it from the other side. Dust from the gravel seeped toward me from under the wood panels. I waited as I heard him grunt in pain, then saw his fingertips curl around the top, pulling himself over.

He unexpectedly landed on the other side with a wide smile. He brushed off his black shirt, letting out deep breaths.

I pointed toward the fence. "Did you just headbutt the other side?"

Thomas stepped closer to me as I took two steps back. He shook his head, letting the dust fall from his hair. "I don't know how or when, but I know I know you," he said, reaching his hand out toward me.

I rolled my eyes as the sounds of sirens got louder around us. "Ahhh!" I yelled toward the sky, then took off running from him.

"Wait!" he yelled. "No, no, no," Thomas repeated before running after me.

Right now was the wrong timing. The Men Of Suits would catch me. I couldn't stay behind having a friend's reunion with Thomas. I couldn't risk my life right now, but that didn't mean I would let this go. Thomas remembered me. He doesn't know why or how, and neither do I.

An orange org building was at the end of the alley, making it a dead-end for Thomas but not for me. I glanced over my shoulder to see if he kept up with me. I deepened my strides and jumped on a metal railing. Along the rail, I tiptoed and reached for a windowsill, pulling myself up. I spun around, having the window to my back, looking down at Thomas as he scratched his head.

I brought my hand to my forehead, saluting him. "See you later," I said, jumping from the windowsill onto the rooftop of another building.

"Does that mean this isn't a goodbye?" he yelled from the ground.

I turned toward him, crouching, looking down at him. "Maybe." I smiled back at him.

"Can I at least get your name?" His eyes bounced around as we both heard sirens and footsteps approaching us.

"That depends. Can you keep a secret?" I asked, while letting my purple hair out of the ponytail.

Thomas smiled at the sky and then looked at me, giving me my answer. I stood up, having the pink sun light up my face. I bit the inside of my cheek, then glanced back at him.

"Ocea," I whispered, but he heard me, causing his eyes to brighten.

After tilting my head with a smile, I ran away. I sprinted across the rooftop, jumping to the next building.

The sirens echoed around me, coming from different directions. The MOS was in a panic as I watched them from the shadows. My back was against a dead rock wall on the roof of a tall building. I crouched down, listening to the surrounding footsteps.

"The east section is clear," a lady talking into her radio said.

I peeked over the edge. The top of the lady's blue head bounced back and forth, scoping out the alleyway. She then ran to the main road, hopping into her car.

The buildings in the City of Cerise were so close to one another on the east side that I could step from roof to roof, using zero energy. I ran, skipping along the tops of the buildings. The berg lights shined, giving off a glow while the night's cold air floated along the roads.

I slowed to a stop, out of breath. The sirens were out of hearing range, telling me I was safe. The outside of the city was darker as the buildings were closer to one another.

I stopped, looking down the alley, knowing I needed to meet up with the guys soon.

The pink glow from the sun was gone as the two moons rose. My mom would always tell me stories about the City of Cerise.

"Because the sun would make the buildings look like a bright pink shade as it went down," her voice mimicked mine and filled my mind. But the Saviors call it the City of Rise because they believe we will rise again and have free will.

✧✧✧

"We are the Saviors," said a youthful voice.

A hand patted my back while I opened my eyes to a boy my age. His green eyes bounced around at the surrounding scene. With panic, I scooted away from him, running up to Thomas.

"Thomas," I whispered to him as he scratched the top of his head.

"He's gone, girlie," a female with yellow hair announced to me while she spat out the side of her mouth.

She smirked, mocking me with a laugh. Her boots stomped closer to me while she tried to reach for me. I scattered away from her while the rest of the group circled me.

"We won't hurt you," a masked man said.

"Oh, she won't believe us if we come at her like barbarians," the green safforian kid said.

An explosion set off in the distance as the men ducked their heads. Quickly, I ran toward the beetle, jumping on it. My eyes glanced at Thomas as he mindlessly walked away like a robot programmed to be somewhere. He strolled away, ignoring all the chaos.

"Thomas!" I yelled, grabbing the antennas.

The beetle didn't move, bouncing in place, scared of the loud noises. Tears streamed from my eyes uncontrollably, soaking the front of my shirt.

"Move!" I yelled, guiding the beetle away from the explosions.

The insect ran down the street as I hugged the back. I laid my head on its metal-like skin, watching people run around scared. Every time a loud noise echoed in the distance, I trembled, gripping the beetle tighter.

"Ocea!" a voice yelled at me.

"Ocea, honey," my mom's voice said.

I glanced up, seeing I was in my front yard again. The insect brought me home with zero guidance. My mom's worried face fell to relief as she ran up to me, pulling me away from the bug.

"We need to go inside," she said, looking over my shoulder.

A scream caused me to shake while a woman pulled at my arm. "Help me, please," she cried. "These men came into my house and took my husband and babies away."

My mom brushed the lady off me. "I'm sorry, we—" She didn't know what to tell the lady. Everyone was in panic mode, and nobody knew what to do.

"They don't remember," the lady cried. "She didn't know I was her mommy," her voice trailed to a whisper.

My dad ran up behind the lady. His hair was sticking straight up, and his shirt ripped in areas. Blood slowly dripped from a mark on his forehead. His eyes looked at me with concern.

"Ocea, where's Thomas?" he asked.

My mom wrapped her arm around the lady, comforting her away from me.

"I-I—" Tears bawled in my eyes as I thought of what to say. "He's—"

My dad palmed his face with widened eyes, stepping back from me. He circled, glancing at the house across the street. Thomas's house. His expression fell with the realization of what may have happened to Thomas.

I let out a loud cry. "Dad," I croaked to him. "I don't know what happened."

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