Core

/kôr/

noun

the central or most important part of something

Things seemed to be looking up for everyone but myself. The nameless, blue eyed, blonde boy got what he wanted when I told him that I could hack the system. He would tell the intimidating leader this information and he would be ecstatic that keeping me here was worth it. Finally, all the Raiders would be happy because they get what they've wanted. Not that what they want is wrong, but it seemed that everyone got what they wanted but me. But isn't that the point? First I was a Brain, stripped of my rights in society, and now I'm a prisoner at a Raider camp, making me lose all my rights.

My body falls back on the mattress I'm sitting on currently. My hands come up to my face, rubbing all over as if that would relieve stress. The muscles in my back only seemed to clench to the form they had taken this morning before my shower.

When my hands uncover my face, I'm facing the ceiling. The light is so bright that my eyes have to squint when I see it at first. A groan of frustration is released from my lips as I force myself to sit up, determined not to let this keep me cooped up in my room.

I stretch before standing for the first time in about thirty minutes. A few cracks and pops come from my back and arms as I move them in circle. I rise from the mattress that is practically on the ground. Trudging along, I make my way to the door tiredly despite the time. I open the door to the dome area hoping not to see the blue eyed teen, I'm not so sure if I could hack the system at this point in time with all the stress weighing down my shoulders that amounts to more than my actual body weight.

I look around at the other doors. They are closed and not revealing anything about the people staying around me. They were simple white doors surrounded by grey concrete walls, unlike the children's hall as I had assumed it to be. My mind wandered as I walk down the all too familiar hallway I now knew to be an illusion thanks to Quiffie. All of a sudden my body comes in contact with a firm chest and I stumble back a few steps before regaining my balance.

"I'm so sorry," I say quickly, putting extra emphasis on 'so.'

"No, it's fine. Probably my fault," a slightly slurred voice said as their tanned arms grab a hold of my pale ones to help me stabilize. "You okay?"

"Yea, I'm fine," I try to laugh it off. "I'm Melissa by the way." He looks at me with his brown eyes that are oval shaped slightly. He shakes my hand that I had stuck out when introducing myself.

"Calum," he says with a mezzo toned voice. A smile spreads over my face as I smile largely back at him.

"Doesn't sound like an Asian name," I joke. His head shakes as he laughs lightly, but he seemed a bit insulted by my comment. "I didn't mean to-" I begin, picking up on his slight attitude change.

"No, it's fine. Everyone says that, but I'm really Swedish and Kiwi, not one percent Asian," he cuts me off assuredly, taking a step back now that I was stable on my feet.

"Now I feel bad!" I exclaim, slightly laughing at my incorrect assumption.

"Seriously, don't feel bad. Everyone messes that up when they meet me at first," he assures me with gentle brown eyes looking into my blue one's. His, close to black, brown hair was slightly quiffed but not nearly as much as Quiffie. His hair had unique blonde highlights near the front of his head. "Where're you headed?" he asks, catching me slightly off guard with his sudden question.

"Just exploring. Needed some room to breathe I guess."

"Pretty good reasoning," he agreed, nodding his head. "If your up for it, I'm going to meet some of my mates. You can join if you would like."

I nod my head after thinking about it for a few minutes, not finding the strength to decline his offer to let me join him and his friends to hang out.

"Sure, sounds good."

We walked toward the main center, heading to the hallway straight across from the large, hangar-like door. The walk wasn't that long. We were walking by the boring stone walls and I had begun to regret agreeing to coming until I heard a bright laugh I recognized instantly.

"Ashy! Put me down," a tiny voice squealed.

Riley.

In only a few steps, we had reached the carpeted area where two other guys and the tiny girl were.

"You started the party without me?" Calum erupted when we came in, throwing his arms up at Riley before joining the other guy on the couch near the corner.

I walked in slowly, feeling as if I was intruding on a private meeting. They were as close as what I imagined a family might be. Of course, I don't know what a family is, but they seem to care about each other and that's all a family needs to be.

"Oh," the brunette realized my awkward stance and comes over to me, putting his arm around my shoulder welcomingly. "This is Melissa. I met her near the dome and invited her to hang out with us!"

I wave somewhat awkwardly, mumbling a hi to the others who seemed to be oddly familiar. The little girl I recognized in an instant remembered me as well.

"Lissa!" she practically screams as she bounds over to me, leaving her brother behind. Her chubby arms extend to me for a hug. Bending down to her level, I let her arms wrap around my neck before picking her up and placing her on my hip. A giggle comes from her mouth as I do this and her face snuggles into my neck, hiding her from the other people in the room.

"Riles, what are you doing?" the lighter brunette asked her, letting his waves bounce on his head as he stood from his previous squatting position. Either he didn't remember me, or he was as surprised as I was that she had taken an instant liking to me.

"You remember Lissa, right? She said Princess Britt was pretty!" Her innocence was as cute as possible. It was like she didn't even know of all the bad things going on in the world. But if I was her sister, I would make sure she didn't too.

"Yes, I do remember Melissa," the wavy brunette looks over at me, his dimples popping out of his cheeks. "I'm Ashton."

I shake his extended hand with one of mine, keeping the other under Riley securely. "Nice to meet you."

"Nice to meet you!" the girl with tousled brown locks mimicked in a fake deep voice. Ashton shook his head at his little sister as I laughed at her cuteness.

The red haired boy, who looked more of a man than a boy to me, sat up from the couch he sat on and made his way over to me. "Michael," the same deep voice from earlier today said. I blinked my eyes a few times, not sure if this was real, but shook his hand as well and smiled brightly at him. He was the one that stuck up for me during the interrogation.

The guys began talking about the running of the colony a few minutes later and Riley didn't care much about what they were saying so she grabbed my hand and introduced me to her dolls.

"This is Shelby," she introduces the blonde doll with green eyes and freckles. Her pink dress looked practically spotless, unlike some of her other dolls.

"Why are some of the dolls' outfits clean and other's aren't?" I ask her, finding a cute outfit for a doll named Kelly.

"Ashy got me the dolls like Shelby last year in city raids. They were brand new and he told me to take really good care of them," she tells me, never taking her eyes off of her brunette doll that looked like an older version of herself.

My eyes filled with tears. Her strength amazed me. Most children would be complaining that they only had two dolls without ratty hair and mud stains covering their pretty outfits, but she was thankful for her dolls. Even the one's that were beyond dirty with Earthly filth.

"We have to go Melissa," Calum told me as they all stood. Riley seemed to know that they did because she began to pick up all the clothes and shoes spread out on the ground.

"Yeah, I should get going," I said, standing up from my criss cross position on the floor. "Thank you for letting me play with you."

Riley smiles widely up at me. "Will you come by my room and play with me again? Ashy doesn't understand fashion," she says with a frown on her face. I hear a scoff from behind me, probably from Ashton, but I nod at her. Her smile only becomes wider when I do this.

When all of her doll accessories are put away, we exit out of the room, Calum locking it when we are on the outside. Michael is the first out in the hallway, rushing off somewhere quickly. I'm next as I wave goodbye to the others.

As I'm about to leave the hallway I feel a tug at my jeans. When I look down it's little Riley pulling on my pant leg.

"What is it Riles?" I ask her with a soft voice, bending down to her level. She motions for me to come closer with her hand. I move my head down to hers, confused.

"Will you be my big sister?" her innocent voice whispers.

When I look at her, she has a completely straight face showing she is not joking. Tears feel like they are going to well up in my eyes. I lean back to her ear to whisper my response back to her.

"Consider me your big sis."

Edited: 16 October 2016