Utopia

by L. J. Higgins

“She's out.” She was lying to him. Lying to the Utopian Guard. Why was she lying? If they found out the truth, she'd be imprisoned or worse… exiled to Earth. The Elite made it very clear that Earth hadn't been inhabitable since we left. Natural disasters still ravaged the Earth, making it impossible to survive.

  A loud smash sounded and Mum screamed out in pain, making my stomach churn. I dashed towards the bathroom door, but stopped as her voice sounded.

  “I'm okay,” she said.

  “Who are you talking to, Jennifer? Is she here?”

  “I told you she was out. I'm talking to you. You would've cared once.”

  Turning around, I ran to the vanity and rummaged through the drawers to find a tool of some sort to smash open the bathroom window. The sound of a timber door smacking into a wall sounded from behind the bathroom door; they must've been going from room to room searching for me. I didn't have long. Why was I running? I'd done nothing wrong!

  Part of me wanted to walk through the bathroom door and show them I wasn't dangerous. Go with them and make them leave Mum alone. But remembering the pain in Mum's eyes, the fear in my heart pushed me to rummage through the draws again. Nail clippers, tweezers, a hairbrush, I couldn't find anything. I leant against the basin, defeated, as the sound of another door being kicked in made me jump. Looking up, the gleam from the metal towel rack caught my attention. Wrapping my sweaty hands around it I yanked hard, pulling it a little out of the wall. I wrenched on it and wriggled with all of my strength until I fell onto my butt with the bar in my hands. Rising to my feet, I lifted the bar like a baseball bat and swung at the glass.

  The first hit made a loud smack sound and jarred my wrists, sending pain shooting down my forearms and through my elbows. The second swing smashed the glass, and it sprayed across the basin and the tiles. I used the pole to remove as much of the glass as I could as the sound of heavy footsteps approached the bathroom door. Climbing onto the vanity, I squeezed myself through the small opening of the smashed window, a sharp pain slicing through my side as I fell to the synthetic grass outside. I grabbed at my wound in pain and used my legs to push myself as close to the concrete wall of my dwelling as I could manage. I held my breath as the door was kicked open with a loud bang.

  “Aurora, where are you, sweetie?” Officer Banks asked. His team's footsteps echoed as they entered the bathroom behind him.

  His kind words were a stark contrast against his menacing tone.

  What did he want from me? How could I convince them I wasn't a threat?

  Officer Banks had been my father's good friend. He was the man who'd consoled Mum and helped her through my dad's death. Now I was like an Earth mouse hiding from an alley cat. My mum was caught up in the crossfire.

  “She got out the window. Dammit. Why are you doing this, Jennifer? Where did she go?” His footsteps trailed away and I let out my breath with a sigh.

  I slid along the wall in a crouched position, still clutching at my wound. It'd begun to throb and sting from all of the movement. I continued around the corner of the house until I was squatting beneath the living room window. Creeping up towards the ledge, I peered in. Mum was sitting on one of our wooden chairs in the dining room with two armed men beside her. Her special vase was smashed, littering the floor with glass, and the flowers were strewn under her feet. Officer Banks crouched down on one knee in front of her, looking straight into her tear streaked face.

  “Jennifer, I don't want to have to hurt you. But you need to help me help you. Where is she?”

  “Where's who?” She glared into his eyes.

  In one swift move, he slapped my mother across the face. My mouth fell open and I covered it with my hand to make sure I didn't squeal. Mum didn't drop her glare.

  Officer Banks rubbed his hand over his face. “Look what you did, Jennifer. I didn't want to hurt you, but you're not playing the game. Where is she? Where is your daughter? Aurora.”

  “I don't know. We haven't been close since Benjamin died,” she growled.

  He flinched, as though the words stung him, but in an instant he regained his dominant composure.

  “Why do you want her? She's done nothing wrong,” Mum argued.

  “You know very well why we want her. What were you and Ben thinking?” His tone broke into one of frustration and betrayal.

  “I don't know what you're talking about,” Mum replied, shrugging.

  “Argh,” Officer Banks rose to his feet and spun around, rubbing at his temples. “Get rid of her. We'll have to find the girl ourselves.”

  Chapter Two

  “What? No!” cried out Mum, as both guards trained their guns on her.

  “I'm sorry Jennifer, I am. There was a time I saw Benjamin as a good friend. A brother. But it went too far. He took it too far. You both knew the penalty.” He squeezed her shoulder before walking out of the room and both men took aim.

  “Please, you don't have to do this. We're good people. Aurora's only just turned sixteen, she doesn't understand why this is happening,” Mum pleaded with them.

  “Officer Banks' orders, Ma'am,” was the only reply the taller of the two men could muster before he fired.

  The loud boom of his gun sent pain through my ears, but my eyes never left Mum as she slumped forward onto her lap. She was dead. My mother was dead.

  A loud squealing rang through the air. And as the two guards turned to face me, I became aware the sound was coming from deep in my throat. I ducked in time to miss being hit by one of their bullets that smashed the window above me, spraying me with a cascade of broken glass. I took off running through the backyard, trying to hold my bleeding side.

  Reaching a fence, I stretched up to grab the top of its palings and pulled myself up and over it. My feet scurried over its surface until they found the top. I leapt to the ground, pain shooting through my feet up into my legs. I ignored it, pressing on through the yard until I came out the front and onto the laneway.

  I stopped for a moment before hearing the sound of heavy boots landing on the grass in the yard behind me, and I pushed myself across the path and into the yard in front of me. Scurrying around the back of the dwelling, I sat with my back against the cold concrete wall and peered around the corner out into the pathway lit only by tall dim lights.

  Officer Banks and his two men came to a stop as they reached the tall street light which illuminated the path beneath it. They each looked up and down the lane, then at each other. Officer Banks rubbed at his temples. The close proximity and sheer number of houses made it easy to hide. It would take them hours to search every yard, and I hoped they would assume I'd kept running.

  “Milton, you head left. Archer, you head right. I'll call in for a search team.”

  The two men nodded and they each took off in separate directions down the concrete path. He rubbed his square chin in deep thought before a menacing smile spread across his face. “I think I'll go pay Mr. Saxby's son Fletcher a visit.”

  Fletcher had no idea they were coming. I had to warn him. After what Officer Banks had ordered to be done to my mother, I didn't want to imagine what he'd do to get information from Fletcher, even if he was an Elite's son.

  Ignoring the stinging of my side, I sprinted through four backyards and over three fences until I came to the front of the Saxby's monstrous mansion, its gilded ornate fence surrounding their entire yard. Its enormous size was supposed to show the people of Utopia they were important, to be admired, but I'd always seen it as unnecessary and indulgent. I'd visited many times, but was sure I hadn't seen it in its entirety. Three people lived there, not including their maids and servants: Fletcher and his parents. Why they needed more than two rooms and couldn't do their own cooking and cleaning was beyond me.

  I stayed hidden behind the house across the street from the Saxby's, giving myself time to assess the situation. Having important visitors meant the Saxby's would have extra security, and the Utopian Guard were posted at the entry.

  The flash of a light caught my attention towar
ds the side of the house and streams of lights from flashlights searched around the surrounding forest. Had Officer Banks already organised a search team?

  What was I doing? Running straight into the hands of the people who murdered my mother was not a good idea. I sank to my bottom, leaning against the concrete wall of the house. This kind of thing didn't happen on Utopia. My mind reeled with the events of the late afternoon. They didn't want Mum, they wanted me.

  My head ached and I rubbed my tongue along the roof of my mouth to stop myself from crying. I had to keep my thoughts together; I had to work out my next move before they found me. But why did they want me in the first place? Where could I go? Utopia wasn't big enough to hide forever. And who'd want to spend their life running away from the Utopian Guard?

  Breathe, Aurora.

  I drew in a deep breath and relaxed against the wall. Okay, as far as I saw it I had two options; give myself up and be killed or exiled to Earth, or go to Fletcher and hope he could help me. His father controlled the Utopian Guard, so I was sure he could explain to him what had happened and he'd help me. I was the daughter of his once head scientist. It was my only option. I had to get to Fletcher.

  I made my way through a few yards until I was opposite the forest surrounding the Saxby property. A flashlight shone in the distance, and I waited for it to turn its light in the opposite direction before I sprinted across the street and squatted panting behind a large tree. My calves burned and I wiped sweat from my brow. Never before had I climbed so many fences and ran like my life depended on it, especially while injured. My side begged for me to stop, to lay down and rest, but I ignored it trying to focus on the mission at hand.

  My breath slowed, and I weaved my way in and out of the trees until I made my way to the edge of the tree line. After catching my breath, I scooted around the side of the elaborate fence. I found a spot where a tree reached over the boundary and climbed up until I came to a thick branch which over hung the property. On all fours, I climbed out along the branch before the flash of a light caught my attention. Panicked, I tried to lower myself down towards the ground. Pain stabbed in my side and I let go of the branch too early, crashing to the grass below. I cradled my side in agony, and bit my bottom lip hoping I hadn't been caught.

  I kept still for a moment, and although I could spot the light of the torch sweeping back and forth, it never landed on me. Fletcher, I needed to get to Fletcher. Scrambling to my feet, I found a seed nestled in the grass from the tree I'd fallen from. Positioning myself under Fletcher's bedroom window, I held my side and pegged the seed with my right hand. A thwack sound told me I'd hit my target. There was no response. No face peering down at me from the window.

  Come on, Fletch, you have to be in your room. I gave him a few more minutes, but he didn't show.

  It was then I remembered what he'd told me he'd be doing. He was attending an important dinner. He'd be seated at their long mahogany table across from Angel, eating some delicacy I'd never dream of tasting. Laughing and smiling with his family while I ran for my life, my family all gone. I needed to get his attention, and I needed to find the dining room.

  Staying in a crouched position, I pushed myself along the wall of the house until I reached the corner nearest the front. Peering around the side, I caught sight of one of the guards. There was no way I was going to get past them and get Fletcher's attention without being caught.

  A man approached the guards and they lifted their hands to salute him. As he stepped closer to the front of the house his square face was lit up by the porch lights. It was Officer Banks. He'd beat me.

  I slunk around the corner and took a deep breath. He wasn't about to hurt an Elite's son. He would ask questions. Maybe search the house. He knew the one person I'd go to for help was Fletcher. I was playing the whole game to his plan. But as far as Fletcher knew, I was at home celebrating my birthday by myself in my bedroom. And Officer Banks was right, I had nowhere else to go.

  “I need to speak to Mr. Saxby immediately,” Officer Banks demanded.

  “I'm sorry, Officer Banks. Mr. Saxby is entertaining the Abell family this evening,” the guard replied.

  “Son, I order you to fetch Mr. Saxby immediately. This is urgent.” There was a threatening tone to his voice.

  “As you wish, sir.”

  I peered around the corner again to watch both men disappear inside. I wished I could become invisible and sneak in there with them. Turn myself into one of the dining room light fixtures to hear what was happening.

  How would Fletcher react when he discovered his best friend was in trouble? Would they tell him, or let him lead them to me? I made my way towards the patch of grass directly under Fletcher's bedroom window. I knew it was playing into Officer Banks' hands, but I was sure they wouldn't imagine I'd be hiding at the house. What other options did I have? I would have to wait until Fletcher went to bed. Then I'd get his attention and we'd sort the whole mess out.

  I wasn't sure how long I'd been sitting there for. My side throbbed and I did my best to keep pressure on it. The cool air was starting to chill my skin, sending goose bumps racing over my arms and legs. Or was the loss of blood affecting me? Despite the coolness, I was starting to doze off when I noticed a dull light at my feet. A dull light coming from Fletcher's window. A wave of relief flooded over me, and I ran my hand over the short grass before finding a new seed to throw. Rising to my wobbly feet, I threw it as hard as I could and listened as it hit the window. Moments later, Fletcher's relieved face appeared behind the glass.

  He slid open the window. “Rora, what's going on? How long have you been out there?”

  The sight of him relaxed my shoulders, but I wasn't sure if I could speak too many words without crying. “Are you going to let me in?”

  He gave me a confused nod before disappearing, and I made my way to the back of the house towards the maid's access door. Soon it swung open, and I wrapped my arms around Fletcher.

  Used to me being less handsy and more standoffish, he took a moment to soften and hug me back. My side hurt, but I was so relieved to see him I did my best to ignore it. The effort of disregarding the pain stole my attention away from the way my heart was aching.

  “Aurora, what's going on? Officer Banks turned up at dinner and disappeared with Dad. Dad came back asking me lots of questions about you.” Fletcher's eyebrow pinched in the middle.

  “I don't know what's going on. All I know is I'm in danger.”

  “Danger? What are you talking about?”

  “Fletch, they killed my mum. Oh my Elite, they killed my mum.” My breath quickened and I swallowed hard as my head grew light. Get it together, Aurora, now isn't the time to break down. Nor was it time to try to decipher my strange relationship with my mother.

  “You're serious?” He pulled me close for another hug, making me flinch in pain.

  “Rora, you're bleeding. What happened?” He reached to my side, where blood had soaked right through my torn white blouse.

  “Get me somewhere safe. I'll explain it all, I promise,” I begged.

  Fletcher led me inside the maid's quarters and up the two staircases to his bedroom. Once in his room, he closed the door behind him and sat me down on a wooden chair by his desk. I'd always loved being in his room. It was what I imagined a room was supposed to feel like. Cosy, safe, a place where you could be yourself. Yes, I had my own bedroom, but with a customary single bed, and a standard bedside table, it wasn't exciting or cosy. It was rare I would invite Fletcher to my house to hang out, so instead we'd spend hours talking, and playing virtual reality video games no other kids had access to at his place.

  “Fletcher? Are you in there?” Mr. Saxby's voice sounded from the door.

  I shook my head at him. He couldn't answer the door, they'd kill me.

  “It's okay, Aurora,” he whispered. “Hide beside the bed.” He called out to his father, “Yeah, I'm in here.”

  I slid from the chair to the dark blue rug which covered the polished timber floor
, laying down on my side so I was hidden from the doorway but wouldn't soil his rug with my blood. Fletcher looked at me with a pained expression before opening his bedroom door. I hoped he wouldn't say a word to his father. Not until I was sure what was happening.

  Mr. Saxby's voice was clearer with the door open. “Son, I'm sorry we had so many questions about Aurora Adams tonight. We're worried about her.”

  “Worried?” Fletcher answered. “Is she okay?”

  “I'm sure she'll be fine, son. Officer Banks is looking for her and thought she might've come here. If you see her, be sure to let me know okay?” There was a wobble in Mr. Saxby's voice.

  “Sure, dad. Why is he looking for her? Are you sure she'll be okay?”

  Much to my disappointment, Mr. Saxby didn't answer before walking away. I'd thought he might give some clue as to why this was all happening. Fletcher closed the door.

  He ran over to the bed and lay across it, looking me in the eyes. “What on Utopia, Aurora? What's going on?”

  I got up onto my knees. “I don't know. I was about to have cake with mum for my birthday when Officer Banks arrived. Mum told me to hide, so I did, and I escaped out of the bathroom.”

  “Your mum made a cake?” I wasn't sure if he was in shock or was trying to lighten the mood.

  “Yes, then I hid in the bathroom and escaped.” My side throbbed hard and I bent sideways in an attempt to relieve it.

  “Escaped? What from?” He shook his head in confusion.

  “From Officer Banks. I climbed around to the living room window and I saw them.” Tears threatened to spill from my eyes. I stopped speaking and swallowed deeply.

  “Saw who, Aurora?” He inched closer to me.

  “Officer Banks and his men. They shot her, Fletch. They shot my mum.” Tears spilled from my eyes and I sobbed into my bloody hands. “The killed her, and now they want to kill me.”

  “Why? Why would they want to kill you and your mum?” He pulled away from me, looking around as though searching through his head for some rhyme or reason to what I was saying.