for criminals, and I wasn’t a criminal. Caiden Act or not, I was not a criminal. “I don’t belong there, Vera.”
“You violated the Caiden Act, Ridley. The judge didn’t have any other option.” She placed her hands on her hips. “It’s not so terrible, you know.”
“What do you mean it isn’t so bad?” I hissed.
“The Caiden Act,” she replied. “They know what is best for us, Ridley.”
But they didn’t, and I couldn’t understand why Vera was unable to see that. The government could give two craps about us. The only thing that they gave a damn about was my ability to conceive a child. My happiness, my life, it meant absolutely nothing to them. They didn’t care that I was miserable, as long as they produced their “perfect” offspring.
“What is going to happen to Kieran?” I asked softly.
“He’ll be sent to one of the Detention Centers within the outer compounds.”
Detention Centers was the polite way of saying torture centers. He’d spend a few months there, and then they would send him back, and assign him to a proper match. They’d wipe me from his memory as if I never existed. And I’d be left to my misery, trapped in the outer compounds, where I would be forced to complete a two year sentence, before being sent back to the city of Caiden.
That was, assuming that I survived the compounds.
“I should be on my way,” I stated. “I only have a few hours to say goodbye.”
Vera smiled, reaching for my hand. “Goodbye, Ridley.” I turned to walk away, but she pulled me back. She moved in so that her mouth was near my ear. “Whatever it takes to survive out there, you do it. Do you understand me?” she whispered. “I need you to promise me that you will do everything that you can to survive in the compounds.”
I nodded and yanked my hand free of her hold. “Goodbye, Vera.”
I could feel my heart shattering in my chest as I said goodbye to my family. Knowing that they were disappointed in me only made it worse. I let them down, and I knew that, but I couldn’t deny what I felt. I couldn’t pretend to be happy with someone else determining my life for me.
I’d spent enough time around my parents to know that I didn’t want what they had.
Their lives were constructed for them. They didn’t love one another, and it showed, no matter how much they tried to hide it from me and my sister. Happiness was a hard thing to fake.
“You’ll be okay,” my mother cried. “You’ll be okay.”
I wanted to believe her, I did, but I knew that the world outside of Caiden was much different from anything I could ever imagine.
The outer compounds, which were also referred to as the Rings of Chaos, were not meant for the weak. And I was weak; far too weak to fight for a life I wasn’t sure was worth living anymore. What was the point when I would only be forced to succumb to the Caiden Act in the end anyway?
My heart ached for Kieran, the one bit of happiness I’d allowed myself in Caiden.
But I’d need to forget about him in the compounds.
I’d need to forget everything that I allowed myself to feel.
A guard knocked on the open door. “It’s time, Ms. Mulligan.”
Chapter Two
The guard led me outside, where the rest of the community gathered to watch as I was escorted to an awaiting SUV. I knew that I shouldn’t be bothered by their stares; after all, I was well aware of what I was getting myself into when I welcomed my feelings for Kieran. But the judgment in their eyes and the disbelief that I would go against the ways of Caiden pulled at my heart strings.
Maybe I could’ve fought harder. Maybe I could’ve ignored the way that Kieran made me feel. Then I wouldn’t have been sentenced to two years in the outer compounds; then I wouldn’t have had the entire community judging me.
But then I also wouldn’t have experienced the power of love.
It was worth it , I told myself.
Each moment spent with him over the past six months was worth it, even if it had led
“You violated the Caiden Act, Ridley. The judge didn’t have any other option.” She placed her hands on her hips. “It’s not so terrible, you know.”
“What do you mean it isn’t so bad?” I hissed.
“The Caiden Act,” she replied. “They know what is best for us, Ridley.”
But they didn’t, and I couldn’t understand why Vera was unable to see that. The government could give two craps about us. The only thing that they gave a damn about was my ability to conceive a child. My happiness, my life, it meant absolutely nothing to them. They didn’t care that I was miserable, as long as they produced their “perfect” offspring.
“What is going to happen to Kieran?” I asked softly.
“He’ll be sent to one of the Detention Centers within the outer compounds.”
Detention Centers was the polite way of saying torture centers. He’d spend a few months there, and then they would send him back, and assign him to a proper match. They’d wipe me from his memory as if I never existed. And I’d be left to my misery, trapped in the outer compounds, where I would be forced to complete a two year sentence, before being sent back to the city of Caiden.
That was, assuming that I survived the compounds.
“I should be on my way,” I stated. “I only have a few hours to say goodbye.”
Vera smiled, reaching for my hand. “Goodbye, Ridley.” I turned to walk away, but she pulled me back. She moved in so that her mouth was near my ear. “Whatever it takes to survive out there, you do it. Do you understand me?” she whispered. “I need you to promise me that you will do everything that you can to survive in the compounds.”
I nodded and yanked my hand free of her hold. “Goodbye, Vera.”
I could feel my heart shattering in my chest as I said goodbye to my family. Knowing that they were disappointed in me only made it worse. I let them down, and I knew that, but I couldn’t deny what I felt. I couldn’t pretend to be happy with someone else determining my life for me.
I’d spent enough time around my parents to know that I didn’t want what they had.
Their lives were constructed for them. They didn’t love one another, and it showed, no matter how much they tried to hide it from me and my sister. Happiness was a hard thing to fake.
“You’ll be okay,” my mother cried. “You’ll be okay.”
I wanted to believe her, I did, but I knew that the world outside of Caiden was much different from anything I could ever imagine.
The outer compounds, which were also referred to as the Rings of Chaos, were not meant for the weak. And I was weak; far too weak to fight for a life I wasn’t sure was worth living anymore. What was the point when I would only be forced to succumb to the Caiden Act in the end anyway?
My heart ached for Kieran, the one bit of happiness I’d allowed myself in Caiden.
But I’d need to forget about him in the compounds.
I’d need to forget everything that I allowed myself to feel.
A guard knocked on the open door. “It’s time, Ms. Mulligan.”
Chapter Two
The guard led me outside, where the rest of the community gathered to watch as I was escorted to an awaiting SUV. I knew that I shouldn’t be bothered by their stares; after all, I was well aware of what I was getting myself into when I welcomed my feelings for Kieran. But the judgment in their eyes and the disbelief that I would go against the ways of Caiden pulled at my heart strings.
Maybe I could’ve fought harder. Maybe I could’ve ignored the way that Kieran made me feel. Then I wouldn’t have been sentenced to two years in the outer compounds; then I wouldn’t have had the entire community judging me.
But then I also wouldn’t have experienced the power of love.
It was worth it , I told myself.
Each moment spent with him over the past six months was worth it, even if it had led
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