Unsuitable
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Although Thane was considered family through Syndicate records, he was a stranger to me. We weren’t biological siblings; neither of us had the same genetic markers, making us more of an adoptive family. Thane's skin was pale; mine was dark beige. He had slick, blonde hair and menacing green eyes, whereas my eyes and curls were dark brown. Thane's strong muscles rippled intimidatingly beneath his tight t-shirt; my slender frame was nearly lost beneath the folds of my baggy dress.
Our personalities were as different as the DNA that defined us. Thane was cold and cruel, putting his happiness above everyone else’s. Unlike Thane, I hated seeing people in pain, which is why the ceremony bothered me so badly. Thane was loyal to a fault to the Syndicate. He lived, ate, and breathed their guidelines. He second-guessed nothing about our way of life, whereas I questioned everything.
The moment he was old enough, Thane started working for the government as a dome guard, same as our father did. But, unlike Dad, Thane took his job to the extreme. He was well-known in our society for his no-nonsense attitude and high regard for government officials. Because of his dedication to the Syndicate, he ascended quickly in the ranks, and now headed the Division of Retributions. His main responsibility was carrying out corporal and capital punishments, the part of the ceremony that I despised the most.
The only thing that ever bound Thane and me to one another was sharing the same mother and father. They passed away in an accident when I was ten, and after that, we stopped speaking altogether.
It was for the best that Thane and I were on separate paths. We had never gotten along, even as children- we were just too different. When the glue that was our parents disappeared, what little relationship we had forced over the years immediately dissolved with them. He was stuck on a sinking ship now, and I’d be damned if I let him drag me down with him.
A part of me regretted that we had drifted so far apart, but only because my mother’s last words to us before she passed was a plea for us to look out for one another. I wanted to honor her wishes, to fulfill her final request, but it wasn’t easy. How could I make amends with someone who slaughtered people on the Syndicate’s behalf?
Losing what remained of my appetite after seeing my brother's antagonistic face, I tossed my snow cone in a nearby receptacle.
The candescent lights of the town square began flickering, the universal signal that the ceremony was about to begin. The upbeat music stopped playing, and the crowd hushed. Cora leaned forward in anticipation.
"Hello, Concord, and welcome to the Ceremony of Sanctions!" our jovial host, Rocell, crooned, as the crowd applauded.
He danced his way onto the raised platform in the center of town, earning whistles and chortles as he finished the jig with an energetic back handspring. Rocell was a fan favorite, having hosted the ceremony since before I was born. His chipper and fervent commentating was able to stimulate the townsfolk like no other. Even I couldn't deny that his enthusiasm made the event a little more bearable.
Rocell waited patiently as the applause quieted.
"Fellow citizens, as we gather today, let us not forget the Dominate War, and the actions leading up to it so that we might learn from the mistakes of those who came before us," he said earnestly, passion warping his pale face.
His words were redundant, the same rhetoric each month as he stressed the severity of how we got to the place we were today. The words were burned permanently into my memory. I recited the speech in my head as Rocell, once again, told the tale of our city's establishment.
"For hundreds of years, our people abused the planet that gave us so much. We poisoned the air, maimed the forests, and contaminated the waters until, one day, the place we called home turned against us. The resources we’d taken for granted slowly disappeared. The oceans dried up, livestock was depleted, and the earth perished. We were left with a barren world, and limited means to satiate the greedy individuals who occupied it.
"As reserves dwindled, tensions among the nations amplified until confrontation was inevitable. When the Dominate War began in 2075, every country in the world had access to nuclear weapons. These were used openly and often to showcase power, regardless of the effect it had on innocent civilians. Entire countries were decimated in the blink of an eye, yet the battle for supremacy continued. By the time the remaining governments came to an armistice, too much damage had been done.
"Though we soon entered the Age of Renewal, the aftermath of the Dominate War was far from over. The effects of radiation made the already depleted world inhabitable. Newborn babes would die the moment they were born. Plants wouldn't grow in the polluted soil, and drinking water was so tainted, it was perilous to ingest. Hundreds were perishing each day from exposure, and there was nothing that could be done about it.
"Then a group of explorers found sanctuary, a holy land that had been spared from the horrors of the war. This group- later known as the Syndicate- was generous, and welcomed all survivors into their sacred land. But the space was small, and resources were sparse. Concord became overcrowded, and we soon faced the same dilemma as we had before the new world was established.
"Though it pained the Syndicate to do so, for Concord to survive, a few had to be sacrificed to protect the majority. Individuals who were deemed unsuitable for the new society were forced from the safety of our country, made to take their chances in the wastelands. Walls were erected along the perimeter of the city, keeping the unsuitable out and the suitable safely inside.
"As time passed, our ancestors began resurrecting buildings and creating a sustainable life. They drudged forward, but never forgot the horrors of their past. Knowing that our new world couldn't survive another war, proactive measures were taken. To protect what they had worked so hard to build, a monthly purifying ritual was established to cleanse our city of those who seek to harm it. This observance would forevermore be known as The Ceremony of Sanctions, a tradition we still uphold today.
“As is our duty to the great city of Concord, we are to purge our home of any who have ill will against it, lest we fall back into the sinful ways of our ancestors. The Ceremony of Sanctions is our obligation that we have to our peers, to ourselves, and to our country. We do this to honor the past, to maintain our present, and to sustain a future for generations to come,” he concluded.
“So, without further ado, ladies and gentlemen, let the Ceremony of Sanctions commence!"
The excitement in the air was palpable as the crowd erupted in a loud round of applause. Cora let out an eager hurrah. I forced a smile and clapped my hands politely.
"Our first offender is Zhivara Lewellon of 766 Peterson Street,” Rocell continued, reading the name off his list. “Zhivara is accused of abusing the city's limited resources by consuming extra rations of hydration."
I nearly snorted when I heard this. It was preposterous that this woman had been imprisoned because she drank an extra bottle of water instead of adhering to her strict daily rations. It hardly warranted enduring trial, but others seemed to disagree. All around me, I heard heckling and shrieks of exile or banishment.
My stomach dropped when a young girl was brought to the stage. She looked to be about eight years old, barely old enough to know right from wrong. Bile rose in my throat at the idea of someone so young, so innocent, being reprimanded for something so trivial. She stared at her feet in shame, tears pouring down her cheeks as the crowd screamed at her.
"What say you, Syndicate?" the Rocell asked, turning toward a tribunal of government executives sitting to the side of the stage. The three officials whispered amongst themselves, deciding the poor girl's fate.
Please... I begged silently, praying that they would have mercy on this child.
When the council finished consulting, a hush fell over the square.
"Innocent," the leader of the tribunal stated.
I let out a deep breath of relief.
"Thank you. Thank you so much!" the girl squealed through tears of joy as she was released from her handcuffs. She rushed fr
om the platform and into the arms of her sobbing parents. The family drifted to a dark corner of the square, where they continued to hold one another.
"Next up, Blythe Stafford of 7844 Grapevine Drive," the commentator continued. "Blythe is accused of undermining a Syndicate official when given a direct order."
A thin man with large rimmed glasses and unruly black hair stepped onto the stage. The square resonated with boos as the crowd taunted the visibly shaking man. I averted my eyes, unable to bear witnessing the man’s terror.
Once again, the panel deliberated.
"Guilty," the head official said. My stomach lurched as the multitude around me cheered. "You are hereby sentenced to banishment, effective immediately.”
"No, please!" the man begged, collapsing to the ground as his knees gave out. I watched in revulsion as Thane grabbed his arms, forcing him back to his feet.
"The felon has the right to one final statement before the punishment is carried out. You may proceed," Thane said, his authoritative voice resonating throughout the square.
"Noel! Noel, I'm so sorry!" the man called to his wife, but she turned away from him with indifference. Blythe hung his head in shame, staring after her receding silhouette. My heart went out to him; it must hurt to have the one person who was supposed to love you unconditionally turn on you as though you meant nothing to them.
As was the norm when you were banished from Concord, Blythe was tied down so his barcode could be removed. I bit back bile as Thane used the most grisly method possible- scraping the flesh off of Blythe’s forearm. His agonizing cries echoed through the town as the blade dug deep into his skin, ripping away the tattoo and leaving him with a gaping laceration. The soldiers didn’t bother to treat it with antiseptics or supply a bandage; Blythe would likely be dead by morning, anyway.
Despite resisting, Blythe was pushed off the stage and to the outskirts of the dome, his arm dripping blood as he tried to cover his exuding wound. Though he was extremely pale and looked as though he might faint, no one showed him compassion. He was given a final shove, forced from the dome's precipice and into the abyss, the entrance sealed behind him so that he could never return.
Moisture pricked at my eyes, but I forced it back. My tears would do Blythe no good beyond the barrier. My heart went out to him, and whatever terrors he may face on the other side.
"Moving on,” Rocell continued as though Blythe’s death sentence were inconsequential. “The final offender for this month's ceremony is Leilani Hysell of 466 Shea Lane."
If I’d thought I was nauseous before, it was nothing compared to what I felt now. My legs went numb, and for a moment, I forgot how to breathe.
Not her. Anyone but her, I pleaded, as the young redhead was brought center stage.
Leilani was my best friend growing up, someone I’d spent every day with when we were children. We lost touch once we began training for our different career paths, but that didn't change the fact that I knew Lei better than anyone else. She was a beautiful person, inside and out. Whatever she was on trial for, it had to be a mistake.
"Leilani stands accused of inciting a rebellion to overthrow the Syndicate," Rocell whispered gravely.
Surprised murmurs echoed throughout the town at the allegation; it was extremely rare that people were accused of such a high caliber of corruption.
Normally the crowd would cheer or bellow to provoke the culprit, but not this time. This time, the square was eerily quiet, the deafening silence saying more than cries of outrage ever could.
After the Dominate War, mutiny was strictly forbidden for fear of relapsing back to a prewar mentality. Rebellions were a dangerous thing, especially in a society as fragile as that of Concord. We all understood the severity of this crime; even the suggestion of an uprising would not be taken lightly by the tribunal.
My heart hammered in my chest as I was filled with fear for the fate of my lifelong friend.
"Battle plans and military paraphernalia were found at Leilani's residence. A date was marked on the culprit's calendar for three days from now. We were almost too late.” Rocell’s voice was solemn.
This idea seemed to revitalize the crowd. People were infuriated that this young woman, this criminal, was planning to start another war when we had barely survived the last one. Shouts of terror and indignation resounded through the square, but Leilani didn't seem phased by their reaction.
"What is the panel's verdict?" Rocell called over the commotion.
The members of the Syndicate did not need to deliberate this time.
"Guilty," they said in unison. "The panel is charging the offender with treason and sentence her to death."
The applause that ensued was earsplitting. I clapped my hands together like others around me, but I was disoriented as I stared at my best friend. I wanted to run to her, to help her escape before it was too late, but I knew this would only get us both killed. Lei’s fate was sealed. I had no choice but to sit back and watch this nightmare play out, as someone I loved was taken from this world.
"You have the chance for one final statement before the sentence is issued," Thane told her, trying and failing to hide his pleasure. The sentencings were what he lived for- nothing made him happier than a death penalty.
Leilani held her head high, her presence strong and composed, despite her impending death. She skimmed over the crowd, taking in the scene, contemplating her final words. She paused when her bright green eyes found mine.
Her voice was steady as she began to speak. "In the words of the infamous Dr. Martin Luther King, 'nothing in the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance, and conscientious stupidity,’” she said, her voice clear and resolute. “For centuries, we have lived a lie. This place that we call home- this perfect asylum- is nothing more than a ruse by our administration to subdue us and force obedience.
“I implore you to educate yourselves on who your government truly is, and be cognizant of those around you. This world and these people are not what you've been led to believe. Don't accept anything the Syndicate tells you until you have found proof for yourself," she pleaded.
Her words were heartfelt, her eyes welling with tears at the sincerity behind them, but the crowd wasn't listening. They were too busy berating her for the words to register.
With a resigned sigh, Leilani nodded at Thane, as though to say, ‘I'm ready’.
Thane pushed her with wanton aggressiveness to the execution chamber- a clear box in the middle of the square, placed on a high platform for all to see. He locked Leilani inside, and with a look of satisfaction, dropped his arm, giving the signal for an army of TIMs to surround the box.
I stood in frozen dismay as the drones approached. It was a horrifying sight to see so many TIMs approaching at once, but Lei didn't seem to notice them. She only had eyes for me. The corners of her mouth turned up slightly, giving me the tiniest of smiles, as though to tell me it would all be okay.
Despite my normally composed demeanor, I couldn’t stop tears from welling in my eyes because I knew that things wouldn't be okay, not now, not ever, and especially not for Leilani.
As though in slow motion, the assembly of TIMs accessed their deuterium fluoride lasers, and launched the chemical rays through the execution chamber, straight into Leilani's heart. I was on my feet, ready to run through the multitude in a futile effort to save my friend, the consequences be damned, but I was already too late.
Like that, Leilani was gone forever, her cold, emerald green eyes still staring wistfully into mine.
CHAPTER THREE: ACCUSATION & ALIENATION
I don’t recollect much of what happened after the ceremony. At some point, I ended up back in my apartment, but I was too dazed to notice the journey home.
I immediately crawled under my covers with a sense of numbness, pulling them up to my chin as though I could shut out the rest of the world. I knew I would never be able to sleep after what I’d just witnessed. I stared at my ceiling, unable to fathom that Leilani was really gone.
Slowly, the emotions I’d been repressing reemerged, each fighting for center stage. I was troubled that someone as kind and compassionate as Lei could no longer exist in this world, disappointed in her for being careless and getting involved in some futile insurgency, anxious that she may have unwittingly dragged me into this dark world of hers. Had the Syndicate perceived how she had watched me during the ceremony? Were they coming to arrest me too in case I was involved in this conspiracy?
The most concerning of these emotions was the mounting rage that consumed me. As the night progressed, my anger worsened until it shook me to my core. How dare a government treat its citizens this way! They never provided evidence that Leilani had actually done something wrong. What happened to the concept of innocent until proven guilty?
But Lei had had never claimed her innocence, even when she had the opportunity to speak. My heart sank, realizing that she may have been guilty, after all. Or perhaps she knew it wouldn’t make a difference in the end, that her words would do little to sway the council’s mind once it was made up, that her fate had been determined long before she’d walked onto that stage. I shuddered at the idea.
By dawn, I was still wide awake, my sentiments in turmoil as I tried to understand the motive behind Lei’s deception. When the morning light began to brighten my bedroom, I crawled out of my bed and locked myself inside the bathroom. It was the one place where the government wasn’t able to surveil its citizens, due to the Privacy Act of 2115. Right now, I needed that isolation to untangle my warring emotions.