The name on his tongue made me sick and I scrunched up my nose in disgust. Derek, my older brother, was a complete idiot who was made the leader of a major rebel group because he was stern and unforgiving, like every leader should apparently be.

The Palm Trees were a rebel group created by Jonathan Archer, a man who vowed to protect the town from the Recluses. They were only a rebel group because they weren’t law-abiding citizens, they were were rebellious fools with death wishes and more adrenaline than a motor bike. Eventually, the group began to let Recluses enlist and suddenly, a failed army support became a disappointment.

My older brother was their leader, and I had grown to dislike him and certain tastes he had. Maybe it was because we never met eye to eye, maybe it was just because he was a jerk. Either way, it didn’t change the fact that hearing anything about him or his stupid rebellion made me angry.

“You know I hate talking about this, Jackson,” I complained, taking a seat on my bed. It squeaked with a disappointed undertone, as if it knew how I felt. I tried to glare at Jackson but, I couldn’t blame it on him. Everything he told me was a direct order and I had to know about it, no matter if he wanted to tell me or not. Jackson knew that I hated my older brother yet, the entire Palm Tree establishment decided to taunt me with it.

“I know you hate talking about this but, it’s important, Annie.”

Derek was given the same test as me and of course, he resulted as a Civil. In school, we were taught that Recluses were lesser than Civils, more savage and unforgiving, dangerous even. When I tested Recluse, Derek threw me out like trash and didn’t care one bit. It was like he was brainwashed to betray his little sister, someone he had known his entire life. And sometimes, I’d like to forgive him, realising how hard it is to see someone you love become a danger but, he knew me. I didn’t want to be dangerous.

Jackson and I sat in an awkward silence for ages before I sighed. There were things unsaid between us, anyone could tell but, it wasn’t ever worth the argument. Jackson finally broke the silence and insisted on looking at my ankle, which was still bitten. He rolled my pant leg up and slipped my sneakers off, taking a first aid kit out and cared for the bite.

“I need to get back before it’s dark,” he said, getting up from the floor. I nodded and walked him out, watching as he stood in front of my shelter quietly. “I’ll be back tomorrow, Annie. I really need you to listen.”

“Goodbye, Jackson,” I answered, turning around. I limped back into The Womb and flopped onto my bed, sighing loudly. I hated talking about the Palm Trees to Jackson. It was annoying and unnecessary. He would ramble on and on about how they were trying to help out the Recluses and get freedom while also making sure the Recluses never got out of hand. It was ridiculous. But Jackson was my only friend and seeing him every couple of weeks was good for my sanity.

I remember having one friend as a girl though. Her name was Isabel and she was amazing. She had bright blue eyes and blonde hair that was always curled and pinned up nicely. She loved to hang out and play outside, we would go to her house and spend hours talking about boys and school and other childish things.

But eventually, we had to turn ten and take the test. Isabel got Civil, which was expected. Her entire family was pure, all full of the best Civils. My family wasn’t.

Isabel was devastated when I got Recluse. She never saw me as dangerous but suddenly, I was supposed to be dangerous in her eyes. But that was fifteen years ago and now, it was only a wispy memory of an old friend.

I stared at the ceiling, flashing back to any moments in my life that I could remember enough of. Most of them brought a gloomy feeling with them. The worst one I could remember, happened when I was ten years old. It was the last day I sat with my family. I remember all of my family, sitting around our circular dining table, eating together as a family just like every citizen, all talking about the parties we could attend the next day.

But that never happened.

Everything that went on that day, The Day of Designation, was clear and permanently stuck in my mind. I remember it so vividly. You would wake up and have breakfast with your family. Your last meal if you were going to fail the test. Our breakfast was light but, there was still and slight uncertain energy because, what if I did end up being a Recluse?

My mother dressed me in my ‘special occasion’ dress and then braided my hair into a long braid down my back. She then turned to me and cried on my shoulder, knowing very well that her daughter only had a 50% of making it back in the house later that day.

“You’re so beautiful, Annie,” she told me. I always wondered why she told me that and even fifteen years later, I still couldn’t figure it out. After listening to my family’s pep talks, we left for the ceremony.

The day haunts me more than anything else. Everyone discovered that I was a Recluse. It was all so sudden, being announced dangerous and then hearing gasps and cries with mingled whispers about how it made sense and how I was odd anyway. Jackson told me I was the town gossip for weeks, sending my parents into terrible situations.

I never saw my parents again after that. I was driven to the middle of the forest, left for dead with only my depleting sanity to keep me company. Only a small percent of the kids left in the woods survived. Every week, they would send men out to look for bodies, just to bring them back to town. Any child who died in the forest was given a proper burial. I survived too long to become free like that.

I had survived fifteen years, which led to me here and now.

---

Sunlight streamed in through the window, hitting my face gently. The smell of ozone from a rainstorm the night before filled my nostrils and I inhaled deeply, sighing it all out. I glanced around my shelter before getting out of bed to get ready.

I laced up my sneakers and hobbled out of The Womb where I climbed into a tree, sitting on a branch just a few feet off the ground. I built a treehouse at one time for a home. It was my favourite shelter by far. I inhaled once more, letting the sun coat my skin.

“Hey, Annie,” a voice called. “Enjoying the sun?” I glanced down to see Jackson, leaning against the side of my shelter. He wore his Palm Tree uniform, black and grey canvas cloth with a black beret.

“How are you,” I asked, attempting to be casual. He sighed and shrugged.

“Maybe we can talk,” he asked. “Look, I wasn’t sent for an update for you or whatever, I was sent because they need you. I may have mentioned that I knew a Recluse that was capable for fighting. We really need you, Anne.” I was angry with Jackson, disappointed even.

“I can’t,” I replied hotly. “I don’t want to go there with you.” I watch Jackson cross his arms hastily and I felt alarmed. Waves of anxiety tensed between us. “I honestly can’t believe you told them about me.”

“Annie, I’m sorry.” It was faster than I could comprehend. Suddenly, Jackson pulled out a taser and shot it at me. I attempt to dodge but he’s too fast and he hits me on the side, a sharp electric shock inflaming my body, making me go stiff and then shaking me forcibly. My knees hit the ground and I shake more violently. It felt as if every cell in my body had exploded. Stars danced in my vision and black pricked at the corners of my eyes. I blinked, trying to get rid of the dark silhouettes but it just kept fading. My vision vanished completely and I fell still, knocked out and lifeless on the forest floor.