FOG

Three

Machi Undu was very much aware that she was a Dreamer. She'd discovered the ability on her eighteenth birthday.

Ever since that moment, three months ago, she had become aware that this day would come; the cleansing.

She sat high on the rooftop and watched the Soldiers move from stead to stead. Her ebony skin glistened under the moonlight, the soft wind hitting her face.

From where she sat, she saw a fast moving bike and also flashes of what might have been a gunshot. She wondered what that was all about.

She remained in that position until the Soldiers were just by their door.

She watched them push open the door and after a few moment, she heard voices.

There was no kidding herself what was going on down there.

Her Foster parents were probably telling the Soldiers in great detail how she 'manifests' at night.

Before they'd confirmed she was a Dreamer her title had been 'witch'.

The door to the rooftop pushed open.

"There She is." She heard the familiar croaked voice of her Foster Father.

Propping up the hood of her jacket, she stood up quietly and turned to face the Soldiers.

One of them stepped forward and brought out the detector.

"No need for that." She sneered and stretched forth her hands to be cuffed.

The Soldier slapped a laser cuff around her wrists and began to lead her back.

As she passed her foster Father who was smiling with his exposed kola-stained teeth, she paused and stared at him.

"What ever comes next will be a welcome break from you and your shallow minded pig of a wife."

Someone chuckled.

She spat and kept moving.

****

Jak Meka was a sixteen year old chubby specimen. He was also a Dreamer. He had no idea, though.

He sat in the living space squeezed in between his Mother and Aunt as they watched the live broadcast of the cleansing.

He saw the look of worry on their faces and wondered what really was the big deal. He didn't care if he was a Dreamer.

He turned to his Mother, "I don't care if I'm a Dreamer."

"Be quiet now. You have no idea what you are saying." His Aunt scolded.

He pursed his lips and folded his arms, listening to the occasional wails coming from the neighbourhood. He c****d his head as he heard the sound of boots at their doorsteps.

"They are here!" His Aunt whispered.

He watched his Mother raise both hands into the sky as she said some prayers.

"Members of this household." They heard a voice call out and the door waa pushed open.

Jak thought the Soldiers looked menacing. He watched in awe as one of them retrieved a detector. He suddenly felt nervous.

It was rare or nearly impossible for there to be an adult Dreamer. In fact, it has never happened.

So, it was not surprising that it was soon his turn to be scanned. He stood still, watching the device curiously as it began to vibrate and whiz and bring out an array of colors.

"Take him." The Leader said calmly. Two Soldier's walked up beside him and gripped his arms.

Jak turned to face his Mother and Aunt as if to say a final goodbye. His mother suddenly looked faint; her fair skin drained of its color and taking on a pale look.

He watched in horror as his Mother fell to the ground. His Aunt screamed and rushed to grab her.

It wouldn't have bothered him if he was a Dreamer but watching his Mother slump like that broke him.

"Mother!" He screamed and forced himself out of the Soldier's grip.

"Take him!" The Leader ordered. He shook his hand free and punched one of the Soldiers on the face.

He made to move towards his mother when he felt a hard blow to his head. Everything became blurred as the Soldiers lifted him out of the house.

****

The Colonel growled and rubbed his jaw as he engaged the gear and turned on the AI autopilot.

"Where to, Sir?" The voice of the AI boomed inside the vehicle.

He grunted and looked through the windshield, "Follow that bike!"

The vehicle revved and accelerated through the narrow street, the AI locked on the speeding bike.

Amzhi caught sight of the vehicle rushing towards them. He swerved to avoid a shop and turned sharply into a dark alleyway.

He could feel his father leaning unto him and groaning.

"Are you alright, Father?"

His Father placed his hand on his side and groaned. His robe was torn on the side and it was felt moist and cold. He was bleeding.

"I will be alright. Head for the border!" He said in a muffled voice.

Amzhi tapped the speed boost on the bike, it sputtered but nothing happened.

"Stupid ancient model!" He cursed loudly and dragged his leg through the clay as he reached a dead end.

He shot a quick glance behind him, the vehicle was no where. He quickly glanced to his left and his right. His Father was getting real heavy, he noted.

"Father?" He called out, just to be sure.

"Keep going!"

He nodded and turned the bike through a short street which joined the main road. His eyes was locked on the main road, so he didn't see the vehicle approaching.

He heard the loud roar and saw the bright lights as the vehicle rammed into them. The first thing he felt was his Father falling off the bike and then the impact as the vehicle collided into him.

He gave out a shout as the bike tumbled and crashed into a small shop.

He tried to move but his hand was caught in the handle bars.

The street was quiet. No one even dared to switch on a light.

Amzhi breathed heavily as he heard a car door slam and footsteps approaching him.

He looked through the corner of his eyes just in time to see the Soldier lower a stick on his face.

****

The engines of Hoverjet whirled noisily as the rotors slowly began to turn. The Dreamers were all marched into the Carriers, all twenty of them. Except the ones that had been knocked out.

The Soldiers marched in after them. The black of their uniform looking like shadows im the night.

The Pilots were signalled and the two huge doors slowly began to come together. After conducting a quick pre-flight check, the Pilots each began to take off.

The rush of air from the rotors agitated the red earth into a massive cloud of red dust. One after another, the Hoverjets began to head into the high moon, towards the Tower.

The cleansing was over.