Alítheia's First Hero

It started like it always did, a quiet walk down Maine Street.. I was younger and more fragile. I looked like a twig, I was so convinced of it I almost ran to the nearest tree so I wouldn't fly away. Alítheia.... I glanced around until I met the eyes of my sister. We were sitting at a table outside of the city hall. She smiled brightly, I reached up to feel my lips and realized I was smiling as well. The sight of her made my legs weak even though we were sitting, sipping lemonade.. She said my name, but it felt far away rather than right in front of me. My mom was sitting with us on her phone, she had the same smoky wood eyes but our hair was different than hers. Our black hair came from our father, he had been shot and killed like many others. She too was smiling forcefully,we were sitting under a maple tree in steaming weather. The sun beamed down hard around us, marble and gold buildings rose around us. People were walking and smiling forcefully, all of them... Their eyes looked straight ahead, and many of their smiles were twitching. You may not truly understand, you are in my dream. Or rather a disturbing memory, it clings to me still. I live in Alítheia, the perfect civilization. So the outsiders saw .. In our city we smile 24/7, and if we disobey we are killed. At least that's what the citizens think, we can't cry, so our ancestors thought we should smile 24/7. Smart guys... But is a burden to civilization to not obey, because the consequences are severe. Sometimes we suffer an even worse fate, we get taken away, to only our progónous knows where. We are a kind and perfect civilization, but the kindest and prettiest things can be quite deceiving. Me and my twin continued to talk normally, as if 10 years of separation had never happened. I wanted to say the words, "Michelle.. Michelle - PLEASE MICHELLE LISTEN TO ME..,......." "IM TRYING TO SAVE YOU- MICHELLE!?!!?!?!" All of a sudden a beautiful blue bird fell from the sky, we rushed to It's aid still smiling. Michelle took it in her hands and whimpered slightly, I touched It's dark feathers and shook my head. " No pulse Mich-" I said to her, in my head I wanted to kick the bird across the pavement and watch it fall into the fountain. Michelle stopped smiling, my smile twitched as I saw two of the guards glimpse at Michelle. "Mich- Their looking smile...." Michelle continued to cry while stroking the bird's feathers, it's beady black eyes stared at her. " Don't die like the others do..." I heard a guard unclip his black g*n holster, " Mich PLEASE-" two other guards were slowly taking their guns out. Mom realized what was happening and rushed us to walk in the opposite direction. The guards yelled to us and aimed their guns at her back. "RUN GIRLS!!!" Mom screamed, but six guards surrounded us pointing guns at our heads. Behind us I heard my mom struggling from the grasp of two guards. Michelle continued to weep, " PLEASE MICH-" I whimpered my smile flickering. I heard her voice in my mind, I'm sorry Ally.... I can't- RUN PLEASE.... Tears ran down our faces... The guards man handled us over to the nearby fountain, they forced me down as I struggled to reach Mich. They held Mich in front of the fountain as she screamed and clawed at the ridge of the fountain. Even through the hardest moments I managed a painful smile. I screamed so loud bystanders were looking over and forming a crowd. They taped my mouth shut, but I still muffled curses. Then a deafening sound echoed off the city walls, one I had many times before... The sound of a pulled trigger.......... Mich stared at me, blood spreading through her yellow shirt. The guards loosened their grips on our shoulders and backed away still aiming at us. A single tear fell from her eye, she looked around as if stunned. Two guards stood on the fountain , Mich stumbled unto the fountain ridge. She sat there exchanging glances with me and mom. We were speechless.... She gasped for air and held on to the guard's knee pad. "stars...." She mumbled. A guard behind me mumbled to another guard, it took me a moment to realize-. "WAIT NO" I screamed through the tape, life seemed to stop as the bullet soared over my head... Straight into my sister's forehead. She opened her mouth, out poured sticky red liquid. I screamed at the guards, they tore off the tape as Mich plummeted backwards into the fountain. I ran to her still body in the fountain, guards pulled me away as I itched to reach her. MICH- NOT AGAIN. They sat me down at a bench,"We're letting you off with a warning, your lucky we didn't kill you...". My eyes reflected in the guard's black glasses. They were tinted red,and were watery. My mind filled with rage,"YOU DIDN'T GIVE THEM A WARNING!????!?!? DID YOU!?!" I screamed. "HEY" He yelled firmly, yanking me by the arm. I looked into his eyes, anger, but I could see something. Just hidden in his eyes was sympathy... I heard a click, then my eyes fluttered shut.................