All the Same

When I wake up, the house is empty. But I usually wake up earlier than Ma, anyway, so I don't notice, until I reach the table and see a note:

'Gone on errands. Go to school.'

A chill creeps down my back. as I stare at the words. Ma never leaves notes like this. But there is no time to think about it now - I'm late for school.

I run half the way, until I realise that school is cancelled for the first hour. Everyone is getting their injections, for 'Injection Day' as it is so creatively named. 

I'd head to the hospital to get mine, but I don't have my form signed yet. And besides, Ma may not hold that much power at E.Q.U.A.L, but she holds enough that I can probably get mine late. 

So, with nothing else to do, I slip into a small cafe near the school, and order a drink. In my mind, I replay last night over and over. The shouts, the tension in Ma's voice - something was happening. Something big. But what? 

I stir my drink over and over with my straw, pondering. What is it? Why was my name mentioned? What do I have to do with it?

But most importantly, why didn't she tell me?

After an hour, my drink still sitting there, untouched, I start to realise that students are walking into school. I stand up, pay, and head off to school, hoping nobody realises I didn't get an injection. 

                                                                   __________✧__________

At school, nothing is the same. 

Mr Keller, usually lively and full of jokes, stands stiffly at the front of the class, droning on in a flat, empty voice. No sparkle in his eye, no "come on Nedra, participate". 

And the troublemakers - the ones who usually whisper, pass notes, and disrupt everyone - sit silently, eyes on their books, copying down notes.

My skin crawls. What the actual fuck is going on? 

Have they been threatened, or something? Because this is definitely not normal. 

I try to catch someone's eye, Roderick, who never pays attention, or Sydney, who's always doodling, but they just stare ahead, writing. 

Then I hear a knock at the door, and I jump. Everyone's eyes flick to the door, as two men in black walk in. 

"We're looking for Nedra Banks." 

All eyes flick to me. 

"W-Why?" I ask. It's the first time I've ever asked a question in class, not that anyone seems to care.

"Your mother has gone missing. You need to come with us. Now."

What? 

She hasn't gone missing. I have a gut feeling that isn't what's going on. My mind flicks back to this morning, when I found the note on the table. 

Gone on errands. Go to school. 

Did she go missing on the errands? Or...

I notice something on the black jumpsuits the men wear. 

E.Q.U.A.L, displayed in small letters on the corner pocket.

"Nedra?" One of the men in black asks. I see him inching closer and closer to me.

No. No, no, no. This can't be happening. 

Every nerve in my body screams at me to run. Run.