“Zaire!”

My brother bawled at me as I entered his room. Me and him used to get along when were younger, from what I remember of being younger anyway. Times have changed and with it so has everything; the world isn’t what it once was.

The year was 2075 (just over 20 years ago) the world was on the brink of collapse, society started to lose itself, money was almost none existent and the world had almost lost all of its reliable power sources. Darkness was becoming exceedingly more common as the energy of the country started to be depleted. Blacking out on a regular basis. Nothing could function as it once had, the human race was reverting back to the dark ages, but there was nothing anyone could do; until it happened.

On the first day the heavens opened upon the world and from them shone a magnificent light. An army of ‘gods’ made their way down to earth (using the word gods figuratively). They proved to humanity that they could help by restoring balance and power to the world. They called themselves ‘The Order’.The human race fell to their knees and begged for their help. They were their saviours, the miracle they needed. At least that’s what they believed.

We now live in a state or country as you may say ruled by The Order. The earth that humans once knew had different countries, cultures and diversities, the things that made human life worthy and beautiful but not anymore. The Order preached to the human race on the day it happened that they were no longer permitted to contact the outside world, this state or Magnasia as it's known now, is all we have. The Order set up a capital known as the ‘Golden’ city. This isn’t a city as you’d expect, this is a city that covers the majority of the country of Magnasia. It is the only city. This was the sad truth of the world in the year 2075.

Like the majority of the population, my family have very little money and material goods. We have thankfully survived as my father is a farmer by trade and we no longer need to buy food to stay alive. We have to live off of the land. Our home is a vast distance away from the city, the further away the cheaper it gets to survive, or die in the cases of most the population.

I live with my parents and my older brother Elian. He is 23 making him 5 years older than myself. He keeps himself away from all social interaction. My parents were both only 16 when Elian was born. They were born in the days of money, jobs, security and thriving societies. They never believed the world would collapse in on itself the way it did. I  now only imagine how the world once was and never will be again.

I have lived my entire life like this, alive but not entirely living. However, recently I’ve been experiencing things I cannot explain. Dreams of people coming to me for help. Hearing a girl’s voice deep in my mind. The strangest part of it all is that my dreams feel real. I have complete control over them. I feel more alive in my sleep then I do when I am awake. I know that they are just ‘dreams’ but I also know something is happening to me. Everything is going to change. I can feel it.

Awake.

I opened my deep blue eyes open reluctantly. My bedroom still dark and gloomy, as though night has yet to end. The winter mornings still haven't brightened up. My bedroom no longer resembles what it once was. The window that used to be present is now just a gaping hole in the wooden wall, cloaked by a thick woolen blanket, helping to fight the cold and holding it back as much as a woolen blanket possibly could. However, the sharp, frozen breeze still manages to piercd its way into my room, leaving me gasping for air every morning during the winter months as though choking on microscopic shards of glass.

I force myself to sit up straight on my tough wooden bed, still allowing my eyesight to adjust to the new day. As I threw my heavy legs over the side of my bed, I heard the sound of the floor creaking beneath the weight of them; as though it may fall through at any second. Just as my body adjusts itself up I hear my mother shouting from the other room; usually the sign I've already done something wrong. I jumped out as quick as I could, knowing that the faster I get to what my mothers yelling at me for, the faster I can get on with my chores. As I hurtle down the old stairs I hear every creak and crack of the wood. Wondering what I could possibly have done this time. I reach my mum only for her to inform me that I hadn't fed the cat last night. She looks at me sternly, moving her raven black her from in front of her face.I take one look at her and all I see is her deep blue eyes, I can feel them looking right through me. "I'm sorry, I won't forget again." I apologise knowing it's easier than starting an argument.

The day usually starts with the breakfast. I sit down at the oak table in the dining room. My mother comes in, handing me my breakfast. Today's breakfast consists of a bowl of warm apples with oats thrown on top, not the most thrilling but its the best we can get in this god forsaken land. The heat given off by the apples feels good against my face, the steam creating a mask of warmth against me. Not having eaten since last night I don't hold back. As I finish the bowl, I lick each and every bit, nothing can be wasted.ith that I take my bowl into the kitchen. A room that was once elegant and modern, now only holds an oven and a fridge. The worktops are falling apart from the wood mites along with the flooring unhinging from ground, but like I said before this is the best we have and at least it's something.  My mother forces me to take another bowl of breakfast upstairs and leave it outside my brothers room. As I said before he doesn't socialise much.

In the process of  finishing off my chores, which usually included tidying my room and helping clean the house for my mother. Once I'd finished these I headed on outside to help my father with the farming and livestock. Our house and field is the only occupied area for miles around, everybody who used to live here moved closer to the city in order to try to survive'. Sadly many of them never made it, they now live in the outer suburbs of the city, well suburbs is an overstatement. Flora and fauna are hard to come by now a days, most of the areas outside of the cities are barren wastelands of dust and debris. It is almost impossible to survive as food is scarce and humanity and civilization is next to none. Most of the population outside of city areas have either past away or become feral and uncivilized in order to survive. We was lucky to have owned our own land before 'It' happened. We now live with just one another rarely seeing any other human beings or anything other than our cows for that matter.

I find my father working in the dark brown fields, he looks tired and restless already and the day has only just begun. His long dark brown hair slicked back with sweat and grease, the dark brown colouring in his eyes looking depressed and gaunt, his glasses are cracked and chipped, much like everything else. It's a hard life now and life expectancy is already dropping, My dad is 45 but could pass for 60, the years have not been kind, without him we wouldn't have survived, he is our everything. I spent the majority of my day helping him work the fields. The air is freezing cold and doesn't feel as though its getting warmer any time soon. The winter air creates an almost crisp layer around the land, shattering as your face moves through it. However, I shouldn't complain, the winter months are the easiest to work as summer days are just too hot and scortching to function, never mind work.

During the winter months we only have a small variety of food to survive on, we have to store a large amount of our food from the summer months in order for us to eat during the winter as we starting sowing and planting bulbs during these months ready again for spring and summer.

Me and my dad start to plough the soil, working hard helps our bodies adjust to the freezing temperatures of the morning. As we plough through we scatter small seeds evenly across the now soft and fertile soil. These seedlings wont grow for many a months but this is how it has to be. The more seeds we manage to plant the more food we have in our summer months. The more the better. 

Time passes by slowly out here working in the fields. However, time has managed to ravage my fathers body quickly and viciously over the years. I worry about him every waking minute. We all do. "Stop staring into space and get working" my fathers shouts in a playful but yet serious tone. I quickly get back to work to appease my dad, its the least I can do. 

Another hours passes, my dad stops working abruptly,and then i realise why. We hear it coming. The wind is starting to pick up into a torrent of gust as it approaches closer and closer to our home. "Get inside" my dad yells across the field. We dash back inside of the old house. As i enter the living room i start watching out of the stain marked window. We are all waiting for it to pass us by. The 'Order' have issued a way of monitoring all its population, well what's left of it that is. A large shadow plunged our house into darkness, blocking out any form of light from above, it's here. The large, rustic looking blimp passes over our house, the sound of its clockwork ticking away as it turns the turbines beneath the vast machine. Nothing in the skies is run by humans any more, artificially intelligent machines rule the skies, monitoring and feeding back information to the Order. Many people opposed to the use of these machines at first, but that was a mistake. If you revolt against the Order they send their machines; there is no escape, not for anyone. Even though the machines will not harm civilians we all live in fear of them as we have seen the destruction and devastation they can and will cause.

Many long minutes have now past, the sound of the blimp has diminished into the distance and we can carry on with our lives once more. We head back outside into the field, the day is starting to brighten up but the air is still bitter and sharp on my skin. We carry on our work from which we left off, this usually takes up until mid day. As the sun makes its way across the sky, the day is long and hard, I can't work as long or as hard as my dad, I stop working just past midday otherwise I'd collapse from exhaustion, but I try and help him as much as I possibly can. 

The day on the field is ending, for me anyway, as I head back inside my mother collars me. "Why don't we head out into the city tomorrow?" As she says the words I look at her with a stern and surprised expression, the reason is that I have only ever visited the city twice in my life and that was only to register me to the countries population list and to pledge my life to the Order. "Lets do it" I reply showing my excitement and anticipation to visit the city to see how much it has changed since I last visited. "I shall tell your father tonight, maybe we can even treat you to some new clothes!" She remarks. I never get new clothes, my clothes are handed down from my brother hence why they look as though they were found in a dump, and any other clothes we own my mum makes in her spare time. I dash up the stairs and excitingly stand behind my brothers bedroom. "We are going to the city!" I shout through the thick wooden panels of the door. No responses. Well, I didn't expect an answer anyway.

Night falls, my dad makes his way back into the house from work, tired and exhausted he collapses onto the sofa. He is greeted by my mum, she presents him with a steaming hot bowl of vegetable soup and a glass of cold water. His old callused hands trembling as he raises his spoon to his sun damaged lips. I hate seeing my dad like this. I look over to my mum, she is staring at him with a loving and concerned gaze. I can tell she is worried about him from her expression but puts on a brave face for us.

Due to the price of electricity there is no entertainment for any of us on a night time. We have to make our own entertainment. Upon finishing the washing up and helping my mum out in the kitchen, I hear my brothers heavy footstep upon the wooden staircase, his feet sounding like thunder in a heavy storm. "Zaire!" he bellows across the living room, "You left my breakfast bowl outside of my door!". "And?" I yell back at him in a patronizing tone. "I've opened my door and its knocked the bowl and spilt everywhere you brat!". "I shouted to you this morning that I've left the bowl outside your room, don't get angry at me for your mistake!". With that he slams the door shut, shaking every inch of our decrepit house. I some times think to myself if only we could get along like we used to, because as much as I hate to admit it, I miss him.

My dad rises from the sofa, you can see just from his expression the pain he is enduring to complete such a simple movement. "Night night Zaire, me and your mother are going to bed now". As I wish them goodnight they head up stairs. I hear the creaking of the old floorboards above my head, wishing I could change our lives in some way. Dreaming is the one thing that keeps me strong and still have hope for our future.

I am now alone. I sit silently in the room. I stand up and face my chair towards the window. As I stare outside, all I see is beauty and serenity. The night sky is a blaze with magnificent contrasting colours. The stars are screaming with angelic elegance across the night sky, nothing compares to them. Even something as simple as the moon emits its beams of artistry down to earth. This is my entertainment, this is the light I hope for at the end of the day.

My eyes are now feeling increasingly heavy, I'm struggling to keep awake. I stand up out of my carver chair, my body feels the full effect of fatigue. My legs are now weak, and painful. I drag myself up towards my bedroom, quietly as not to wake my dad. On opening my bedroom door I hear the faintest creak and crack of the hinges. My body can no longer take it and I collapse onto my unyielding bed. As the room fades to darkness, my thoughts are the last thing I hear. 

"Zaire?"

A faint voice in the distance is calling my name.

 I feel awake and yet I know I am dreaming. I have never experienced this for myself but I can only imagine this is what Lucid dreaming feels like. The area around me is not familiar. The sky is a light with a tranquil yellow tint, dazzling doesn't quite seem to be a good enough word for what I am seeing. The ground below me is soft, my feet are being caressed by the velvet smooth grass beneath them. If only the world could see what I am seeing right now. It's strange but I feel at peace here, nothing could ruin the serenity this world provides.

"Zaire!" 

A female voice screams my name as though in pain. The sky quickly darkness and the ground is rigid and hard. This world is no long quite so peaceful. The sky is now as black as what only I can only imagine death would look like. Darkness is now all I can see and feel. The blackness feels as though it is pouring into my body, filling it to the brim with despair and anguish. My eyes feel as though they are burning, the pain its excruciating. I wouldn't wish this pain upon anyone 

After so many slow minutes of this misery it suddenly ends. I can open my eyes once more, and the this world is now back as it once was, tranquil. As my eyes are still adjusting to what seems like the brightest of light, I catch the silhouette of another person in the distance. The figure seems to be running towards me but I still can't make out any features due to the overcasting shadow. As I slowly close my eyes to awaken myself from this dream I feel a heavy breath upon my face.

Slowly opening my eyes I see what I can only describe to be an angel. Her feminine features are almost godly. I gaze into her eyes, they are a  perfect emerald green, dark and beautiful. They emit a look of love and care. The flowing of her hair catches my sight. It's a burning crimson with twirling strands of blonde as though leaving a trail throughout her hair. My hands feel a slight squeeze, she is holding my hands. The paleness of her skin contrasting that of my tanned tone. I try to speak but her beauty is stopping me. "Hello again Zaire" she calmly whispers into my ear. My thoughts are going haywire, how does she know my name, and what does she mean again? This is no longer a dream, everything feels real, every sensation and every movement. "We will meet again Zaire but I will not remember you. This life is different to those we have spent together and we have not even met yet, but we will. And even though I will not remember me, I will always love you. And with that my eyes opened.

I darted up from my bed. The ice cold air in my room almost suffocating me. I have never experienced anything like this dream before, if it was a dream. My thoughts are now going haywire, I don't know what to make of what I have just seen. I've heard of stories of a being with the ability to control dreams. In the fable the Palasians had what was known as an oracles. However, they believed them to be angels sent to help them with their civilizations magic and peace keeping. But these were just myths and fables that many believed to be none sense. What if they weren't just myths, what if they actually existed. Nobody had seen any of the Palasians since the day it happened. Many say that the Order wiped them out to help 'fix' the problem and to this day its just been accepted.

"What if this girl was a Palasian?" I whispered to myself in a concerned yet pleased tone. In the stories the oracles would only contact Palasians and even that was rare. What if she is something else. The images in my head keep playing over and over to me. Especially the girl and what she had said. What did she mean i will see her again soon? maybe it was just a dream and I should forget about what I saw. Reluctantly I try to close my eyes, but then it dawned on me, why did the dream take a dark turn before she appeared? Thinking about it over again I start to experience an overwhelming feeling of distress and despair. Something is wrong, she saved me from what was happening but what was happening? She was my light at the end of the darkness, I need to find her, even if she doesn't remember me. 

I have to be awake in five hours time and yet I feel no urge to sleep just yet. My body is fighting against me, it's tired and worn out from the day before but my brain is still awake with flickers of thoughts and feelings. Continuing to close my eyes, something touches my face. It's soft and subtle like clothing, maybe it's 'her'. I quickly open my eyes expecting to see her flowing gown brushing against the side of my face only to find that my woollen blanket had fallen from my window and onto my face. It's too cold to get out of my bed, I decide to drag the blanket from the floor using one of my arms. I throw it over my body to create extra layers to help fight the winter breeze. The ticking of my clockwork watch sounds as though its getting louder and more intense. I check to see how much time has now passed. It has been over an hour since my dream and even my brain is starting to slow down. As the sound of the clock becomes almost hypnotising I start to drift into a deep sleep.