Terranovus

Four weeks had passed and twenty-eight more families had been chosen. The Sectors were growing impatient, tempers were higher and frustration was clear.

Luckily for Tommy, Simon and I, Jack had resurfaced and apologised for being a douche. Clearly his card playing friends weren’t as cool as us. We accepted his apology on the condition he was to do anything we wanted for a week. I had never laughed so hard in my life watching Jack give Tommy a piggyback ride through District 9th.

Our end of year grades had been released and, not a surprise claims Tommy, it was announced I came first in our Sector for graphic communications. To say I was chuffed was an understatement. As a gift, mum had relieved me from Families in Need duties for a day and gave the boys and I some money to buy chocolate. It was soooooo good!

I was still dreaming of that chocolate when I was making my way through the streets of my district a week later. It was Sunday and on Sunday’s my family sat down together and enjoyed a whole-hearty meal, usually filled with all of dad’s favourites. I was walking home from the markets, shoving my way through the busy and packed streets, trying my hardest not to drop any of the groceries placed precariously across my arms. Everyone seemed to be in a rush to go somewhere, anywhere. The unemployment rate was at its highest, jobs were scarce and hopes were low, but pretending to be busy was better than doing nothing.

Suddenly the electronic billboards jumped to life and the crowds stopped moving midstep. I looked up and groaned as I realised what time it was - time for the next lottery winners.

Fayard Carter appeared on the electronic billboard. He flashed his charming smile and opened his arms wide in welcome.

“Ladies and Gentlemen! Welcome to tonight’s Lottery draw! Who will be the lucky winners tonight?” his voice echoed through the streets.

I glanced around and was glad I had managed to miss the majority of the public announcements. The desperation and hope plainly visible on everyone’s faces was depressing to see.

With an elegant spin, Fayard clapped his hands and turned to the screen behind him. Terranovus appeared all shiny and new. The crowd held their breath as they gazed at the wonderful land ... so rich, green and full of life. Even I could have looked at it for hours.

“But firstly, let’s check in with Mr and Mrs Chadha,” said Fayard. The screen changed to an image of the family the lottery had chosen the first night. They stood in front of their enormous home looking incredibly happy and cheerful. The dad had one arm wrapped around his wife and the other arm around his son.

“Mr and Mrs Chadha,” spoke Fayard, “how’s Terranovus?” The family smiled and looked at each other lovingly.

“It’s beautiful,” spoke Mr Chadha, “it feels as though we are living in a dream. Thank you Commander for this incredible opportunity, Terranovus has brought us so much happiness and joy to our lives.” Fayard placed a hand on his heart and looked at the family with sincerity.

I forced myself to swallow back some of the vomit that came up.

“On behalf on the Commander,” spoke Fayard, “I would like to say you are most welcome, you deserve this opportunity and I wish you the best for your future.” The Chadhas smiled and waved at the camera as the screen returned to the studio. “And that my friends, could be you next! Computer, generate a new family for us please!”

With a gasp from the crowd, the screen behind Fayard lit up and numbers and names flashed through the screen. The crowd held their breath anxiously and I found myself holding my breath with them. 0.03% I reminded myself. 0.03%. Finally, the crowd gasped as a name and numbers appeared.

McKinley J8479.4

Shit.

That was me. That was my family.

“Congratulations to the McKinley family of J8479.4!” announced Fayard. All of sudden a picture of my dad, my mum and myself appeared on the large screen.

“Look at that wanker!” someone yelled, and pointed at my Dad’s uniform, “he’s in the bloody Army. The lottery is bogus!”

Fayard clapped his hands in excitement and told the crowd that the McKinley’s were going to be contacted and taken to Terranovus as soon as tomorrow.

“This is bullshit!” a man from the crowd yelled. A few shouted in agreement.

Fear started to build inside me and I pulled my hood up and stared at the ground.

No. No. No.

To be picked was a dream, a fantasy! Not a reality. Whispers started within the crowd. A complete sham ... they’re lying to us ... is there hope?

I shook my head and took a step backwards. I had to get away from here. I had to find Mum and Dad.

I readjusted my hood and went to take a step forward but stopped as my Ingo started vibrating. Hundreds of messages and notifications were flying in from Tommy, Simon, Jack, friends, friends of friends and even strangers who were either congratulating or telling me they hoped the plane to Terranovus would crash. I swiped them all away and forced myself to think of my priorities. Home first.

So I moved forward and manoeuvred my way through the angry crowd of people with my groceries. I cringed and adjusted my hood as I heard more abusive words. There was no way my dad knew about this. I don’t think he has even spoken to the Commander in all his years of working for the Army.

“Excuse me,” I said sporadically as I pushed and shimmied my way through the endless crowd. My groceries were shoved this way and that and when one of my bags ripped I ignored it and continued on, I had to be near home now. My Ingo vibrated again. I looked down and saw Tommy calling.

“Hey! Watch where ya going!′ shouted a man as I collided right into him. I stumbled backwards and grabbed my hood as it began to fall backwards.

“Sorry,” I quickly apologised and went to step around him. The man stuck out his arm and stopped me in my tracks.

“Wait a second, I recognise you,” he started and looked up at the large billboard screen. Damn it, I dropped all the groceries and made a run for it.

“Hey! It’s that McKinley girl!′ he shouted.

What a bawbag.

I shoved my way through the crowd and begged fate for mercy. The man’s shouting grew louder and I shoved back my fear. I could do this! Home was now only two streets away.

But the man had now started a crusade and his jealous followers were determined to catch me.

“Get that scunner!” someone behind me shouted. People around me were confused for a split second until they realised the scunner was the petrified girl running straight pass them. Someone tried to grab hold of my jacket but I thrust some speed into my legs and yanked them away.

A tram beeped up ahead and Tommy’s trick from over a month ago sprang into my head so I sprinted for it. It was nearing fast and steadily and just in time I leaped in front of it. The driver blasted its horn as I flew through the air. I was halfway across, three-quarters then bang! The tram rammed into my shoulder and flung me away. I cried out and clutched my shoulder, it felt as though it was on fire.

Hands grabbed me and I started screaming and kicking. It was a man and a woman who had their hoods pulled up and over their head, faces in shadows. They yanked and pulled me across the road towards a car.

“Stop it!” I screamed. “The lottery isn’t a hoax. I swear. I don’t know anything about it!”

The car door opened and I saw another man wearing a balaclava sitting in the passenger’s seat with his hands out, ready to pull me in. I screamed at the top of my lungs and watched helplessly as a cloth that smelled strongly of something metallic was pressed against my mouth and nose. Within seconds everything around me fell black and I drifted into unconsciousness.