Power-Hungry

"Ms. Williams. The rest of the board has already voted. What is your decision?" The resonant voice of Head Ruler Avery echoed through the halls. Felicity Williams, a new member of the board, sat there in indecision. The majority vote was tempting, as it would grant her more respect among the Council of Rulers, but she couldn't. It wasn't right.

Her mind kept spiraling, around and around in circles. Felicity couldn't breathe. Could she condemn billions of children to a life of mind control? The decision in question, which had been so blandly illustrated by Head Ruler Avery, was a power grab. The Rulers in favor were only trying to enforce their will upon the adults of tomorrow. The decision in question was whether the Board should alter the newest batch of children. Make them obedient. Mindless.

Felicity's own child, Mira, was fluttering in and out of her mind like a butterfly. Would she have been able to do this to Mira? Never! Felicity would never have put her child through this. She wanted Mira to know who she was, and to feel as a normal person would. Still, Felicity knew that there were things she didn't want Mira to feel. Like pain. Fear. Loneliness. The alter would change that.

"It's vulgar and cruel! No one should take away another's free will!" She thought to herself, now fully understanding her opposition. Still, there was appeal in the idea of infinite peace. Which was more valuable?

How had she gotten here? Felicity wasn't always planning on making decisions that could affect the entire world. She'd wanted to be an author.

"The... Girl... pressed... on through... the woods..." Felicity punched out word after word, bleeding her heart and soul into the novel. The deadline was in two days. If she didn't finish it, her dream career was over.

"Hey, sweetie!" Celeste, her mother, called down. "You ready for dinner?" Celeste was always worrying about her daughter. She always thought that Felicity would break if she tried any harder.

"Ugh. I can't. I'm done." Felicity slumped down in her chair. She didn't deserve this. It was too hard to achieve your dream in the world of Rulers.

Even her mom could see her resolve shifting, changing, turning to another goal. Felicity was going to change the world for the better. No matter what.

At the present, she had made it. Felicity had achieved her goal. It was at a much larger cost, though. She had accepted the truth that the rulers of their world were corrupt and immoral. They only cared about power, not people. She was the only one who had worked to get there, and she was the only one who cared about the help they could give.

Why, then, could she not make a decision? Why could she not dissent, knowing that she didn't approve? All it would take was a simple phrase: "Nay." In the halls of the Council, where so few had sat before, where the mahogany seats shone with malevolence, all you needed was a word. Felicity was not willing to say that word, though.

Maybe Felicity knew, in her heart of hearts that she didn't want to say no. Simply being in the seat of power made her wish for more. She couldn't go back. Felicity couldn't stop her selfishness, couldn't change paths, not anymore.

"Since Ruler Williams has neglected to answer, we will count her out. Thus, the majority prevails, and we will pass the motion." Felicity couldn't breathe. What would happen to Mira?

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MIRA POV

"Hello, Maternal." I thanked my mother with a hand on my heart to symbolize gratitude. My school was today. Joy. I was to read the Manifesto again. Joy.

"Happy day to you, Mira." Maternal spoke in the same nasal tone as everyone else. She seemed frazzled.

I walked down the road, noting the waves of everyone around me so that I could repay them later. My Maternal was a Ruler, so everyone treated me kindly. They surely did not mean to brownnose, only to show their thanks for her contributions to our world. Though I was not born with the genetic alterations, I had to think like everyone else so I could fit in. I didn't want to be a rebelcriminal.

The children in front of me filed into the Taggart Transcontinental Comet train as if on a string. I had had to sit through this monotony for four years, and I wasn't going to continue it. My plan had come into motion about two years ago, when I had gotten fed up. I had very nearly exploded at a robotic (That was what I called them).

I had to get out of there. It was killing me, having to pretend to be one of them all day every day. My mother didn't notice my rebellion, thank goodness, otherwise she would've reported me. She didn't care about me. She was another one of the cruel Rulers.

I peeled off from the line, saying to my classmates "I dropped an item over there a day ago. I need to pick it up and return to the bus. Please excuse my temporary absence". At least I wouldn't have to talk like that anymore.

I rushed into the woods, trying to evade the fence as much as possible. I didn't want anyone to see me, hear me, feel me. No one could've planned this as well as I. There was food packed in my pockets, up to the brim.

Suddenly, an alarm went off. No. I couldn't go back. Not again.

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"Ruler Williams. Your daughter human." I turned, expecting to see Mira with her backpack and books, ready to go home. Instead I saw her bruised and bloody, lonely and scared.

"Mira! What happened to you? Come here!" I pulled her in for a hug, trying to comfort her in between sobs.

"Mom, I didn't want to be a robot. I don't want to. Please don't make me act like that anymore!" She cried, and I set her down on the chair. I was going to right this wrong, even for just one person. My daughter wasn't going to suffer anymore.

THIS IS DEDICATED TO CELESTE, AVERY G., MIRA CAPLAN, AND FELICITY WILLIAMS!!!!!! LIKE AND UPVOTE AND FOLLOW THEM!!!!!