The Other Half by Sarah Snyder (novels for teenagers txt) 📕

Chapter 1

“Frade,” they called, “ Katherine Frade. Please step forward.”

It was happening. Today was the final stage of quest initiation. Where we'd finally see what our lives will shape into. Today's the day, the day I've been waiting for, for eighteen years. All these years of wondering are over. I am finally going to see if I will have a successful job, a successful pairing, a successful life. You see, our country is different from the others. We are successful in everything we do with little or no mistakes at all. In our society, there is no room for mistakes. At eighteen, each person is given a specific job according to their talents and/or education path. But not everyone fits in with our way of life. If you get three infractions, you are sent beyond the walls where you must try to find a new way to live in the outside world. In other words, you are escorted out of the country, and basically must forget everything you have been taught. We find the teachings of the outside world irrelevant. The children in our country attend job training until they are sixteen. At sixteen, they take a test which will give them a job to specialize in for the next two years.

That's where I am. I have taken my test and specialized in genetic mutation. One of the highest job positions offered in the country. Our country owes our success to the genetic specialists. They have shaped our world into an organized society where learning is the number one priority. Today, I am going to be given a quest. I need to complete my quest to prove I am capable of working in the genetic department and to receive my pair. I love our society. They give us everything we need to succeed and all we have to do is follow the path we were born to take. The path our country has made for us. The path where we don't need to stress over which classes to take or which person we will choose to marry. Because our country is so advanced, we don't need to go through that process of picking which job to choose, or who we should marry. All we need to do is complete our quest. The quest I am about to receive as soon as I walk up these steps. One step. Two steps. Three steps, and I'm standing in front of the council waiting to receive the quest I've been waiting for my whole life.

“Katherine Frade, genetic mutation trainee. Correct?”

“Yes ma'am.” I managed to get the words out although I was nervously tugging at the hem of my shirt.

"It looks as though you've completed all requirements to receive your quest."

"I believe I have."

"Please step towards the basin and drop your locket into the water.”

I held my breath as I unclasped my locket and dropped it into the water. Each citizen has a locket that was assigned to them at the age of 5. It is no ordinary locket. The locket holds inside a data chip which tracks all of our academic achievements and engraved onto the outside are three parallel lines. The three lines being our emblem; each line symbolizes the thing we must focus on. Only three, three things needed for a successful life. Knowledge, family, and of course unity in our country. With each line you lose, you grow weaker, smaller, and let's face it, if there was to be a war, our country would be helpless against the inhumane ways of the outside world. Our border walls protect us and shut us out from the world.

My locket disintegrates within seconds and my instructions appear: You are to leave the country. No one will know of your disappearance; we'll cover it. You'll be escorted to a genetic research lab on the border of Nimbria. You’ll receive your next set of instructions once you get there. Along the way, it will be your  mission to find your pairing. As of right now, half of a black circle should appear on the inside of your right ankle. Only you and your pairing have this symbol. FAILURE IN THIS MISSION IS NOT ACCEPTABLE AND WILL BE PUNISHABLE BY DEATH.

"You have seen your quest. Anyone who aids you will also be executed if this quest fails. I encourage you to trust no one unless you find your pair. In which case, secrets will only build up a wall preventing you from keeping that family line, Miss Frade."

Great. One minute into my quest and I feel as though I've already failed. Trust no one until I find my pair. How in Nimbria was I supposed to do that? Nimbria is a pretty decent sized country. One person out of millions? That could take decades! Eighteen years I've been waiting for this quest and only now have I realized the chance of success! Why had I tested so high? My quest would have been so much more practical if I got an average score. What have I gotten myself into?

 Chapter 2

"Oh no!" I had just been taken into one of the most advanced genetic laboratories in all of Nimbria and I had already broken something... way to prove yourself Katherine. On the verge of

tears, I gathered up all the glass from the broken beakers and let out of a sigh of relief. The beakers had been empty. I hadn't damaged any important data, well, for now at least...

"Making yourself at home then?" I turned and there he was. The greatest scientist the world has ever seen.

"M-Mr. Lageur... I'm very sorry sir. I didn’t--"

"Oh don't worry dear! Those were old beakers anyway. I've been meaning to get rid of them." He winked.

“Oh I’m terribly sorry sir. I just--”

“It’s alright dear. Just empty beakers,” he smiled, “I’ve heard you’re on your way out of Nimbria.”

“Oh yes sir. I’ve just received my quest.” Unfortunately…

“Oh! May I ask what it involved?”

“Actually sir, I’m not allowed to say…” I frowned.

“Must be important then. You must be a very determined young lady.” he chuckled, cleaning up the broken glass.

“I’m sorry sir, I don’t see what’s funny.”

“You remind of one of my former students. Quite the prodigy.” The light in the professor’s eyes seemed to have gone out on that thought. I decided not to ask about it, although I was curious…

* * *    

A couple days have passed since I arrived at the laboratory, and I’m still overjoyed everyday to find myself here. Except…I know it is only a temporary feeling. I will be cleared to pass through

Nimbria’s gates in three days, and then, in a sense, I will be thrown to the dogs. I have a feeling I’m going to be alone for quite awhile, with no one to trust except for my pair. How in the world was I supposed to find him?

“Katherine! We need you in here.” Nia, the professor’s assistant, called.

“Yes ma’am?” Maybe this will take my mind off things.

“We’re conducting a new experiment on these bunnies. We want to manipulate the eyes. Come, come.”  

“So we’re--” CRASH. The door to the laboratory flew off of the hinges and people ran in. There was about twenty of them, dressed all in black, carrying weapons, all of which, were pointed at us.

“Give us the girl.” said a tall man. He looked as if he were the leader.

“Excuse me, what girl?”  Nia asked.

“Don’t play dumb with me girl! Hand her over or we’ll take more!” the man screamed.

“Sir I really don’t--”

“The girl! The one that seeks to destroy us!” he looked around the room, pausing to glare at each of us, “YOU!” he had pointed at me. “Her! It’s her.” The people in black ran towards me.

“I--” I tried to run but they had already gotten me. What they planned to do, I didn’t know, but judging from the look in their eyes, it wasn’t good for me.

 Chapter 3

I woke up handcuffed, in the back of a van surrounded by the people in black.

“She’s up,” a lady said as she approached me, “So how are you?”

“H--How am I?” I stuttered. The lady laughed and pointed at the handcuffs.

“Trust me honey, we don’t want to be doing that to you. We’re here to help.”  They’re here to help? With my quest? No… they can’t be. I can’t get help until I find my pair.  The council told me to be aware. “I encourage you to trust no one unless you find your pair.”  I can’t trust them.

“I’m sorry, I’m terribly confused.” I tried my best to look as innocent as possible.

“Oh don’t worry dear, I would be too. Let me explain. Fifty-six years ago, the United States had a civil war. One half of the country wanted more order and the other half wanted more freedom. Technology came to destroy the country. People wouldn’t speak face-to-face, children would be taught at home online, and tensions grew high as the amount of people willing to work fell low. The half of the country that wanted more order formed a group called The Alignment. The Alignment worked to restore order in the country but the citizens rebelled. It became an all out war. The death count wouldn’t stop rising. The two sides finally made an agreement to split the country in half. Nimbria became the country of order, and the U.S. became the land of… well, freedom. Tension between the citizens of Nimbria grew as laws became stricter. A small group of the original Alignment got together and The Alignment was formed again. This time wanting to rebel against Nimbria. They thought The Council was taking advantage of the citizens who would obey every command. The Alignment seeked to overthrow The Council, and make Nimbria a more livable country. The citizens had turned to drones, not thinking for themselves and following all laws without question. The Alignment wanted this changed so they took action. They began to plan their attack in weekly meetings, but they were found out, and thrown out of Nimbria.  The Alignment was left on the border of the two countries with no land or power. Now, The Alignment has a small city underground, neither the U.S. or Nimbria knows about. That’s where we’re taking you.” She smiled, “I’m Leona by the way.”

“Katherine,” she shook my hand and laughed.

“You