I took a deep gulp of fresh air and took out my oxygen mask. Slipping it on, I hurried outside the school. The exercise was due to come up any second, and I did not want to be inside. Said exercise popped up loudly. Ride bike all the way home. Bikes can be found on the bike racks outside. Might as well get it over with. I walked over to the racks and saw my bike sitting right there (pic in multimedia). Kaye Ann was also there, next to her bike (pic at end of chapter). " Kaye!" I shouted. She looked around and grinned when she saw me.

   " Ever! You got the bike ride too?"

   " Yeah."

   " Great, we can go together!" We didn't live all that close, but we would have at least part of a way to go together before she had to go back to her family's compound. She was in Place 6B, and I was a few streets away, in Place 2A. Hopping on my bike, I bike-walked over to where she was. 

   " Race you to Hover?"

   " You're on!"

   " On your mark..."

   " Get set..."

   " Go!" I took off along the gray stone path immediately, racing towards Hover, which was just the name for what used to be known as the White House. We called it Hover because the Orthodox had used some strange technology to have it float thousands of feet in the air. My great-great-great grandmother knew more about our past than anyone in the Thirty-Second Segment. She said the Hover used to house presidents, back when we still had them. Now, we have a mysterious figure known as the Immortal. I don't know if he's actually immortal. He says he is. And he's been ruling for a really long time. But nobody can be truly immortal, right?

{-------------------------------------~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~-------------------------------------}

   " I won!"

   " That wasn't fair! That jackrabbit popped out of nowhere!" 

   " So it's the jackrabbit's fault?"

   " I didn't say that!" Kaye Ann and I bickered loudly. Kaye Ann had won, but I didn't think it was a fair win since a jackrabbit had popped out of nowhere, causing me to swerve into the hoverboard lane, which then resulted in several people tripping over me, requiring us to all disentangle ourselves while Kaye Ann pulled ahead.

   " I won fair and square!"

   " Mm-hmm. Keep telling yourself that."

   " Okay, maybe not exactly fair, but I still won."

   " I'll agree to that. Well, I gotta go, or my mom's gonna blow a fuse."

   " See you later!" Kaye Ann called as I started biking uphill. 

   " See you!" I continued biking uphill, up and up and up. I finally reached the elevator, and handed my bike to the robots manning the machine. I stepped inside the cool, lofty space and waited for the exhilarating feel of the elevator zooming upwards as I removed my oxygen mask.

   " Please scan your ID in the card scan. Please state your full name, age, and relation to the Thirty-Second Segment." I frowned. They had never required us to 'state our full name, age, and relation to the Thirty-Second Segment'.

   " Ever Luck Haven. Seventeen. Resident." I scanned my card and waited.

   " Very well. Initializing ascent. Please hold tight." Then the elevator zoomed up. I waited impatiently, tapping my fingers on my leg. When the elevator stopped, I put my mask back on and stepped out. I grabbed my bike and hurriedly rode towards my compound.

   " Mom, I'm home!" I called, removing the mask and my shoes. " Mom?" I headed upstairs. Maybe she's taking a nap.

   " Mom, you up here?" Panic was beginning to build. My mother was a light sleeper, always alert, and there was no reason for her to be out right now. Besides, after my dad, er, left, she had always been worried about me. Usually, she would be by the door the instant I got home. 

   I decided my mom wasn't upstairs and went back down to look for her. I headed to the kitchen, maybe she was cooking and listening to music. However, that little spot of green paper on our dining table made me stop cold.

   Dear Ever,

     It's simple. Your mother stopped doing her exercises. We have had to retain her until she is able to continue. Sadly, this will not be for awhile. I hope you can understand.

                                   Apologies,                                                                                                                                                                                                             XXXXXXX

  They crossed out their name. The wretch crossed out their name. The wretch took my mother. And I plan on getting her back

                                     {------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------} Word Count: 767 words

    Hope you guys enjoyed! I had fun writing this, since it sort of told you about the world Ever and her friends live in. If you have any suggestions, comment them down below. Constructive criticism is always welcome! And now, as promised, Kaye Ann's bike. Drumroll please!

*drumroll*

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*louder drumroll*

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*even louder drumroll*

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*drumroll that makes you guys wonder when the picture is coming*

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 I have been a doofus, I just realized that I have to DOWNLOAD the picture! NOOOOOOOOO!!!! So, sorry guys, but the picture will be next chapter. Sorry. Bye!