The sirens went off with an ear-piercing whine. Everyone heard them and immediately awaited instructions. We are in lockdown. Please remain sane and reasonable and make for the shelters. Twenty-one pairs of frightened eyes looked towards the teacher. She calmly stood up and gestured out the door and into the hallway. Silently, the students filed out in a perfectly uniform line and waited in front of the doors that led down to the underground shelter. The teacher met them and motioned for them to descend, but she held up her hand to stop one girl from entering.
“Astrid, what do you think you’re doing?”
The girl had been whispering something under her breath, her face so full of fear that she was white as the snow on the ground. She glanced at the teacher, terror-stricken. “N-nothing,” she stammered in a voice that betrayed her fright.
The students behind her were beginning to grow impatient and began mumbling. The teacher waved them on. As they passed the girl, they gave her exasperated and rude looks. Unable to move, she held the eyes of the teacher.
“I asked you a question, girl,” growled the teacher. “What were you doing?”
“I was--” she took a deep breath, "--praying.”
“How dare you?” said the teacher vehemently. “Don’t you know better than to do such a thing in public? Do you possibly think that any god could protect you better than the System?” When Astrid didn’t reply, she continued, “God doesn’t exist. You are alone.” She turned away to face the line of other students who were going down the stairs.
Astrid let out a shaky breath, and relaxed her shoulders slightly. Just then, the teacher turned around and grabbed the necklace hidden beneath the girl’s neckline. She yanked it and Astrid gasped as the chain broke. The teacher held it up, examining it briefly. A blue fish outline twinkled back at her. “Such nerve,” she said as she thrust the pendant away from her. It landed in the snow at their feet. “Go to the back of the line. If anyone is to die first, it will be you.” She stalked away for real, and Astrid, too afraid to disobey, walked humiliated to find her spot in line. Just before she moved, however, she stooped down and quickly stuffed the fish into her pocket.
Be prepared to die. If war occurs, you will never see your families again. Leave the house every day on good terms, and say goodbye as if it is the last time you will see them. After all, it most likely will be.
