The Rebellion

In the year 2104, Zion (District 13804) was a small, quaint town in the heart of Ohio.  Everyone there was happy with their living style, except for Government scientist, James Emerson.  He thought that Zion could be different, be bigger and better.  In addition to turning Zion into a city, Emerson had thought of a way to make their neighboring city, Abaddon (District 9836) suffer.  Emerson, in wanting to harm the people of Abaddon, would create this  new waste management system that would turn trash and recycling into “energy that could power things” such as cars.  When in reality, all the trash would create pollution and that pollution would spread to Abaddon, spreading heart and lung diseases to everyone that lived there.

Miriam is just a normal citizen that lives in Zion.  She goes through the same schedule as everyone else.  And that was the way it has been for the past 20 years, after the big change.  Starting in 2080, presidential assassinations were being made and they could not be stopped.  People believed that the elections had been rigged so that terror group supporters would become our Presidents, supplying them with nuclear weapons, thus having these groups bomb innocent countries that the U.S despised, while the president was behind it all.  And no one knew, except for those believers.  Even after they caught the assassins, more would show up. And in 2096, after the most recent assassination, the Government had decided to take over and rule the country, with a handful of representatives being in every town, including Abaddon. Miriam is walking one day and sees a strange figure standing in an alleyway next to the city walls.  She was curious, so she went to check it out.  Miriam was surprised by what she saw.  It was a boy, about her age, but much taller and dirtier than her.  This boy's name was Claude, and he was from Abaddon.  “Wh...Wh...Who are you?” Claude said, frightened.  

“My name is Miriam,”  said Miriam.  “How did you get in because you are not from Zion”.  

“I’m from Abaddon, just across the wall.  I found a weak spot on your city’s wall and with the help of a couple of tools, I broke it down” Claude whimpered.

“I know all the towns around here, it does not exist.”

Claude is in fact from Abaddon, which Miriam believes does not exist because it has been hidden from her for her entire life, and everyone else's.  The Government didn’t want the people of Zion to know about Abaddon because they knew the people would rebel against them.  The next day Claude decided to show Miram her home, when Miram saw just a glimpse of the city she almost fainted, but she didn’t even see the worst of it. “This is Abaddon. My home,” said Claude. Miriam was astonished, even after she left she couldn’t stop thinking about Abaddon. She asked her mom about Abaddon. “What’s Abaddon?” Miriam’s mom said. “It is a city filled with trash, where all the people are sad and dirty.” Miriam was confused. “There is no such thing,” Miriam’s mom said. Miriam argued, but it was no use, her mom didn’t know it existed.  After hearing about nobody knowing Abaddon existed and all of the people suffering, Miriam was even more determined to expose Zion of their cruel ways.

In Zion, the government controls everything including the people. The people of Zion follow the government blindly, and do the same thing every day. 

0715 - Wake Up

0830 - Work

1230 - Break

1300 - Work

1730 - Work Ends

1830 - Dinner

2200 - Bedtime

Miriam and every other citizen followed that schedule. Of course while at home they could speak their minds, but were always being watched. After talking to her mom, Miriam snuck out with Claude. Miriam knew leaving her family was wrong, but she had to reveal the evil behind her city. When Claude brought her inside, she was startled by the fact that everyone there was carrying a weapon of sorts. “Why do they all have weapons?” Miriam said. Claude replied, “to show the truth.” Miriam’s face was filled with distrust. “We don’t need weapons to gather people and take down a wall.” Claude realized she was right. Miriam pointed out “Well we have to deal with this waste, right? That means you have machines to move heavy materials, right?” The Abaddon citizens answered “yes” and realized the point she was making. They found shovels, mining supplies, and bulldozers. Everyone met at the wall and cheered.

BOOM! A sudden shock came to the city of Zion.  The force of thousand lightning bolts struck the wall, and it toppled down; rubble was everywhere.  In a matter of seconds, it was all over the news.  Claude and Miriam knew that they didn’t have a lot of time before the government noticed.  Claude looked around for a high place to be noticed, but saw nothing. “The rubble from the wall,” Miriam exclaimed.  He stumbled while climbing upon a large piece of wall and gripped the loudspeaker and began to yell, “we are the people of Abaddon. For years we have been hidden by your leader and polluted by your waste. You’ve been lied to, all your waste goes into our city and kills us! It is time you know the truth! Stop your government and help us!”  

The crowd was silent.  It felt like an eternity of staring, until some spoke up; “Prove it!” Everyone moved to show what they were talking about. There was a pause of confusion like there was nothing to see. Suddenly, the Zion people started running. Miriam, who was from Zion, saw nothing. Claude asked, “what is it, what do you see?” Miriam replied “nothing.”

It was a nice day in Zion and Miriam was getting ready for the day when she realized that there was someone in her room. “Who are you?” She asked.  “No one you need to know,” said the figure. “Why don’t you have a seat?” Miriam sat down, the man asked “Have you ever heard of Abaddon?”

“No, what is Abbadon?”

“Nothing important.”