It was the middle of the night when Charlotte woke up to the banging on her door. The creaking noise of the door was heard as Charlotte crawled out of her bed. She wasn't afraid of the dark as she made her way to the door. Three muffled voices came from the front of her house. Two were her parents and another unknown voice.
"[sub]Under direct Orders from the United Nations Confederation... ld will need to be taken by us?[/sub]"
"[sub]...ave no right to do this![/sub]"
"[sub]...ep your to... Sergeant.[/sub]"
"[sub]Please si... she our onl....[/sub]" A loud crack was heard as something heavy fell to the ground followed by wail of Charlotte's mother.
Charlotte's eyes teared up as she slammed open her door and ran over to her mother side. Her father was on the ground, gripping his left eye. Her mother crouched down to him.
"[sub]Bastards....[/sub]" her father growled at his agressor.
This newcomer was just taller than her father, 6 foot straight. An oddly splashed suit of black, grey and brown colors covered him. An eagle, claws over a stylized circle was emblazed on his black cap and right chest. Charlotte recognized the symbol. It was the United Nations Confederacy emblem for the Defense and Military Forces.
She shifted her eyes around the new man, unsure of what to do.
"Ah, so this is her? Marvelous. Coming right to your aid, not knowing what was going on. She is a perfect candidate. You certainly have planted your seeds well Mister Robert Chapman."
Charlotte puffed her face at the man, a fire in her eyes for the man talking down to her father. Her mother gripped Charlotte and Robert's shoulders, dragging them slightly over to her.
"We'll... We'll be able to see her again right?" she asked. The man nodded in response.
"Wha... Mommy, what's going on?" Charlotte asked, turning back to her mother. Robert shifted on the ground to be on Charlotte's mother's right side. A large swelling black spot covered Robert's left eye.
"Louise... We can't..." Louise (Charlotte's mother) hushed him as he cut off his sentence.
"Charlotte... We are sending you to... another school."
Charlotte blinked. She also hated being lied to as she felt the animosity in the air.
"And my fri-wennds?"
"They... They will stay here."
"Char... Be strong, Charlotte. And we will see you again. I promise this..." Her mother's eyes swelling up with tears. Robert continued to glare at the man before him.
Charlotte nodded at her mother, starting to cry as well.
"No, no, no... Please don't cry Charlotte... Don't please..."
"Yeah, yeah, yeah. Once your all done crying over this... You. Girl. Will need to come with me." The man said, turning towards the door.
"Can... Can I at least take Mr. Fluffy with me?" Charlotte asked her parents. Louise looked at the man, seeing that he really didn't care. He was just doing his job, despite how painful it was. She had heard of the Gatherers being near emotionless and disconnected because of their jobs, but... Facing a real Gatherer.
"Yes. Go and get Mr. Fluffy." Louise gave a weak smile. Charlotte made a dash towards her room and after a few seconds, came back out dragging a stuffed bear.
Louise had another weak chuckle, gently grabbing Charlotte's hand holding the teddy bear.
"Don't you drag Mr. Fluffy, ok? He wouldn't like that remember?"
Robert leaned in and kissed Charlotte on the forehead. "Be a strong girl Charlotte."
Charlotte nodded and walked over to the man, glaring at him in the eyes. It amused him.
"And have a goodnight... Or perhaps day is? Hmph, farewell." Shoving Charlotte alittle, he escorted the girl outside where 3 UNC soldiers in full armor saluted at him, their assault rifles slung infront of their chests.
Charlotte gripped Mr. Fluffy even more, eyeing the soldiers as a boxy-looking transport came infront of her house. Looking weary, she gazed back up at her captors face as she scanned and eventually found the name tag of him.
Code:
[center]Cpt. Ethan Orwell[/center]