The Union

by Leah Vernon

There were three classes of Lower Residents: Domestic, Chattel, and Impure. All workers. Color determined everything: the paler you were, the worse you got it.

Half of the animals were experiments since most of the original species had died off with climate change.

A well-fed body meant that one had the funds for proper nourishment, enough for overnourishment.

“An ugly combination.” She shuddered. “What in the galaxy were they thinking when they mixed bloodlines?”

Relatable

The reason for the insurgency was because of how my ancestors had been treated. How oppressive the old systems had been. No one who looked like me could ever get ahead. The Europes had made sure of that.

High-level Europes had been warned about the effects of capitalism. Draining our planet. Killing and conniving for personal gain. Their gain. But they didn’t listen.

Sometimes, you have to be just as treacherous, even more so to win the game.”

Elites believed in arranged marriages to keep the bloodline pure and the power centralized,

The circle of life. Something had to suffer for the other to thrive.

“I know all you women care about is love, but matrimony is a business, a transaction. We are Elites. That is our duty to the Union.”

Even if the rebels did take over, I was still half-Upper. Where would that leave me once everything was said and done? Would they scorn me as an Impure too?

Don’t ever stop, because when you do is when you have truly lost the battle.”