• Aya awoke to blaring music. It was the weekend, and something like this had become commonplace in the household. The culprit was always Aya’s older sister, Kayla. She was eighteen and was in the prime of her life. Aya was four years younger but seemed to be the opposite of her sisters childlike demeanor. Shaking her head, Aya sat up. The room was as cluttered as it had ever been, with clothes scattered randomly, sheets of paper covering the desk and the peculiar smell of oil. Most of the mess was not her own, but Aya couldn’t downright deny involvement. The dark grey curtains were closed, blocking any sunlight from getting in. Although it protected the inhabitants from any rude awakenings, the darkness it blanketed the room with make it feel dreary, devoid of life. This, in conjunction with the stuffiness of the room created less than adequate living conditions.
    Aya grabbed a nearby towel - one she was sure was clean - and walked over to the curtains. Using the towel to cover herself, she opened the curtains slightly to look out into the world. The center wall stuck out like a sore thumb. It’s incredibly large mass caused it to dwarf even the tallest tower.
    “Ayaaaaaaaa!”
    Kayla had miraculously sneaked up the stairs and into the room, without causing as much as a creak. Aya screamed, flinging the towel into the air and falling onto a pile of clothes nearby. Kayla giggled.
    “Aya, you’re naked! Put some clothes on!”
    “I was working on that,” Replied Aya, making clear of the murderous intent in her voice. “Have you made breakfast?”
    Kayla nodded. “Mhmm!” She turned, hopping out of the room, chanting about the multitude of foods she had prepared.
    Five minutes later, after recovering from the shock, Aya had made it downstairs and onto the dining table. The music had stopped, replaced by a news broadcast speculating living conditions in the center.
    “So, dear listeners, what do you believe? I’d love to hear from you. Next up is music, so stay tuned.”
    Aya didn’t know what to think. Perhaps the roads are made of gold, and the walls of diamond. Though one thing was clear, those in the center lived much better lives. It made her jealous, but more than anything it created intense hatred. Aya sighed, looking away from the radio and toward her sister. She was busy humming away, putting the eggs neatly alongside the sausages. Kayla turned, two plates in hand.
    “Here you are, my dear sister.” She said sweetly, placing the plate down in front of Aya.
    “What do you think?” Asked Aya.
    “About what?”
    “The wall. How those inside live and how it’s different to our lives.
    “Well,” Kayla said, smiling. “I think you shouldn’t worry your little head about it.” Kayla patted Aya on the head. It felt warm, full of love.
    Kayla dug into her food, she had always ate savagely, and today was no different. First it was the sausages, then the Toast. Her plate was empty before Aya had ate her first mouthful.
    It was Monday morning, the most busy day of the week. Aya still had to go to school, and as such, Kayla was like a parent of sorts. Making sure the uniform was in check, preparing dinner, helping with homework and other parenty things. The thought of such a childish woman acting as a mature parent baffled Aya to no end. It was a confusing situation, something you might see on comedy shows.

    “Well then!” Kayla shouted abruptly. “Time to get readyy!”



    The school Aya went to wasn’t exactly small, but it was cramped, being the only school in the area. Children from miles around flocked to this school to learn. It was located just outside the wall, which made it appealing to young parents wanting the best for their children. Aya and Kayla were just lucky enough to live nearby.
    The school was made up of three buildings. The largest could be described only as “A large corridor with classrooms glued on.” because that was precisely what it was. The school was forced to build up over time to accommodate the growing number of students. The second was a large hall, where assembly took place. It was also used for sports when required. The third and final one was the storage shed. It was also cramped, to follow the reoccurring theme.
    Assembly begun as usual. Everyone gathered in the hall and took their places, lining up in order of age and class number. Younger students at the front, older students in the back. In the hall was a stage, like one would see in a theater. The teachers usually stood up there to get a good look at the students. When all the students were in the hall, the headmaster spoke.

    “Good morning students.”
    “Good morning Mr. Newton.”

    It was a part of routine. Every morning there would be a formal greeting before the subject of the assembly was brought forward. Aya figured it was a way to connect teacher and student and grab everyone's attention.
    “Today is a sports day. You will be called from class one at a time to do your sessions. Starting with the young children in class one, ending with the oldest students in class ten.”
    Aya was one of the students of class ten. It was mid-August, meaning the weather wasn’t particularly suited for sitting inside a classroom for hours on end. A cramped classroom and lack of cooling apparatus really took a toll on your mental well-being.
    The school was more comparable to a prison. Small tight spaces, incredible heat. Not to mention the quote that commemorated the opening.

    “The wall will not harm us.”

    It was a quote that made sure students didn’t worry about the wall. It was big, and it’d take the most irresponsible person in the world to miss it, even for a second. It always seemed to have an ominous presence. Looking away from the wall changed nothing. It was painfully clear, no matter what you do.
    It was there, and it was there to stay. The quote enabled a form of acceptance within the school - at least, that was the general idea. It was an all round depressing school.
    Suddenly the door to the hall burst open, revealing a student gasping for breath. All of the students instinctively turned around. Aya could see who it was instantly.
    The Headmaster spoke, “Mr. Richards.”
    “Y-Yes?” The student known as “Mr Richards” replied breathlessly.
    “You’re late again.”
    This was nothing knew. Most of the time he would wait outside and explain to the teacher later, but today was different. His name was Cole Richards, one of Aya’s only friends. Idiot, self-instated God, massive ego, possible mental instability. These were all phrases to describe the student known as Cole Richards.

    “How dumb could you be?” Aya said irritably.
    Having returned to class, Aya had decided to get an explanation. They sat at the back of the class in their own little world, arguing.
    “Look,” Cole calmly replied. “I know what I’m doing.”
    “Making a fool of yourself?!”
    “Of course!” Cole screamed with pride, before realising his mistake and quieting down. “I need to make myself known, do I not?”
    He had a point. Being an idiot every day of the week certainly draws attention. None of it good. Cole didn’t seem to mind either way. As long as people were talking about him, his ego grew. Aya was envious of him, in a way. Living life without a care in the world. She was envious of a lot of people in fact. Aya grew up parent less. Whether they died, ran away, moved on or grasped hold of a better life she didn’t know. It didn’t matter to her how they disappeared, she just had to accept that they did. Aya was the definition of Envy.
    “Look.” Cole said again, as if talking to an infant. “You’ve got to understand, I will change this world. I’ll make chocolate free. Don’t you want free chocolate?”
    “No, can’t say I do.” Aya said in monotone, rolling her eyes.

    As if on cue, the teacher of class ten strutted proudly into the room. He was a man worthy of disgust. He wasn’t the most appealing man to look at. He reeked of odor, he sweated constantly, his hair was greasy and most of all was the irritating laugh. The lesson began with such a laugh.
    “Children.” He said, smiling eagerly. “We’re going to be doing maths!”
    Everyone Groaned. Which seemed to give the teacher happiness of some sort as he laughed like a maniac. Aya could do nothing but shudder as a true test of wits began.