The desert was difficult to cross on a day as hot as this. Heat radiated off the baking sand and hit my exposed arms and face. I’d made this journey so many times but it still felt new, still difficult and raw. It took until midday to get to a distance where the fence was visible, the sun high and beating down on all that was around me. Normally we would be sheltered inside our rundown house at this time, away from dangers of heat stroke and dehydration that could easily kill us out here. But right now, my only protection was Ricky‘s jacket held high over my head and the water bottle hanging from my belt. The heat had drained most of my energy as I reached the fence, and forced me to slowly lower myself into the little shade offered by the tall building in front of me. “Hey, didn’t think you’d make it in this heat.” A rasping voice came out of the pitch black alleyway behind the fence. The city was worse than I remembered. Rats scuttled across the narrow alleyways and streets, dodging the litter and debris. The clustered houses looked ready to collapse under the stress of being so densely populated. “Well done for surviving this long.” I could see him then. Our spy on the inside of the city. Our source for food and information. It was thanks to him that we’d survived so long, yet he looked like he was barely surviving himself. He’d once been the mayor of the town I lived in, a plump middle aged man with a receding hairline that as starting to go grey. Back then his voice could be heard across town and his laugh boomed in everyone’s eardrums. Yet now, now he’d been reduced to a thin man with loose grey skin with thin hair of almost the same colour. His lungs were coated and clogged with the polluted air that circulated the city and he looked as if he hadn’t slept in weeks. “It’s nice to see you again, Richard. How are things? How is everyone?” Back when everything was as it should be I would have called him by his surname, wouldn’t have got straight to the point. Now there was less of a need for formality, I needed to find out what I came to know and then leave before getting caught. “Things are getting worse. The number of dracs being recruited has doubled and food is getting less. The population has increased so everything is even more strained. As your families, all are fine and your mother gave me a letter for you. Didn’t see your father though. Here’s your food, now go, there’ll be dracs down this road soon.” And with that I took off, clutching the mucky canvas bag tightly. Inside would have been at least ten more cans of food and letters from our families. Somehow, with the added weight of the bag, I made it back before dark. Everyone doing their bit packing away the dinner bowls as I walking in. A single bowl remained on the table waiting for me, warmed up and ready to be eaten. As I ate I passed round letters and gave the cans to Ricky for sorting. Then I settled upon reading my own letter from my mother. Dearest Marnie, I’ve heard rumours about what you are doing out there and I want to say well done. I’m so proud of you for thriving without me. I love you so much, dearest. Now, I don’t know how to tell you this. I’m struggling to face it myself. But, I have to warn you so I will. A few days ago, they came to our house, the Recruiters. They’re just as everyone says, cruel, heartless and completely under B.L.Ind’s control. Anyway, they took your father. He had no choice, he tried to fight but they were too powerful and he was too weak. He’s gone. And you know what they say, it takes a week to become a Drac and those that are like him are sent outside. So be brave and wary, love. It’s doubtful that you’ll encounter him but remember, he won’t be the man you remember him to be. I love you, my darling. Stay strong. Mum[i/] A trance took over me that was only shaken by the sound of my bowl hitting the floor. My own father…. A Drac.