Mia Warner pressed her face against the glass. Her eyes devouring the chocolate confections inside the case. She liked white chocolate, but the raspberry ones were good too. She scrunched her nose in thought. She wouldn’t mind the swirled dark chocolate with the white mixed in.

“Hurry up, Hilmia. We don’t have all day.” Her nanny, a stout woman with large jowls and a pug nose, grumbled.

Why did she always insist on calling her that horrid name? Mia knew that it was her full name but she didn’t like it. It was a custom for the Hill’s upper class to make themselves feel important by adding hill to their names so that everyone knew where they were from. She was eight, and she should be able to shorten her name if she wanted.

She was grateful that she could drop the hill off and it was still a normal name. She was glad that her name wasn’t like her cousin Hilleva’s. What would you shorten that to? Hill would be dumb and Leva was even worse. Her brother’s name was Hilton, which she supposed wasn’t that bad but it was odd too. Why everyone in the Hill district wanted to be the same had never really made Sense to her. She liked being herself.

Her nanny was tapping her foot now. She didn’t like Nanny Tinker much. Mia was the one in charge, not that horrid woman. She narrowed her eyes at the woman.

“I can’t decide which one I want. I will let you know when I’m done.” Mia turned back to the case.

“You need to hurry it up, Hilmia. We need to get back to the residence before the end of workday rush.” The woman huffed, her jowls shaking back and forth in her angry speech.

Mia glared at the woman. “You work for me. I say when we need to hurry. My father will be angry if I tell him you rushed me.”

The nanny looked angry, her teeth snapped together and she nodded curtly. That was better, Mia thought now she could go back to her decision without any more trouble from the help. Her father had taught her that she was more worthy than they were. She decided what they did when she was out not Nanny Tinker.

Her nanny was from the Slums. She was a bitter woman and she was not nice to Mia. According to her father Slum workers were content to live in the squalor of the Slums. They were given the chance to better themselves. They chose to be lazy however, and most didn’t go to school past the age of ten.

School was there for them to better themselves, but they were not willing to attend past that age which was dumb. Most Slum dwellers would instead begin working learning the same job as their parents. It was really silly if you asked Mia, but they never did. Her father was a high councilman, a very important man, she knew he must be right about the Slum workers. He knew so much about everything. Bored with this line of thinking, she turned looking back at the case. It took another ten minutes for her to choose which four chocolates to get. She ended up with two dark chocolate swirl and two raspberry filled.

As the nanny paid for her purchase and grumbled under her breath about her ward. Mia stood watching the crowded streets. The people bustled by walking around the market district of the upper Hill. People with haggard faces and dirty clothing began to rush out of the buildings looking tired and unhappy. She watched as they poured from the plants that lined the street a few blocks up.

She’d always liked watching the workers move from the buildings. It always seemed so exciting. Although, as the younger workers poured out of the doors looking dirty and exhausted, she wondered again why they didn’t stay in school. She wanted to ask them. She knew that Nanny Tinker would never allow her to talk to one of the child workers. She waited by the door for nanny still watching the people.

Nanny Tinker walked up beside her taking her hand. “See, now we’re going to be late and your father will be upset.” The woman huffed.

“We will make it on time.” Mia told the woman.

“We’re not going to make it in this rush. Too many people walking on the roads for the taxis to get by.” Nanny Tinker huffed angrily.

Not that Mia really cared if they made it home in time for Nanny Tinker to shove her into a fancier dress and pull at her hair to put it into the tight bun she had to wear to dinner. She hated when they had company for dinner. She didn’t like how she always had to look and act perfect during these dinners. Mia held Nanny Tinker’s hand as she led her out to the line of hover taxis. She climbed inside the hover taxi looking out the window.

She watched the children walking with the older workers and wondered again how she would manage to ask them why they weren’t willing to work harder in school so they could do better in life. It was just dimwitted that they chose to be dirty and tired all the time.

Mia jumped up and down holding her father’s hand a few days later. Nanny Tinker walked behind them. Mia was going to get to see inside one of the plants that the slum dwellers worked in. Her father had been invited to tour the newest water plant. He’d asked Mia if she wanted to go, and so here she was about to see inside the plant for the first time.

“Papa, can I see the children that work there? I want to ask them some questions.” Mia asked excitedly.

“I’m sorry, Hilmia. They are working and you will get to watch them but darling you will not be able to talk to them.” Papa told her smiling down at her.

“Okay, Papa.” She said disappointedly. She was still excited about the tour even if she didn’t get to ask her questions. She looked around at the large brick building they were entering. She walked past the guards, who smiled and waved. One even gave her a lollypop when they stopped at the desk in the lobby to check in. She was sucking on her lollypop as the tour began.

A guide was droning on about boring adult stuff to her father and Nanny was huffing as she followed behind them. Mia was fascinated by the machines with shiny metal parts and loud whining noises. She saw the children working alongside their parents, at least people she assumed were their parents. She wanted to stop and ask them her questions, but she knew that it would make her father mad. She didn’t like when he was mad at her, he would talk to her sternly and take away her allowance. She didn’t like when she couldn’t get the things she wanted so she just held onto his hand as they toured the plant instead. Excitedly taking it all in. Even if she wasn’t able to ask her questions there was so much to see.

It was several hours later that she became very bored with the plant tour. Her father had some business to conduct with the plant managers, so she and Nanny Tinker had been shoved into a windowed room to wait. She was so bored with the game Nanny had brought her to play after two hours of playing it. Nanny was snoring in the chair on the other side of the room. Mia saw the workers were gathering their things from lockers that were stationed across from the room they were waiting in. It must be quitting time she realized.

She watched the workers. Seeing the haggard tired looking children who gathered their lunch pails and coats and began to follow the other workers out into the streets. As they disappeared, she glanced at Nanny Tinker an idea forming in her mind. Humm…maybe if she was really quiet she could get out of the room and follow those kids to ask them why they worked instead of attending school. She could catch one of them and ask her questions and be back before Nanny woke up.

She peeked at her again before reaching for the door handle. She turned the knob grateful it was new so it didn’t squeak when she pushed it open. She ran down the corridor chasing the workers. She exited through the door she’d seen a Slum worker exit out of. She went through and was in the street, looking around trying to find one of the child workers who’d walked out ahead of the few adults. Seeing a boy of about twelve ahead she began to run after him, but as she ran she tripped falling down and skinning her elbows.

She got up seeing that the boy was almost to the Slums she growled, getting up ignoring the pain. She took off after him again. She was almost to the Slums when she noticed some guards standing in a group nearby. Not wanting them to stop her she began walking headed to the door that let the workers into the Slums then sealed behind them. As Mia neared the guards she was sure that they would stop her. Instead she walked right by them and opened the door that led into the Slums. She was surprised by how easy it was.

Mia examined her surroundings as she exited the short corridor before entering the Slums. She glanced around seeing trash littering the ground and people everywhere. She wrinkled her nose at the smell of the garbage. She saw the boy she’d been following a little bit ahead and chased after him.

“Hey, you stop. Boy stop.” Mia yelled at the boy.

“What are you doing here?” The boy asked startling her into silence. How did he know she wasn’t supposed to be here? “I saw you at the plant with that fancy Hillie. Why are you here?”

“I wanted to ask you questions.” Mia told him.

“No you can’t be here. It’s no place for a Hillie. Go home.” The boy made a shoeing motion with his hands that annoyed Mia. “Wait how are you going to get back? You can’t go through the scanners you don’t have an ID.” The boy rushed to her side then, and took her by the arm. He began dragging her back towards the corridor she’d entered through. He was muttering under his breath about idiot Hillies. Mia jerked on her arm mad that he was calling her an idiot when he was the only idiot here. Besides he should be respectful. She was important.

“Take your hands off me, now!” Mia demanded angry at the boys manhandling.

“No, you have to hurry we have to catch the door before the last worker comes through, or you won’t be able to return to the Hill.” The boy said urgently still dragging her to the corridors opening. He dragged her inside and down the hall towards the door. It opened when they were several feet away and the boy called out to the man who was entering.

“Catch the door, Dad.” The boy yelled.

“What? Marcus, what’s going on?” He father asked with a puzzled expression.

“Catch it! Hurry.” Marcus yelled, but it was already too late.

“Why did you want me to catch the door, son?” The tall thin man with greying hair and a slightly hunched back asked.

“She’s from the Hill. She was there with that council man and the manager. She can’t get back through the check points, and look at her. She looks all dirty they are never going to think that she’s from the Hill.” Marcus said. “Was anyone else walking behind you?”

“Damn, no I think I was the last one tonight. We’ll have to take her to the gates in the morning. They aren’t going to let her through the gates tonight. How did she even get here in the first place?” Marcus’s father asked.

“I don’t know dad. Ask her, she’s trouble.” Marcus told him glaring at her.

“I am not trouble! And they will let me back through, do you know who my father is? Do you? He’s not just any councilman, he’s one of the Heads of Council.” She glared down her nose at them, mad that they didn’t act like they were supposed to around her. They were supposed to be nice and not be rude to her.

Marcus began laughing, “What’s your name, Hillie?”

His father scolded him. “It’s not nice to make fun of her Marcus.”

“Dad look at her. She looks like she was rolling around in a mud pit. There is no way they are going to let her anywhere near the Hills tonight, and possibly not even tomorrow. She’s just too stupid to realize it.” He grumbled.

“I am not stupid!” Mia roared.

“Marcus, apologize. I know I have taught you better than that, son.” Marcus looked down. He was not happy about the apology he had to make.

“Sorry.” He mumbled.

Mia wanted to laugh at him, but she refrained. Not wanting to get a scolding too. She was becoming a little worried. Not that they wouldn’t let her go back home, but that there was no way her father was going to let her keep her allowance now. She wasn’t too happy about that.

“What is your name, sweetheart?” The man asked.

“Hilmia Warner.” She said puffing out her chest and acting important. They should know that she wasn’t someone to be trifled with.

“Nice to meet you Hilmia. I’m Toby and this is Marcus. We’ll try to take you to the gates to see if Carl is working. He will at least scan you to see if your story’s true. If it’s any of the other guards it then it looks like you’ll be staying with us tonight.” Mia shivered at that thought. She didn’t know these men and she was a little frighten. Her name should protect her though. Besides the guards would scan her and she’d be taken home.

Mia nodded, “Okay.” She replied and began to follow them to the entrance to the Hill district.

“Won’t mom be mad that we’re late, dad?” Marcus asked.

“Not once we explain, son. Your mother would never forgive either of us if we left a Hillie child alone in the Slums. They have no idea what to do to stay safe. She could end up in the wrong area and get stolen or hurt. Now come on.”

By the time they reached the gates Mia was tired and her feet ached. It seemed like they had been walking for miles and miles. She was getting tired and she still hadn’t asked her questions. When they neared the gates a harsh voice called out.

“Get back from the gates. This area is restricted.”

“Is Carl on tonight? I need to speak with him.” Toby called to the man who’d spoke.

“No that Slum lover isn’t here, so get lost. He’ll be on tomorrow morning.” The man stepped into the light and Mia saw that he held a stun pistol trained on them. Mia tried to walk around Toby, but he held his arm out hissing at her.

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