The Pear Tree in The Painting.

It leered at me like a premonition.

I had dreamt of the same pear tree every day for a week. When it was all I could think about, I figured it was time to put it on a canvas.

It had to be my best painting yet. I took a brush to paper and the rest felt visceral, like my hands were being controlled by a higher power.

The subtle green tones of the pears blended with red and yellow, warm hues of purple and brown in the backdrop. It looked so soft on paper, so inviting. The pears appeared incredibly luscious, but deep down I knew that they would be deadly to touch, let alone eat. An unbearable hunger erupted within me every time I laid my eyes on them. My body ached with the need to consume them, like I was an addict being deprived of my ravenous craving.

I knew what this meant. It was my time. The rumours state that when your time arrived, you would be haunted by a repetitive dream, night after night. Until one day, you wouldn’t wake from the dream.

There was nothing I could do about it. Nobody could escape the Illusions. So I began my preparations, it was all about your mental strength, your ability to persevere through anything.

I read all the articles and books and blogs written by the Survivors. But I knew that it would be useless. Everyone forgot most of what happened in the Illusions. If they made it out the other side. It’s how the Elders made sure no one could be prepared for it or have a cheat code through the ordeal. Most of these written pieces were just post Illusion people musing, making up lies, trying desperately to entice their missing segment of memory. It was a waste of time, but I needed to do something. I couldn’t just sit around waiting to be taken. I would go crazy and then I definitely wouldn't survive.

If I was going to make it through this alive, I’d have to steel myself for what was to come. I would have to remember.

My name is Elias Cleveland. I am 18 years old. I am from Ward Forty Four. I will survive for Eve.

My name is Elias Cleveland. I am 18 years old. I am from Ward Forty Four. I will survive for Eve.

My name is Elias Cleveland. I am 18 years old. I am from Ward Forty Four. I will survive for Eve.

I repeated this, again and again, and again. Like a mantra. Like a chant. It was a way to keep my sanity as I waited for the inevitable.

If it was my turn now, that would mean that Eve would be next. More than for myself, I was terrified for Eve. She would not survive this, I knew that. She was an Abstract. No Abstract had ever survived the Illusions. It drove them crazy to the point of suicide. That was the point, the Elders wanted to wean out the Abstracts and anyone who was weak. They were trying to prepare us for the Reckoning that was to come.

Suddenly the phone rang. Blaring so loudly in the thick silence of my house, it felt like the entire house was vibrating along with it. I didn’t even check the caller ID before I answered. I knew exactly who it was.

“Eve listen to me. It’s happening, I’m going to be taken. Stick to our plan ok? And remember, I love you.”

If I had known that this was going to be my last phone call with Eve, I would have said more, let her talk, savoured her voice, heck I would’ve driven to her house, to see her one last time. But that’s the kicker about hindsight, you don’t know what’s to come until it’s too late.