Apocalypse: Underwater City (A Dystopian Novella) PART 1 (The Hope Saga) Read Free

loner.
    T here’s nothing like getting down with the dirt to melt away all your problems. It was a cleansing and therapeutic way to work through my grief. And it was also my way of getting in touch with nature, since I wasn’t allowed to go to the surface. 
    “I took the day off for my birthday ,” I said. “Who wants to work on their birthday? Not me.”
    “ Well, you deserve it because you work so darn hard. I’m so glad I’m off today. My mom works me to death in that kitchen. I’d rather play all day in the dirt like you. I’d love to get my hands dirty instead of waterlogged from dishes.”
    I smiled. “ Oh, hey. I’ll have big, juicy strawberries ready this week.”
    Her black eyes lit up. “I can’t wait!”
    “Brett’s dying for some too.”
    “Well, yeah. You grow the sweetest strawberries around.”
    I chuckled. “I’m the only one.”
    She laughed. “So when is the lettuce coming? I want to eat a nice, healthy salad.”
    “I’ll have more lettuce in two weeks.”
    “Awesome.”    
    My best friend grabbed the triangle and racked the balls up, making sure to put the eight-ball in the middle. “I’ll break,” she said, positioning her cue and squinting to take aim. “And I want solids this time.”
    I grinned. “Have at it. But this gardener is going to kick your butt again.”
    She was holding the stick at an angle, ready to fire away, when a humming sound caught our attention. “The chute,” she said.
    “That’s weird. As far as I know, nobody is scheduled to arrive.”
    I shot my gaze across the room at the glass tubes that transported people to and from the surface and vice versa. The glass lid slowly opened, and t hree friendly city workers stepped out.
    “Hi Walter, Melvin, and Chad,” I said.
    They were three brothers we had gotten to know quite well since they were always down here fixing any problems the place had.
    “Hi, girls,” Walter replied.
    “Hello, fellas,” Rachel said flirtatiously. “We weren’t, uh…expecting anybody, but do you care for a friendly game of billiards on this lovely April day?” she asked, rubbing her thumb on her pool cue.
    Walter frowned. “Not much of a pool player, I’m afraid.”
    I smiled. “I can teach you everything you need to know in ten minutes.” 
    His face lit up as he met my gaze. “I-I’d love to, Sky, but we’re down here on important business.”
    “Really? I hope it’s nothing serious.”
    “We just need some oxygen readings. Stupid machine’s glitching again, and I’m gonna have to reset everything,” Melvin complained. “It’s gonna take a couple of hours minimum.”
    Walter stared at me, then grinned. “You know, Sky, you’ve got the prettiest eyes. I swear, they look different every time I see them.”
    “Thanks,” I said. “I guess they do change color sometimes.”
    “You know what they say about people with hazel eyes?” Rachel chimed in.
    “No. Why don’t you enlighten us?” I said.
    “They’re unpredictable and fun-loving.”
    I laughed. Unpredictable. I was definitely that.
    “Okay, then,” Rachel said. “We’re going to get back to our game now. But you two have fun.”
    “You too,” Chad said.
    “You’re more than welcome to play when you’re done,” she said.
    “We’ll keep it in mind,” Walter said, winking at me.
    After they walked down the corridor, something fell from Walter’s pocket. It was the key card for the glass chutes. I picked it up and my mouth opened to call his name when an idea suddenly struck me. They’d be gone for hours. They’d said so themselves. Maybe we could sneak a peek at the surface. I couldn’t believe I had the key card to activate the chutes. It was like destiny was paving the path for me to go see what was up there. It was beckoning me.
    W e went back to our game while I pondered the idea. Would I return the key card or would I make the most of what fate delivered in my hands?
    Rachel looked at me. “I heard Chad has a crush on