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

Carla.”
    “He’s too nice to have a crush on such a wench,” I said.
    Carla was my arch enemy, my nemesis down here. She was tall, pretty, and tough. We fought all the time over something stupid that happened when we were fourteen. I thought it was petty. Fighting over a guy is lame. But if Carla could ruin my day, she sure would in a heartbeat. 
    “Did you see the way Walter looked at you?” Rachel asked. “He’s got a huge crush on you. Maybe you should go for it, Sky.”
    “What!? He’s way too old. I’m only sixteen, and he’s gotta be in his twenties. Besides, I already have a boyfriend, remember?”
    She playfully nudged me. “Just messin’ with you. I guess those brothers aren’t my type either, but you gotta admit they look pretty good in those uniforms, all big and buff.”
    “You just love muscles, don’t ya?”
    She shrugged, then made the break, scattering balls across the green velvet. “The more, the dreamier,” she said.
    We both laughed.
    “Well, Melvin seems to be kinda into you.”
    “Meh, it’s the boobs,” she said, glancing down at her ample chest. “I think I’ve got the biggest melons down here.”
    “Melvin’s not that shallow, Rachel.”
    “Right. He’s a man, isn’t he? All men are like that.”
    I chuckled.
    “They’re good guys though, like big, giant teddy bears,” she said. “I don’t know how many times they’ve gone out of their way for me.”
    “Didn’t Melvin bring you back some fresh apples?”
    “Yeah. He’s always doing stuff like that.”
    “You shouldn’t accept too many gifts if you don’t wanna lead him on.”
    “Pssh. He knows he’s in the friend zone.”
    “They’re so lucky,” I said. “They get to see the surface, and we’re stuck down here for two more years.”
    “I know, right? It’s so not fair.”
    My gaze drifted to the glass capsules that shot up a clear tunnel straight to the surface. “What do you think is up there?”
    “Sky, please tell me you’re not back on that ridiculous conspiracy theory again. You watch too many old movies.”
    “I don’t know. Don’t you find it the least bit odd that they won’t let us go up there except for a few at a time? What’s that old song say? ‘Despite all my rage, I am still just a rat in a cage.’ I feel like that, and I’m sick of it.”
    “So you’re quoting The Smashed Cantaloupes now?”
    “Smashing Pumpkins,” I corrected, rolling my eyes at her lack of appreciation for the retro tunes my mother used to listen to.
    “Whatever. I think you need to lay off the oldies and the Hollywood classics. They’re getting to you.” She playfully nudged me. “C’mon now. Do rats play pool?”
    Rachel really was like a lab rat in many ways, or at least one of the three blind mice; she just accepted everything they told her. I, on the other hand, questioned everything, and since no one seemed to want to tell me the truth, I’d vowed to find the answers myself. I didn’t believe anything I was told, until I saw the evidence with my own eyes. 
    “They’re hiding something. I can feel it deep down. The few lucky ones who do leave are never allowed to come back down here or communicate with us. Anyone who does say anything about the surface seems to suddenly disappear or have an accident.” I bite my lip hard, pondering. “What ever happened to Marla? She disappeared into thin air.”
    “She ran her mouth. Which is why you should shut up too. She spew ed out this same crap.”
    “Don’t we have the freedom to say what we feel? Why do we have to be afraid to speak our mind?”
    “Sky, come on.”
    “What do you think happened to her?” I asked.
    “I think they took her. Maybe imprisoned her on the surface.”
    “Or killed her,” I said, flatly.
    “Do you really think there that cold?” she asked. “Sure they’re bossy and domineering but they care about restoring this planet. They’re passionate about it. And so was Marla. We’re all on the same