As the steel shutter lifts, a rush of fresh air wafts into the room, and I draw greedy breaths deep into my lungs.
Taking one final look, I bid goodbye to the Mock-Up Facility, glad to be putting it behind me.
I’m more than ready to step into my new life.
I’m aching for it.
CHAPTER 11
I’m strapped tightly into my seat on the Subvee that will take us down to Thalassic City. Edgy anticipation charges the space around me. I exchange an excited look with Jarod. Neve is seated on my opposite side, staring out the side window, looking extremely cool and detached.
She’s most likely seen all manner of amazing things as a bullion. Something like this clearly doesn’t hold her interest. Jarod and I—on the other hand—are grinning at each other like two giddy children on Christmas morning.
Vin stands at the top end of the carriage. He coughs loudly and everyone goes quiet. “The trip to Thalassic City will take approximately forty minutes, and we’ll be leaving shortly.” He walks down the aisle, scanning each face as he passes. “Registrars will greet us upon arrival, and they will assign accommodation. Those of you who are under eighteen will be housed in one of the communal apartment blocks under my supervision. Apartments accommodate two individuals of the same sex.”
A few discontented murmurs spread around the cabin, and Vin makes little attempt to disguise his knowing grin. “Males and females are only permitted to cohabit when they are married. Some rules remain intact.” He raises his hands in a “don’t shoot the messenger” type of way. “Families will be assigned to residential blocks of mixed apartments and houses, and individuals over eighteen will be assigned to accommodation in separate units. You can choose to nominate your roommate or we’ll assign you one.”
A few rows ahead of me, Jenna swivels in her seat and catches my eye. Waggling her brows, she gives me a nervous thumbs-up. Neve’s disapproval leaches into the air. I return Jenna’s gesture, affirming our plans. I’d previously promised her I’d room with her in Thalassic City, and I don’t like breaking promises.
“I can’t believe you’re rooming with her. I was sure you would’ve changed your mind.” Neve doesn’t hide her unhappiness, hissing in my ear. A bitter pang of guilt zips through me.
“I’m sorry, Neve, but I promised her first. And I need to keep an eye on her. She’s incapable of resisting Dante’s advances, and I don’t trust him not to get her in trouble.”
Pushing blonde bangs off her face, she goes rigid. As she twists away from me, I spot the flare of jealousy on her face, and my guilt spirals off the chart.
Jarod is tipping forward in his seat carefully monitoring the pair of us. He pulls my hand away from my mouth. I hadn’t realized I was gnawing off the end of my finger.
“I hope she appreciates your loyal friendship. But you’re right. She does need you more,” Neve says. Her voice is clipped, but her expression says she’s genuine.
Before I can respond, I’m bumped forward in my seat as the Subvee powers to life. A low vibration shudders under my feet and a metallic screeching sound assaults my eardrums as the carriage thrusts forward, slowly at first.
“Prepare yourselves. This will be rough until we reach the bottom of the ocean; thereafter, it will be like floating on clouds. There are paper bags tucked under your seat, if anyone needs them.” Vin straps himself into a seat at the top of the cabin.
Butterflies the size of bats dance a tango in my stomach.
Jarod squeezes my hand. “Try to relax. You look like you’re gonna puke.”
I smile feebly at him, purse my lips, and will my body to calm down.
The Subvee shoots forward without warning, and then it rockets downwards at huge speed. Air expels from my lungs, and I open my mouth to scream, but nothing comes out. My terrorized vocal cords are paralyzed. My body strains against the harness, and though I know there’s no way I can fall out, it does nothing to quell the rampant hysteria pummeling me from all sides. My hair whips around me and I’m grateful it’s short. Somehow, I don’t think a hair sandwich would be helpful with the whole non-puking effort I’m currently engaged in.
A whistling noise rumbles in my ears, and the skin on my face jiggles painfully as we pick up speed. My eyes stinging, I mentally count to ten and squeeze them shut. It doesn’t feel quite as scary in the dark. Go figure.
Jarod squeezes my hand again, and I welcome the reassuring gesture.
We continue hurtling downward for what feels like eternity until gradually the Subvee slows down. A garish crunching sound perforates my eardrums and I scream. The craft rotates in an upward motion until we are right-ended. My spine eases back against the chair, and my rampant breathing starts to balance out. I risk opening my eyes.
“That’s the worst part over,” Vin confirms. “Now sit back and enjoy the ride.”
The side windows expand automatically and bright spotlights illuminate the spectacular view. A myriad of different sea life float all around us as we dart past. Sporadic bursts of water erupt in shooting plumes that spray the Subvee on all sides. We are traveling at high velocity, so it’s difficult to properly identify the bottom dwellers outside the window. It’s like journeying through the largest, brightest, most dazzling, mobile rainbow, and my eyes strain as vibrant colors and shapes dance in front of me.
The gentle rocking motion of the Subvee is soothing. Sinking into my seat, I permit myself to relax.
“Wow,” Jarod says, stretching forward in his seat. “This is fricking awesome.” His eyes glitter with unashamed awe.
“I know. It’s unreal.” We share matching grins.
In the distance, I detect a massive blurry, white domelike structure, which grows larger and larger as we advance. A million glittering lights illuminate the city from within and I’m staggered by the sight. Straining in my seat, I notice what seem to be other similar structures alongside it. Puzzled, I squint.
“What’s up?” Jarod asks.
“It looks like there is more than one city. Look.” I point with my outstretched hand. Having a height advantage, he may be able to see more clearly.
Jarod surveys the scene ahead. “You’re right. That’s what it looks like all right.” He stares off, immersed in thought, as I ease back down in my seat.
As we make our approach, the lights become bigger and brighter, and my excitement builds to fever-pitch proportions. I can’t believe the moment is upon us.
I can almost taste my dreams on my tongue.
After a few minutes, the Subvee slows its pace, and we trundle into a slim tunnel. Black walls encroach on all sides and it’s spooky as hell. I clasp Jarod’s hand in the dark as we inch forward for miles in complete and utter darkness. We slam to a halt abruptly and I lurch forward.
The Subvee is stationary while a metal shutter closes behind us. Outside, the lights burst forth, partially blinding me. Water drains away underneath the floor, and the metal shutter opens in front, granting access to the station. The Subvee glides smoothly forward.
A formidable line of officials stands on the platform, digipads firmly in hand. Rising on shaky legs, I take Jarod’s offered hand and step out into the aisle.
We alight onto the platform where Vin is busy directing people to different officials. He points us toward a surly man with a heavily lined face who processes us quickly.
Following the crowd, we leave the platform behind as we walk through a bustling station, bursting at the seams with new arrivals. Vin leads us to an elevator, and we all pile in. We exit on a higher level and trail him to another smaller station.
A sleek, elongated red and black train with the letters TCRT etched into the side waits alongside the platform.
“This is the main Rapid Transit station,” Vin explains, projecting his voice so everyone can hear. “It’s the only form of mass transit in Thalassic City. Swipe your wrist at the entry point to gain access. The location of your assigned accommodation has already been transmitted to your D-pad, so make sure to look ou
t for your stop. Those of you who are in the communal apartments with me will exit at platform twenty-three. Now, let’s get on board.”
I step into the brightly lit carriage, and a sharp, fresh, cloying smell itches my nostrils. The train is pristine in its newness, and I’m nearly afraid to sit down. My colleagues have no such qualms as bodies drop left, right, and center into seats with palpable relief.
Neve drags me to a section with six seats and a center table, and I scoot into a chair beside her. Jarod throws our backpacks into the overhead locker and flings himself into the seat opposite us.
“Is it wrong that I feel like destroying the place?” A shit-eating grin spreads across his mouth.
“What?” I tilt my chin.
“It’s too new. It feels real weird.”
“You’re weird.”
He breaks out a laugh. “Guess it will take some getting used to. I’m afraid to touch anything.”
“A minute ago you were itching to wreck the place.” My eyes flit over his head as Dante leads Jenna to the opposite end of the carriage.
“Not wreck the place, Sadie, give it more of a lived-in look. So it feels more like home.”
“I don’t want it to feel like home,” I blurt out. “As long as it doesn’t feel real, then I can believe in the dream.” Although I’m slightly embarrassed at the transparency of my statement, I’m thrilled that articulating my opinions is finally coming more naturally to me.
“You say stuff like that a lot,” Neve says. “Why?”
My leg taps anxiously up and down. My gaze bounces from Neve to Jarod and back again. They both stare at me curiously.
“I don’t particularly like my home, so anywhere else seems like heaven to me.” It’s as much of the truth as I’m willing to admit at this moment.
The train glides calmly out of the station, and we’re all adequately distracted as we stare out the window. Rugged mountainous landscape surrounds us on all sides as the train moves effortlessly out of the station. Glorious sunshine beats down on the carriage sending fragments of luminous light flooding the cabin. Straining forward, I look down and stare in amazement at the crystal clear water beneath us. I know from my research that the engineers incorporated plenty of water features in the city, but I hadn’t expected it would look so natural. It’s almost as if the real sea is flowing underneath us.
Unexpectedly, the bright daylight evaporates, and we’re bathed in pitch-black darkness as the train enters a tunnel dug into the mountainside. We all collectively inhale.
We exit the other side, and the city lies below us, stretched out in all its magnificent splendor. I’m squashing Neve into the side of the carriage in my eagerness to soak it all up.
A multitude of glass high-rises and sleek white multi-leveled buildings stretch for miles. No two buildings are constructed the same, and I’m in awe at the creativeness of the architectural team. Soft circular dome-shaped buildings mix with angular pyramid-shaped roofs and spire-like structures.
As the train descends and we get closer, I notice the patches of green areas interspersed between the buildings and the sleek walkways that snake from flat ground to higher level in smooth, curved lines. Row upon row of one-story glistening storefronts occupies a condensed side of the city, and pristine sidewalks line the space in between. Leafy woodland spans the entire perimeter, at least as far as I can see from this vantage point. A narrow river winds through the center of the city, and a massive waterfall cascades into an inviting pool where the river widens at what appears to be the outskirts of the dense industrial and retail sectors we’ve just traveled through.
Now the landscape flattens out, and the towering buildings give way to quaint residential towns with a mixture of brownstones, split-level houses, and multistoried apartment blocks. The river has expanded in depth and width, and several larger houses, with individual docks, occupy prime location near the water’s edge. Boats of all sizes and shapes skim the edges, floating gently on the dappled surface.
The woodland is thicker and more developed out here, and several brand-spanking-new sports fields and arenas pop up every few miles.
Tears well in my eyes as I struggle to absorb it all. Even though I’ve spent the last few weeks walking virtually in this world, nothing tops the reality of seeing it with my own two eyes. It’s so beautiful it makes my heart ache, in a good way. After spending so much time trapped in the Mock-Up Facility, I can’t wait to start exploring our new city. The fact that I’m free to do that consistently blows my mind. That there are no curfews and no restrictions and I’m free to go and do exactly what I please seems too good to be true.
Though my feet have yet to land on solid ground, I already understand how difficult it’s going to be to have to leave here in six months. Already, it feels more like home than my home has ever felt.
“Hey,” Jarod says softly. “Are you okay?” Stretching across the table, he hands me a tissue.
I wipe away the tear that has leaked out of the corner of my eye. “Yep. It’s just so amazing. I can’t believe we get to live here for the next six months. It feels too dreamlike to be real.”
“I know what you mean. It’s incredible.”
The look on Neve’s face says she doesn’t understand the fascination, but she astutely keeps those opinions to herself.
The train stops at various stations to deposit people, and it’s a full thirty minutes before we reach our destination.
Piling out behind Vin, we walk out of the station and into the waiting Autovee. Five minutes later, we pull up at the gated entrance to a large white-walled apartment block. Several vehicles enclose us at both ends, and we have to wait in line until our vehicle is granted access.
Pulling up alongside the entrance, the vehicle slams to a halt and we hop out. The sky radiates glorious sunshine, but there’s no real heat in the rays beating a line over my body. Thanks to atmospheric regulation, the air is warm and pleasant even though the artificial sun lacks natural intensity.
Sudden awareness raises all the tiny hairs on my body. An intrusive hacking pain strikes deep in my skull. I wince, pressing my fingertips to my temples. The sensation is abnormal, like I’m being attacked from within. Then, as suddenly as it came on, it disappears. Inquisitive, I spin around, eyes sweeping my surroundings.
Logan is rigidly propped against the side of an Autovee unashamedly staring at me. Pain explodes in my stomach at the myriad of conflicting emotions threatening to engulf me.
Scrubbing a hand over his jaw, he eyeballs me with fierce, almost desperate concentration. My breath hitches painfully as the yearning to run to him hits me like a bolt of lightning.
Logan is the type of boy you never recover from. It’s no wonder I’m struggling to dismiss him from my mind: He is completely and utterly total crush worthy material, and his effect is only magnified at close range.
His eyes fizz with profound interest as he stares at me in a way that’s definitely not socially acceptable. My throat constricts as stupid hope starts to raise its soul-crushing head. Glancing sideways, he sneers as his look hardens on the spot. His lips pinch together as he pushes off the vehicle and walks away. My hope shatters into itty-bitty pieces.
Immense confusion devours me, and I jump when Neve’s arm lands unexpectedly on my shoulder. “Forget that tool. Come on.”
Silently cursing myself for my inherent weakness, I solemnly vow to forget him. I know I have more self-respect than this. Considering he has some unnamed power over me and that I appear to fall into stalker-slash-starer mode whenever he’s around, I decide the only course of action is to avoid him at all costs.
It should be easy to do considering the residual anger that still lingers in my tissues. He’s played both his unsuspecting girlfriend and me for fools, and I want nothing more to do with him.
I only hope I have the requisite strength to follow through on my conviction.
***
Scanning my wrist at the entrance to our apartment, I step back as the metallic sil
ver door glides open.
Jenna brushes past me. Thankfully, she’s managed to ditch Dante somewhere en route. “Wow. Look at this place!” she squeals with barely contained delight.
We have a large, open living space with a fully equipped kitchen, dining area, and plush sitting room. Two large black leather couches are positioned across from each other in front of a gigantic wall-mounted screen. Various cushions in matching shades of gray, white, black, and blue, are artfully positioned on the couches, and a massive, soft, white rug lines the white tiled floor.
On the other side of the room are two glossy white internal doors. Jenna opens one and runs into the room, flopping down on a large double bed, dressed in light lemony linens. I laugh enthusiastically as she kicks off her shoes and bounces up and down on the bed.
Entering the other room, I stop abruptly, as if my feet have grown roots. My bedroom has a large window, which overlooks a massive garden stretching extensively for miles at the rear of our apartment complex. Walking briskly to the window, I press my nose to the glass, imagining the floral scent wafting from the brightly colored flowerbeds that surround the impressive garden on all sides.
I turn and explore the rest of the room. I’ve the same-sized bed as Jenna, also dressed in cool lemon-hued linen. A massive mirrored closet takes up most of the space in front of my bed, and there’s a decent-sized desk I know I’ll make good use of. Stepping into the en suite bathroom, I hug myself in glee. I’m only short of dancing a full-on jig. A wide freestanding tub occupies the entire left side of the bathroom, and there’s an enclosed shower, toilet, and sink on the other side.
Our family apartment only has one bathroom to accommodate the six people who live there. Sharing a bathroom gets old quickly, and swift, cold, showers are the norm. Having a bathroom to myself is a luxury I’ve never dared dream about before.
Jenna comes bounding into the room like a whirlwind. I scrub my hands over my damp cheeks. She somersaults onto my bed and giggles. “Do you think it’s possible to fall in love with a bed?” She stretches back and folds her hands under her head.
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