by Ruth Silver
“I’m sorry, but you’re going to have to leave,” his mother told me sadly. “I know this wasn’t how you imagined your wedding day, but it’s no longer safe for you.”
“I know.” It wasn’t a surprise after what my mother had told me earlier that night. I wondered if Rebecca knew why I'd been arrested. I wasn’t sure where I would go or even how I’d get there. Leaving Genesis seemed like it would be difficult as guards always stood duty at the wall. Even if Rebecca knew one or two, dozens usually patrolled the area.
“Follow closely,” Rebecca informed me as she extinguished the flame and we walked through the darkened streets towards the east end of town, where my childhood home resided. Guards patrolled the streets, but none approached us. I wondered why they left us alone. His mother’s voice was soft, answering my unspoken question. “They’re members of the rebel alliance.”
“How many are there?” I asked in wonder. I never knew such a faction existed.
She didn’t answer me. Quietly, she led me across the street and toward my mother’s home. We walked along the grass and to the side of the house, finally coming around back. Immediately, I knew where we were going but I didn’t see how it would help. “The old cellar,” I mumbled quietly, unsure why we were heading there. There wasn’t much but old, dusty, illegal books. Did they want me to hide there until morning? As soon as daylight came and the guards changed shift I’d be found. Having escaped from a locked prison cell, they’d come looking for me. I didn’t want to think of the interrogation my mother would endure.
“Come quick,” Rebecca had pushed aside the shrubbery and pulled back the large wooden door. “Take this,” she encouraged, handing over a skeleton key that had been strung around her neck.
“What’s this for?” As soon as I asked, I already knew the answer. There had been a door in the cellar, locked for as long as I could remember. I had never been able to find a key and wondered how Rebecca had it while it was my mother’s cellar. I found myself with more questions as she gestured for me to go.
“There’s a locked door just down those stairs. Use the key. It'll take you someplace safe." She told me with a serious look. "You can never come back to Genesis. The Governor will have your head and try you for treason. He'll kill all of us if he knows we helped you escape. I’ll send word that you’re on your way. You’ll be safe there, Olivia.”
I took the key and the first step before turning around, eyeing Rebecca. “Why are you doing this for me?”
She merely smiled and gave her son a hug. “Take care of her, Joshua.”
My mouth hung agape. I hadn’t thought he’d come with me, but I didn’t argue or suggest otherwise.
“We should go.” I knew it wouldn’t be long until the government started hunting us. I didn’t want to face their wrath. I felt Joshua’s hand at the small of my back as he ushered me further into the cellar.
His mother closed the wooden door, and complete darkness encompassed us. I carefully took the final step down, my hand reaching behind me to help Joshua on the stairs.
“Hold on,” he insisted. I turned around to face him but couldn’t see his outline in the blackness of the cellar. I heard the faintest sound as he struck a match and used the visible light to guide him further inside. “Give me a minute.” The flame licked his fingers, and he shook his hand. A moment later he repeated the motion, finding a lantern. It illuminated the room, casting a faint glow over the small space. “Grab this.” He handed me a backpack and put one on his shoulders.
“What’s in here?” The few times I’d snuck inside I hadn’t seen any backpacks. I pulled it over my shoulders and took the key toward the cellar door. Using the light Joshua had from the lantern, I guided the skeleton key into the lock, giving it a turn before pulling open the heavy door. A wave of dust erupted, and I coughed and grimaced as I wiped myself off as best I could. Together we set out into the tunnel.
CHAPTER 5
The journey on foot was difficult. Already, I felt chilled from the damp tunnel we navigated. The first few hours were quiet between us. I didn’t know what to say to Joshua. He risked his life, as did his mother, and then he chose to come with me, knowing he could never return home. Neither of us could.
“Let me know if you need water,” he offered.
My mouth was parched, but I hadn’t thought we had anything to drink. In fact, I had no idea what was inside the backpacks. “We have water?” I asked, glancing back at him and pausing for a moment. I knew we needed to walk faster, but I was thirsty and hadn’t eaten since lunch. It was now the middle of the night and likely would be morning soon.
Joshua stopped walking and pulled off his pack. Unzipping it, he brought a bottle of water out. “I came prepared,” he smiled, offering it to me first.
I took it from his grasp, opening the lid and swallowing half the bottle in a few short seconds. Removing my lips, I handed it back as he finished the drink and tossed the empty bottle into his bag. We continued down the path, lantern in hand.
“I have to admit,” I glanced back in his direction as we walked. “I was surprised you had two backpacks in the cellar.”
I could hear the smile in his voice, “We all have secrets, Olive.” He wrapped an arm around my shoulder as we walked beside one another. “So, are you going to tell me why I broke you out of jail?” he teased with a growing curiosity. “I know you’re my wife,” he nudged me playfully, “but if you killed someone, I would like to know now before I'm your next victim.”
I laughed, glancing at Joshua. “It’s nothing like that.” I shook my head. “That, at least, would be a reason to throw me in jail.” I was disgusted with Governor Craynor.
“But your mother?” He raised an inquisitive eye. “It wouldn’t explain her arrest. Unless, of course, there’s a new law since she raised you and did such a horrible job,” he taunted.
I slapped his arm playfully. “You’re terrible!”
“You still haven’t answered my question.” Joshua pointed out.
I handed Joshua the lantern, my fingers having grown tired from holding it for so long as we walked together. “Promise not to judge me?”
“We’re running away together.” He smiled. “I make no promises. Go on.”
I nodded faintly as we walked further into the darkened tunnel. I was silently grateful we were alone, and I knew no one was listening. “I’m not like the other girls.”
Joshua laughed. “That’s not a surprise, Olive. You’ve never been like the other girls at school.”
I raised an eye, wondering what he meant. “I’m different, Joshua. My mother didn’t win the lottery to have a daughter. Actually, she did win the lottery, but only because she had to. It was rigged because she was already pregnant with me," I admitted, letting my words hang in the air for a moment before I glanced at him. "My mother thinks it was the doctor who gave us up today.”
“What? Why? How?” He had so many questions he couldn’t seem to form a single thought. “Start from the beginning.” He kept walking, and I was grateful I hadn’t scared him away.
“I'm not sure where that is. The first I learned of it was in prison," I remarked. "Once Mom was arrested she told me the truth. I was conceived naturally, and they had to pay a doctor to include her name in 'The Day of the Chosen'. She went back to the doctor before the marriage ceremony, and I guess the doctor had a change of heart."
“Why now?” he asked as we walked faster downhill.
“My mother suspected I could conceive naturally and was concerned with the marriage ceremony that perhaps we would unintentionally try.”
“Try?” he asked curiously. I felt his eyes staring at me. "How do people try?"
I didn’t answer his question. My cheeks flushed at the implication of what I was saying. I glanced down at our feet and the trail ahead of us. "That's a story for another day." I changed our conversation directing it back to him. “You still haven’t told me what I’m carrying,” I gestured toward my pack.
Joshua smiled. “
Aside from a few bottles of water, your pack has some snacks and a journal.”
“A journal?” I asked curiously. “For me to what, write down my most intimate and private thoughts?” I bantered.
Joshua glanced at me with a bright grin. “You really don’t know?" He was pleased to be the one telling me of his find. "Your father had a journal hidden in the cellar. I found it earlier behind a loose brick when Mom insisted I bring the backpacks down in the cellar. I shoved it inside. I thought you might want it.”
“Thank you,” I whispered, unsure I knew words to express my gratitude. I had nothing from my home, nothing to remember my old life by. I could no longer leave flowers on my father's grave, a yearly tradition on the anniversary of his death. This would have to be enough, my life preserver keeping me afloat.
“I know,” he breathed, reaching for my hand. I willingly took it, giving his a gentle squeeze. I felt a shudder course through my body as we walked faster wanting nothing more than to reach the other side of the tunnel, seeking freedom.
My legs were sore, but I ignored the pain. Joshua had me pause to open my pack. He pulled out a blueberry muffin and granola bar. "Pick one," he offered as I snatched up the muffin and unwrapped it from cellophane. He zipped my bag and we continued to walk, eating and talking. Neither of us wanted to waste any time stopping. My legs were burning, but we had to keep moving. By now, a search party of guards must be looking for me. They had probably already searched our house and my mother's home. It was only a matter of time until they found the cellar door and tunnel. My stomach grumbled as I finished the snack and dropped the trash. Joshua kept walking, refusing to let anything slow him down. I knew he was tired – I could see the worn expression as he tried to stay tough. I linked our arms together. "Almost there," I attempted a smile.
"Really?" His eyes glanced around, scoping out a door or an exit. There was nothing.
"I have no idea." I laughed softly. "Just hoping as much. We've been walking for hours," I emphasized. How much further could the tunnels lead? The tunnel suddenly made a sharp curve. Not only were we heading away from town, but we had also started heading south. "What do you make of those?" I asked, catching sight of something fixed to the wall every hundred or so feet. They were small and seemingly insignificant, but it still made me curious.
"No idea." Joshua shook his head. It was too dark to really see much in the tunnel, aside from straight ahead. Even with the lantern the tunnel was dark.
I nearly jumped out of my skin when I saw a flicker and a flash. Realizing the tunnel lights had been turned on, my eyes burned for a moment. The unknown objects were lighting sensors that lit up our path as we continued walking south. I glanced back, watching as the lights behind us faded off every hundred feet. As another light flipped on, the one furthest back shut off. It must have been a mechanism to preserve power. The lantern flickered and sputtered out. Dead. "Dumb luck?" I smiled weakly at Joshua.
He gave my hand a hard squeeze as we continued into the tunnel. "I think the Rebel Alliance knows we're coming. By now, word should have reached wherever they live that we've left Genesis and need their help."
"I'll have to thank them." I smiled, relieved for the illuminated path. I stopped momentarily to drop the lantern to the ground since we no longer needed it. "I'm glad you came with me," I whispered.
Joshua grinned, pulling back slightly. "Like I would have had it any other way?"
I leaned my forehead against his. “You could have stayed in Genesis with your family.”
“You are my family now,” he reminded me with a gentle kiss to the tip of my nose. “We need to keep moving.” I nodded faintly, knowing he was right. Until we reached our destination we couldn’t stop. Every second we rested was a moment we could not waste. We needed all the time we could get to escape.
"You hear that?" I gasped certain of the sound of voices. Maybe I was losing my mind from lack of sleep but I was sure I heard noises coming from up ahead.
Joshua didn't answer, straining to hear what I heard. A moment passed, and I stalled as a shadow cast over the walls. And then I saw a woman slowly walking toward us. I really hoped whoever she was happened to be with the Rebel Alliance – it was all I could think of.
"Olivia, Joshua?" The tall, thin blonde woman approached us.
I hesitated to answer, but felt I had no choice except to confess who we were. "Yes, that's us." A moment of trepidation and fear coursed through me. Could it possibly be a trick? Someone discovered our destination and wanted to cut us off on the way?
"We didn't expect you until at least tomorrow." She gestured for us to follow her. "You’ve made incredible timing. You mustn’t have stopped at all. We're making sleeping arrangements for you as we speak. I thought I would lead you the rest of the way."
"Appreciated." Joshua nodded, following behind me as the tunnel narrowed.
"You know who we are, but I didn't catch your name," I remarked, following behind her. She was several inches taller than me, but even more so, I noticed her well-defined muscles.
"Scarlet," she replied over her shoulder. "Come on." She continued to lead us through the tunnel for about half a mile until we reached a fork. The tunnel dumped us out under some type of shelter. Clearly people had taken all three options – footprints made it unclear which was the right way to go. "Follow me," Scarlet gestured as we took the fork to the far right.
I was grateful Scarlet had found us when she had. I didn’t think I'd have taken the right direction without guidance. I couldn't help but ask, "Where do the other two tunnels lead?"
She paused for a long moment before answering us. "Different sectors." She let that hang in the air, and although I had a thousand questions at this point, I had a feeling she had no interest in answering any of them.
I could hear Joshua breathing heavily, and I knew he must have been tired. I was exhausted. "How much longer is it?" I asked.
"Considering how far you two have traveled already, not far. The compound isn't completely underground," she smiled. "We just have to reach the surface, which is quite a hike up."
"Great," I tried to add as much enthusiasm as I could, but I found it hard considering we hadn't slowed down in hours.
Scarlet smiled glancing back, "Aside from the part about it being uphill, we're almost done. Just don't die on me, okay?"
A nervous laugh escaped my lips, confused by her words. Die on her? She had a strange sense of humor. "Right. Got it." I pushed myself uphill. I focused on her feet, following each step she took and put one foot in front of the other. It was no wonder they sent Scarlet to find us. She was definitely in good shape. "Do you come through the tunnels a lot?"
Scarlet didn't turn around to answer my question. "What do you consider a lot?" She gave a shrug. "We use them when we need to." I gasped for air, breathing loudly as I struggled with the incline. "Maybe another twenty minutes," Scarlet encouraged us. I focused my attention on the ground, watching the path as I climbed the final hundred feet behind the blonde. Then sunlight came into view. I grimaced, my eyes tearing from the bright light outside. "There's no door on this side?" That surprised me.
"No, why? Yours has a door?" Scarlet asked curiously.
I nodded, climbing out and onto the surface. "Where is everyone?" There seemed to be nothing in sight for miles.
"Our city isn't here." She smiled. "We'll take a vehicle across the plains. Won't be that long. Just sit back and relax."
"A vehicle?" I repeated, feeling a sense of dread at the word.
I felt a fierce curiosity as the gate by the wall opened. I knew I should be in class, but doubted anyone noticed. We had learned just days ago about the Monospaces and how they transported newborns to other towns.
I'd never seen the gates open. It was a rarity. Only on days the Monospaces entered and left the city was it necessary. I hid alongside an empty house. The family living there was at work, a job assigned by the government. My body stayed pressed tightly to the siding, peeking out every so often to w
atch with fascination as vehicles rolled in, one after another. I'd never seen cars, trucks, tanks, or any other type of transportation before. I read about a few types of transportation – mostly trains and planes in books – but this was real. I could almost reach out and touch them.
The vehicles came to a halt just inside the town, and my body froze, afraid if I didn’t stay still I'd be seen. The government considered skipping school a misdemeanor the first time and a public felony the second. I'd already been caught once and was forced to do community service at school. The second time would mean I'd be brought before the Governor and he would choose my punishment. I wouldn't let that happen.
I stood from the sidelines, unable to do anything as a guard walked across the street and pounded on the door of a home. I didn't know the family. I didn't have to know them to understand what was happening. The government owned her second child. She was nothing more than a surrogate after her first child was born.
"Please, no! You can't take my baby!" The mother rushed outside screaming as she chased the guard who held her newborn. Dressed in rags with ratty hair, she looked filthy. I'd never seen anyone dressed so terribly. The government always provided citizens with clothes. Why had they not given her new necessities?
"He's not your son," the guard warned her, protecting the child at all costs.
Another guard stepped out from the truck. "Is there a problem?"
The mother's face reddened with tears. As I stared closer, I could see the apparent bruises on her neck and arms. She pulled the rags, once a robe, tighter around her broken body. "You can't take my only child!"
I gasped, her only child? The government wasn't supposed to take a family's first child, only the second born and any thereafter. I didn't understand what I was seeing. I didn't understand what was happening around me.
"Please!" The mother shouted, defying the government and not caring about its repercussions.