I felt grass underneath my feet and it was like I’d never seen grass before in my life. I wanted to lie down and wriggle on it, enjoy the touch of something so natural and beautiful after so much concrete darkness.
I could finally put the heavy box of supplies down.
It took a few minutes for everything to come into focus after adjusting to the lights. Everyone was crowded around the tunnel entrance, unsure if it was safe to go too far. As much as we all hated that tunnel now, it did offer some level of perceived safety.
We were standing in the middle of a forest. Tall trees surrounded us for as far as I could see. I’d never seen a place like this in Aria, which instantly made me think we were somewhere we shouldn’t be – perhaps on a private estate near Stone’s complex.
The trees were old and thick, covered in moss that was greener than the deepest of emeralds. A layer of brush had built up on the ground, providing shelter for a million little insects.
I’d never seen trees like them before.
Never.
A hill of rocks were set on top of the tunnel, trying to hide it in the natural landscape. I started to climb it, needing to be up higher to get my bearings about where we were. I needed to know which direction we should head to stay out of trouble.
Adrenalin was the only thing making my fatigued limbs move. All I could think about was resting but we couldn’t do that until I knew we were safe. I’d led everyone there and now I had to lead them again.
My fingers kept slipping on the mossy boulders. It wasn’t as thick there as on the trees but it was enough to make my hands and feet lose their hold on several occasions.
Enough to make me want to give up.
Still, I climbed higher and higher until I could stand on top of the large boulders. It was dizzyingly high on top, making my head spin while I adjusted to the new view.
I turned around.
And stopped.
Dead in my tracks.
It couldn’t be real. My eyes had to be playing tricks on me. Perhaps I was dreaming, maybe I’d died in the bunker and was imagining it all. Because never in my life would I ever think I would be seeing what I was.
It was Aria City, standing in all its glory with its tall buildings and flags flying on all the highest of towers. A cloud of smoke was lingering on one side, swallowing the area in its grayness. I hoped Reece was nowhere near it, something bad must have happened there. I didn’t want him near anything bad.
The city was pretty when viewed like this. You could imagine the people were happy to live there, in amongst the beautiful buildings and proud-standing monuments. You could imagine stories for them all, their lives happy and perfect.
I could see the city in its entirety.
Including the thick and solid wall around it.
We were outside Aria.
OUT NOW
One Spark of Hope
IT is time for the revolution
Also by the Author:
A Hairy Tail
Cinderella is Evil
The Fairy Tales Retold Series
The Star Kissed Series
All The Pretty Ghosts
I Am Never Alone
We Are Always Forever
Ashes to Ashes
A World Without Angels
Angel’s Uprising
Fashion Fraud
Gifted
Love Songs
The Project Integrate Series
The Fashion Series
Dark Eyes: Cursed
Trouble
About the Author
Jamie Campbell grew up in the New South Wales town of Port Macquarie as the youngest of six children. She now resides on the Gold Coast in Queensland, Australia.
Writing since she could hold a pencil, Jamie’s passion for storytelling and wild imagination were often a cause for concern with her school teachers. Now that imagination is used for good instead of mischief.
Visit www.jamiecampbell.com.au now for exclusive website only content.
Jamie loves hearing from her readers, send her an email at [email protected]
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