The Secrets Buried With Us | COMPLETE

2| Judgement Day

Nova's POV

I HAD ONLY TAKEN THE Metro Train a couple of times, but I had never thought in a million years that I'd be riding it while handcuffed. If there was anything I had learned during the painfully long ride to The Dome, it was that the Reapers weren't big on small talk. They sat across from me on the train, not exchanging a single word between me or each other.

Feeling uncomfortable in the heavy silence, I averted my gaze outside where the morning was on the horizon and the city was beginning to wake up. I watched the cars and people go by, amazed at how miniature they appeared from that height. I shifted every two seconds in my seat, the nerves and anxiety building up inside me until it felt like I could barely take it anymore.

When the Reapers had taken me from my home, it took everything inside me not to scream and make a scene. Why would I kill Nick? I had been worried sick trying to find out what had happened to him, only to find that I had been accused of murdering my best friend. No matter how hard I pleaded, the Reapers had refused to listen, and they grabbed me by the arms, handcuffed me, and dragged me out of the house, the action so natural that it seemed devoid of any emotion or remorse.

I struggled not to try escaping them, but only a fool would be stupid enough to try and escape the grasp of a Reaper. They would kill you in seconds. A couple of minutes later I felt the train slow down as we approached the Dome. I'd never been this close to the building before, as most people avoided being near it. The Dome's massive metal roof beamed as the first ray of golden sunlight hit it. The windows of the building were dark and tinted, leaving no hint about what could be inside.

"We are here," one of the Reapers announced as the train came to a halt just outside a huge, heavy-looking metal gate. The doors of the train slid open and we stepped out of it. As if sensing our arrival, the gates swung open, revealing a beautiful garden in front of the Dome. It was filled with streams and ponds of cool fresh water, the greenest grass I had ever seen, and a rainbow of vibrant varieties of flowers.

Butterflies flew happily from flower to flower, living in their own little oasis. Despite the beauty surrounding me, I still felt scared, out of place, and unwelcomed. Some maids wearing plain uniforms covered in dirt tended to the garden, their looks almost sad and pitiful as they stopped to watch us enter the Dome.

Inside the Dome, it was so cold that I found it hard to believe it was still summer outside. My teeth were chattering loudly against each other and I could already feel the goosebumps beginning to rise, but with my handcuffed hands it would have been impossible to rub my hands against my arms to warm myself up. It was also blindingly white from floor to ceiling, the marble floor shining impossibly bright beneath me.

The Dome seemed to be almost empty apart from a couple of other Reapers that passed us now and then. The Reapers yanked my arm unnecessarily hard as they brought me through the hallways that seemed to twist and turn for miles. For the duration of the walk, I kept thinking to myself that either we were just going around in circles or I was simply going insane.

It seemed to be the latter as we stopped abruptly in front of two large doors that were so tall my neck hurt as my head tilted upward to look for the top of them.One of the Reapers knocked on the doors while the other two remained by my side.

"Enter," a hollow voice came from the other side of the door, and the Reaper obeyed as he opened the door and I was shoved inside the room. The room was gigantic, but I didn't expect less seeing the overall architectural structure of the Dome.

This room seemed to be darker than the other rooms, with long curtains prohibiting any light from entering the windows. The room was filled with dozens of chairs, all lined up neatly in columns.
We walked to the far end of the room where there were three throne-like chairs, the armrests adorned in intricately engraved gold, the cushions dark red and velvety.