Underground escape

Prologue

"We interrupt this normally scheduled program for an important announcement from the White House."

My mother rushed to the TV, turning up the volume as President Woolcott came on.

"The world leaders have been talking, and we have come to a decision on how to address the overpopulation of our precious planet Earth."

We gathered around listening attentively to the announcement.

"As you know, we no longer have room for our ever growing population. Our scientists have done carefully planned research and have come to the conclusion that the only way to survive is for people to move underground."

"How do they expect us to live underground?" my brother, Sage, asked. "There is no light, so there would be no way to grow food!"

"Listen and you'll see," I said, shushing him.

"You can volunteer to help your home, and move under," the President continued, "but if not enough people have the courage and love, we will have to assign people. Food, electricity, and all other supplies needed will be provided. We will alter our energy grids as best as possible to supply the underground, but generators will be provided in some places. You will still be ruled by a committee of leaders from all countries participating, but enforcing rules will be difficult. We will speak to many of those who decide to move underground and will create a government specifically for you. They will be able to rule you better than us, in trivial matters."

"He is using the word 'rule' too much," my mother commented. "Govern would be a much better word."

The announcement ended, and the show came back on. My father leaned forward, and powered down the television. "We need to decide whether or not we volunteer."

"Are you crazy?" my brother exclaimed. "I'm not going down there. I don't care what they say, there will not be enough supplies for us to survive."

"Calm down young man," my father scolded. "If we don't volunteer, they will probably make us go down there anyway."

"What do you mean? There are plenty of other people in the world. What are the chances we would be chosen?" Sage asked.

"Think about it. We live in a rural town. They aren't going to have the super rich people, or the important people move underground. They are going to take the people that aren't as important to the economy and make them live underground. Living out here, in the middle of Montana is almost a guarantee that we will have to move," my father explained patiently.

"I don't care if you go!" Sage yelled. "I am not moving. If they come to move us, I will run and hide. I can't leave here."

I didn't know that he felt so strongly about our home. Then I remembered Katrina. Sage wouldn't want to leave her. I decided to ask him about her.

"What if Katrina moved?" I asked. "Would you go then?"

My parents looked on in interest, and I remembered that they didn't know how strongly he felt for her. He turned red and glared at me before saying, "Do you really think that they will move her family under? Her father runs the oil company that produces much of the country's oil. He would be one of the last people they move under." I realized he was right, and that no matter what we said, he would not move.

The next day, while my brother was away, someone came knocking on the door. We opened the door to find a well dressed man standing on our front step. He held out his hand and said, "My name is John Wells. I work for the government and am here to inform you that your family will have to move underground."

My mother sputtered, "I thought we had time before you came around telling people who would go. President Woolcott said you would wait for volunteers."

"Yes ma'am. We are waiting for volunteers, but if there are not enough volunteers, you will have to move, and we thought it would be nice to give you some warning."

"When are we supposed to leave?" my father asked in his calming voice.

"Everyone from this area will need to leave in two months. As the time gets closer, you will be told where to go," John said, still smiling at us.

"The entire town is moving?" I blurted out. My mother shot a sharp look over her shoulder at me.

"Most of the town is moving," John replied. "There are a few that will be needed to keep above ground running, but other than that, everyone will leave." He turned and walked on to the next house before any of us had a chance to reply.

After my brother got home, we gathered together to talk about the events of the day. We informed my brother of what had happened.

"I told you that they wouldn't be going!" he yelled. "Now they know we are all here, and there is no chance of escape."

My mom and dad looked at each other, then looked at me. I knew what they wanted me to do. They couldn't do it.

"Sage, you don't have to go." I said softly.

He looked at me in confusion. "What do you mean? They know we are here."

"They know we are here," I told him, gesturing to mom, dad, and myself. "They asked if it was just the three of us, and we said yes. You might be able to stay with Katrina's family, but I don't know."

His expression softened as he realized what we had done. He nodded his thanks, then ran out the door to the Aspen family.