I woke up and found myself in a dimly lit place. I was definitely certain that it wasn't my own room or a room at all. The smell was horrid.
Sitting up I realized I was in a sewer drain. "How did I get here?" I muttered to myself standing up and dusting off my filthied clothing, I noticed my coat was missing.
I vaguely recalled mother's sobbing and a faint whisper before blacking out. Another self? The instinct? I..... I hope mother and father are not hurt. I need to figure a way out and quickly. I looked left and right debating which direction to go. A shock went up my spine like a shove and I stumbled left.
"Is this your sign?" I asked aloud, receiving another jolt in the same direction. "Okay, okay enough electricity please." I corrected my stance and walked in the not quite pointed out direction.
Light came in blotches and fades as I walked beneath sewer caps. Soon enough I found a ladder and started to climb, only to get a strong jolt and fall back down. Withering in pain from it for a moment, "If you wanted to go somewhere why have me do it for you?" I groaned. When the after ache of the shock ebbed away I got to my feet again and carried on.
By the time it got dark the sewer opened up into a large room. But instead of becoming dark with fading light, the entire place was lit with flickering lights. Not candle light but actual light bulbs of several sorts just flickering with life. Beneath the lights were shelters and small mud buildings, the sounds of chatter and laughing echoing from it.
I walked towards the makeshift city and under the sheltered alleyways. People were starting to come out of theirs domains, greeting each other like it was morning time. Children ran to and from each other's houses playing games and gathering others to join.
I approached a young woman, "Excuse me but where is this?" I asked taking in the sights.
"This is Bottom Ground, Market sector beneath the Peach Creek residence." She explained kindly. "Are you new here or are you lost?"
I smiled weakly, "Does both count?" The girl giggled softly.
"Come with me I'll take you to town square. The Elders can help you." She took hold of my hand and led through the narrow walkways. Dodging children and ducking under large objects carried by mover men until we reached what I supposed to be town square but looked more like an oval. The girl released my hand leading me into a mansion like building, compared to the other homes and shops.
Behind the doors was an immediate circular room alit brilliantly with polished bulbs and a few candles. A dark wooden table stood boldly in the center, on the other side of the table were three chairs, and in those chairs were two elderly men on the sides and a woman in the center chair.
"Ah....Madeline," The woman greeted like a grandmother. "Who is your friend? I don't recognize him." She squinted at me through her half moon spectacles.
"Elder Granite." The girl, Madeline, curtsied in respect. "He is new to our sector and possible not from anywhere in the Bottom Ground."
The men tensed and exchanged glances with Elder Granite.
I stepped forward cautiously, "I-if I may speak, ma'am." I looked at them uncertain. Elder Granite nodded appearing as uncertain as me. "My name is Eddward Vincent from Peach Creek residence," One of the men cleared his throat, the other clenched and unclenched his hands repeatedly. "My.... My mother was a Rebel."
The men relaxed slightly, Elder Granite stood from her chair and walked around the table towards me. Madeline backed away slowly.
"And who is your mother, Mr. Vincent?" The woman asked.
"Kathrine, with a k. I don't know her maiden name." I answered honestly.
Elder Granite smiled almost too cruel for her features, "Oh, dear child, there are few Rebels that leave to marry someone outside our territory but even fewer to marry one of the Facility and have a child that returns to us. But Katherine, your mother was one of them." She cackled lightly. "Very good with her work too. But let me guess you have the 'instinct', yes?"
I nodded slowly. She carried on like I didn't respond, "And you want to try and.....talk to your other self, see if you can compromise and go back up to your home?"
"W-well.... Him and I have had a fine compromise so far, I just want to learn how to understand him. All I get is black vision in white outlines, black outs, and, recently, electric jolts." I explained. "I recently hurt two people I grew up with and I just don't want that to happen again."
Elder Granite stood with a thoughtful look as I spoke, telling what I heard from Kevin. When I finished she dismissed Madeline, who left quietly, and turned back to me. "You were never told of us before? Never in your history books during your training years or at home by your mother?"
I shook my head, "Not once until I met Stephen Lost then from my mother." Elder Granite looked at me with intense interest.
"Stephen Lost you say?" She asked, I nodded. The woman chuckled to herself. "So that boy is still alive." She was silent for a while, a crooked smile on her features. Finally as if noticing I was still there. "Ah, right, for now rest yourself and we can discuss more tomorrow about talking with the 'other Eddward'." She concluded finishing the conversation.
"Thank you Elder." I bowed and turned to walk out the doors.
Madeline was waiting for me outside.
