Undercover

Chapter One

My breath made visible by the cold crisp wind blowing through the vents of my room. My body was sore, lips cracking from the cold. I shivered before carefully laying my blanket aside. My feet hit the cold floor as I headed towards my closet. A gray track suit was carefully folded in the corner of my closet. I grasped the corner and flung the tracksuit onto my stationary cot. I peered at the clock, 1800 eastern time. Service bots should be coming any minute now. I unfolded the tracksuit and carefully slipped the pant legs up to my waist. I zipped up the rest of my track suit before heading towards my small wooden cubby by the door. Worn down combat boots were placed inside, and reluctantly I grabbed them. I slid my small dainty feet inside of the boots before tying them. Carefully standing up I headed towards the bathroom, which was really only a small room with a toilet, shower and sink. The rooms walls were mirrors, allowing me to see my reflection. My hair was in a bunch of black messy curls layered down to my shoulders.
"Meow"
I stuck my head out from the bathroom door. Sock, my four-year old cat sat calmly on my bed waiting for food. I smiled at him before going to the cupboards.
"Sorry Sock."
I opened my supply cabinet, grabbing a can of Tuna, and popped it open. I placed it in his food bowl.
"Meow"
Sock ate calmly as I continued to get ready. I walked by small poster, which was really a piece of paper with the recite my of the rules of the under ground society. I lifted up the paper, knowing that behind the poster there was so much more meaning. Drawings of the sky and sun were placed on my walls. Flowers and oceans were drawn carefully beside them. Just like the ones from the photographs, I think to myself.
"Someday, I'm going to see the Above Sock. I'll touch яєαℓ flowers and finally be able to яєαℓℓу breath" I said quietly.
I imagined the wind blowing through fields of crops, and animals laying in the grass. I pulled out the photographs my mother had given me before she left. There were three photos. One was of A field of flowers along with a barn seen from a distance. It was a vast space, the barn being the only sign of civilization in the photo. The next was of a beach. It had trees with almond shaped leaves aligning the shore. And the last photo was of city lit up in the midst of the night. The lights shone brightly creating shadows. As I was tracing the city outline, the door swung open. I quickly put the photos back in the dresser, shutting it quickly.
"Oxygen tank delivery for Kaitlyn Greenburg."
A service bot grabbed my old oxygen tank and threw it away, it connected my new oxygen tank to my fan before turning it on. I sighed in relief, luckily it was only a service bot.
"Have a nice day."
It's robotic voice filled the small dainty room as it left. I sat in front of the tank and inhaled slowly. The air stung my throat as I inhaled, leaving a foul smell in my nostrils. Real air would never be like this. This isn't right.
"Kaitlyn lets go!"
My best friend Ammy Blines came bursting through the door. I stood up and she grabbed ahold of my hand. Her blonde hair was tied back in a pony tail, her green eyes lit up in excitement.
"Where are we going?" I ask. It was close to noon, we didn't have conferences until 2:00pm.
She tugs on my sleeve and pulls me through the door.
" Captain Thorne wants us in the Cube Dorm. Something about an important announcement." she says quickly, while rushing me through the crowds of people
An announcement? What could he possibly want now? I pass dorms and security watches as I finally enter the Cube Dorms entrance.
"What announcement?"
" I don't know, you know only head quarters know about announcements. Oh! Maybe they are finally going to get rid of these old ugly jumpsuits, this gray thing..." she continues to talk, but my focus is elsewhere.
A shadow appears from behind the pillars of the conference hall and holds a glossy blue vial. Two more appear and make their way into the Cube Dorm.
"Kaitlyn are you listening?"
"Hm, oh yeah I'm just....tired." I lie. I look back to where the shadows were. They were gone.
"Yeah...tired." I repeat.
"Please don't tell me you've been up all night working on those dumb paintings!" Ammy rolls her eyes. My chest tightens. I'm not fond of the way she talks about my paintings, even if she is one of the most important people in my life.
"They aren't dumb paintings" I defend. "They're real, I know they are Ammy. Can you imagine seeing an actual flower breathing яєαℓ air. There is proof that those things do exist. Ever thought of that?"
Ammy sighs and shakes her head
" Kaitlyn its 4830, flowers are just a myth please just please stop with this flower crap. What would Captain Thorne do if he heard you speaking like this? Try to enjoy living here, it could be worse but you still-"
"It can't get any worse than this! This isn't living Ammy it's wrong to shove people underground when there is somewhere to live where we really belong. Captain Thorne will be sorry he had never listened to me. I have proof and I see a future for this community. Do you see how inhuman this is! Open your eyes Ammy this-"
"My eyes are open! You don't think I actually like this do you, I want to stay alive they'll kill you if you go against them one person against 2000 is not a fair share!"
Ammy's eyes are burning into me, her hair frizzy. She's giving waves of anger off to me. I couldn't handle it anymore. I wanted a comeback so badly for her, but I knew nothing could change her mind at this point. Before I could think I walk away. I couldn't hear anymore of her words. She doesn't get it. No one gets it, they all live here and think it's okay. If only they knew there was something better out there.
"Ms Greenburg."
The cool voice filled the air. It sent chills down my spine. I slowly turned around preparing for the worst.