Under the Water (Book 1)

Twenty-Five

Ok NOT last, our plot got a little complex and we have to lengthen it... But thanks so much for reading it, and as soon as we finish, keep a lookout for the next book Breaking the Surface :)

***

I stare at the my Vid player with indecision. Deciding or not whether to play the chip I'm holding in my hands. Curiosity wins over and I slip the small metallic piece into the slot.

The screen flickers to life.

The screen shows someone sitting in a chair, but the pictures not clear enough to see who that person is, only a faint outline of a masculine figure.

"Domes." The low male voice begins to speak. "This is a message from our opposing forces, as you like to refer as the Rebels. We however see ourselves as the Liberators. It may sound stupid to you I know. But when you raise humanity trapped inside those little shells of "protection". Not knowing their true roots. Their Ancestors. And their capability. If we succeed we will indeed be liberating the people under your tyranny."

The man paused for a moment. Then started again. "You see, there is a total of 5 Domes right now. the Aurum, Augentum, Aeris, Cristallum, and Stella Plverem. Gold, Silver, Bronze, Crystal, and Star Dust.

"These names obviously say something about your, self-indulged, and proud yet ignorant nature."

The man paused and cleared his throat, I was about to skip his head when he finally got to the point.

"We have compromised and, 'liberated', Cristallum. The rest of you is yet to come. Unless you join us, but even then..." The message ended then moved on the the next one, then the next, I watch all of them in one night, learning things I never knew in my 17 years.

The Rebels live in the outer world beyond us, devoid from our synthetics. Our fake water, oxygen, plants, meat. They live free. In the last message he speaker was enraged as he uncovered something that I found most important of all.

The Domes have concocted a drug that flows throughout our air, every domes air, and the drug that we inhale, makes us, well happy to accept our reality, ready to go with the flow. Oblivious to any problem around us.The information continues to show itself. The inner circle is where the drug is pumped out, leaving the outer piers weak in euphoria. There's also a bloodline that runs through the people, creating an immunity to the drug. Then there's always more.

***

I eventually shut of the Vid chip and lie in bed. Everything's going wrong, I shouldn't know this stuff. My community punishment has turned into some sort of pet job to the Grecian house. My memories are beginning to resurface after all the effort I spent putting them away. 

And Scarlette. Larkken's words echoes in my ears "Be careful."

I rub my hands over my face suddenly missing my life in the outer circle. Dad, or my foster dad anyway, Hydee, and even the laborious grueling work. But the clean air especially, where it doesn't smell sweet, like to sugary frosting.

I roll out of bed and open the trapdoor. Finally knowing what I'm going to do.

***

I make a few trips before I head out. First I head to Scarlettes room, satisfied that she's not in there (probably with her prince) I place a portfolio of my art in her closet by the hidden door.

Then I head to the servants meeting room. There's no meeting tonight so only about 3 men are hanging out. Larkkens probably helping out in the kitchen, even at this time of night she makes sure everything's clean and working properly.