CLOSED

Chapter 1 - A's POV

I opened my eyes. First time ever that I fell asleep on the train back home. I checked the time on my mobile: 10:10pm, 25 minutes past the time I was supposed to leave the train. I quickly checked the line informations: that's right, I missed my station, and the train was heading to the closed city... I started to panic. I wanted to get up and pull the alarm but as soon as I tried to move, a hand stopped me on my attempt.

- Don't do that...

- Don't touch me! I yelled back and saw a young men, in his twenties, a politician obviously. Blond slicked back hair, tanned skin, thin face. Even though we were sitting, he seemed tall. His navy suit was perfect, as if sewn on demand, the sign of the Dome on the left pocket of his jacket, like everyone else. He associated it with a white shirt and a striped tie. Or maybe his wife did. I checked his hand: no ring. Doesn't mean he has no girlfriend. I looked back at his face to realize that he was staring at me with his blue eyes.

- Listen if you make a scene, you can get into big troubles... Don't do anything that can catch their attention. He said directing me with his look to a group of politicians sat down a little further.

- But I can't... I murmured.

- You'll have to. The last train back left 5 min ago, he murmured checking his phone. I'm taking you home. Just don't look suspicious... Act normal! And put your scarf back on... If anyone sees your tattoo, we'll have problems, he whispered, opening back his book.

I nodded, put my scarf on and stared at the info screen, blood rushing through my veins, waiting for the final countdown before the arrival. What if his plan doesn't work? What if they arrest me? What if I don't ever get to see my parents again? What if it works...?

    I've never been to Terranova. I was only one year old when they closed the city 17 years ago. As long as I can remember, it has been like that. No apparent reason for them to do that. They just did. They shut themselves from the five other cities and kept contact just through the Dome and their politicians, the only one allowed to leave the city. In fact we don't really talk, except when it comes to Dome's related subjects. Plus, they have blocked any electronic communications.

I've been working there in the business council for three months now: three months that I've been trying to get some informations. After the coalition, the six cities built the Dome, as a place to discuss anything that is common: business, law, ecology, ressource, health... really everything. That's why we have a tattoo on our sternum, to be able to tell people apart. Working at the dome is considered to be the best thing that can happen to you. When you walk on the street with your Dome's suit on, people look at you with respect and envy. I like that, plus, I'm one of the youngest people working there. It's kind of enjoyable, I have to admit it. I'm the first in the family, to work there. My father is an engineer and my mother is a teacher at the university. It's thanks to her that I got so passionate about history and geopolitics. I ended up working in the business council, but in business, knowing what happened in the past is, believe me, quite useful.

    Everyday starts with an intern business council meeting, followed by a global business council meeting with every other city. On the afternoon and most of the time, until very late in the evening, we usually end up working in our office: writing reports, planning the projects we've been working on, and preparing the next's day meetings. Every Monday, we have the Assembly: counselors like me are not supposed to go, but curious as I am, and using my magic « puppy eyes » stare, I managed to convince my superior Magdalena, a business council representative to take me with her. I told her it's because I want to learn more, but in fact it's just another occasion to spy on the Novians. I haven't found anything particular. They just all look so confident, and smart, and so... perfect. It's like they've taken all the most attractive top models and they've put them in one city all together.