Disappearing Ashes

The Tunnels

I had never been in the tunnels. I had always been told I was too young which made all of this exciting. After I heard James hit the ground I grabbed a flashlight from Mike and shined it ahead to see everything. It felt empty but the echoing noises made it feel like we weren’t alone. “Now what?” I asked.

“Look for stuff,” Mike said simply. I nodded and started walking.

The first few minutes were silent. We didn’t find much, A few coins, scraps of paper, nothing special. I dragged my feet across the ground and realized all I had heard was silence. I shined my flashlight around me. There was Mike, shortly following but no James. I stopped the light at one part of the wall ahead. It looked like there was a turning point there. Figuring that I’d be fine, I turned. 

Ahead of me was basically the same as before; tunnels. I shined my light again but this time it was different. To the left was an opening that looked like only 60 pound person could fit through. I walked in front of it and in sprung an idea in my mind. I tried pulling the door to the right and smiled as the wall moved. I turned my flashlight on again and looked around. I had found something alright.

It looked like the workspace of a scientist without all of the technology. Ancient things people used only up to the 23 century; pencils and paper which I’ve learned how to use before only I wasn’t good at it. Instead of typing letters, you form them yourself with this weird yellow stick thing that has a sharp tip made of a rock. And if you pushed down the pencil a marking rubs off. Weird right? And it has this pink thing on the end where if you press down on the writing and rub it, IT DISAPPEARS.

I looked through the workspace. It had different papers with writing on it but I couldn’t understand what it said. Lots of math involved and sentences that looked like gibberish with a whole bunch of arrows and strange pictures. I kept looking to see if there was anything besides words scribbled on paper. I paused and focused on one thing on the corner of my eye. It was a little metal box a little smaller than the palm of my hand, or maybe it was steel… or even silver. Well, whatever it was it was more valuable than tinfoil.

It lay on a table separated from the work space. It was simple, but obviously valuable and had a purpose. I heard my name being called and whipped around and ran out. Tomorrow I’ll have to come back and investigate some more.

“Did we accomplish anything on this trip?” James asked as we walked across the dry grass. The sun was startling after being down there. After I left the mysterious room, I found a bronze chain that must have been a necklace, and a few rubber bands, only I left those because they aren’t much help.

“We found a few things,” Mike said. He turned to me. “Elle, what were you doing there?”

“Uh-I just went in a different direction for a couple minutes. But don’t worry I didn’t go far.”

“As long as no one gets lost,” he replied.

“I found a light bulb,” James said. “And the round kind, not the swirly ones we use.”

About 600 years ago, a law was passed that everyone had to use the fluorescent light bulbs we use because that was when the economy was really bad. We had to change something, and this really made a difference even though it didn’t seem like it at the time.   

“I didn’t find much. Just some paper clips and some string in a plastic bag,” Mike said.

The two of them started a conversation about something, but I wasn’t listening. My mind was set on making a plan to go back to the tunnels tomorrow. The little metal box- actually everything in that room, had to mean something. I ran back to the house. Almost everyone was in there, talking amongst themselves. In the middle of the room was a cardboard box about the size of a chair and various objects put in it. I assumed it was for the things we had collected and threw the necklace in there.

The day seemed like time decided to slow down. Seconds felt like days and hours felt like months. And I was stuck here in an old abandoned town. It was only 2:00. Maybe I could go back now? Everyone was just sitting around.

I walked out of the house trying to go behind people without being noticeable. I was pretty small; I didn’t even reach the chins of half of the people here.

Once I left the house I ran through the town trying to find the entrance. I turned around making sure nobody was behind me, and stepped down ladder. Even if I go down here a thousand times, I don’t think I’ll ever get used to it.

 I jumped down to the bottom and mentally slapped myself. I didn’t even think to bring a map down here. I’ll make sure I don’t go passed where I went last time.

I shuddered at the echoes down here. Dripping water, screeching rats, I wasn’t used to it. As I walked I realized a flashlight of some sort would have been helpful as well. But I found the hidden room I was in quickly.

I immediately walked over to the metal box. Should I just keep it in here? I could be taken if I bring it back. I picked it up. I had no idea what it would be used for. Literally no idea popped into my head.  I put it down and looked through the papers. I picked one off the top. It was filled with numbers. The paper had four columns. Each column had a list of numbers in pairs of two. On another paper, each pair had two or three letters placed beside them. Maybe it’s some kind of abbreviation. There were about three of those pages that I could see but there were papers all over the table. Another few pages had letters. These weren’t in specific columns were just listed. They also had about two or three letters paired together.

All of the other pages had diagrams with arrows, and equations that made no sense.

Then I saw a sticky note with numbers written: 1859, 1916, 1980, 2031, 2576, and 2698.

            2698 was the year we fled. These numbers had to be dates. It can’t be a coincidence. The strange thing was, Fareland wasn’t even a county until 2150. Only two of the dates were relevant. But the others had to mean something.

            Everyone is probably wondering where I am so I decided to come back again tomorrow. Even though I didn’t get much information, it’s still something to think about. Maybe soon I can also explore a little when I bring a map and some kind of light source. I turned around going in the same direction as before back to the house thinking…

            What’s so special about Fareland?

Hello, Hello(:

I'm sorry I haven't posted since school started. There's just some much going on. But I'm trying don't worry!

Just to clear things up, Fareland is the country, and Dustwood is the town. I know I've said both throughout the book.

I'm actually really happy with this story so far. I think my idea is actually going somewhere. My other books are a mess right now in my opinion.

FAN~VOTE~COMMENT (hint, hint, first vote and comment gets a dedication)

-Emily