The Refugees

Chapter 32: Savannah

Edited

We'd been walking for hours and finally the forest comes to a stopping point. In front of me is a vast city with thousands of little lights, alighting the darkening sky even though it's only around 5pm. Tall buildings, soaring high, decorate the sky. The city stretches out for miles, seemingly never-ending. I can feel the anticipation in my gut; A new world. A new life. The night grows darker and darker as the city lights glow brighter. It is all breathtaking and distracting, but not distracting enough as the thought of Ash still tickles the back of my mind, reminding me of our kiss like an annoying alarm clock that won't turn off.

I turn to observe Ash. His dark brown hair looks almost black in the nighttime sky and I can tell he's thinking of something. He notices me looking and avoids my eye contact, my good mood slowly fading. Why is he so complicated?

My dad already explained to me that we were heading to this place called The Dome. He didn't really explain much about it and that doesn't really surprise me because lately he's been very weirdly distant. It's like he's not a father anymore but rather an instructor who has to be stern with his students. The softness I grew up with seems to be seeping away the longer this trip goes on and I'm not sure I like it. 

Instead of going into the heart of the city of Gendale where all the skyscrapers majestically rose to the stars, we head towards the outskirts. You can tell it's developed in contrast to the previous towns, as the roads were made to last longer, the houses looked richer with cars in their parkings and little backyards with them. My dad, who is at the front, turns around, coming to a halt.

"We now have to be quiet. Remember The Dome is a secret organization, we cannot bring attention to ourselves. Understood?" He whispers whilst still holding this underlying authority.

We all nod in unison and he leads the way to a river or at least what's left of it. It flows through a big tunnel which looks like it leads to the sewers. Either this river has dried out or it's the dry season as it only covers a few millimeters of land. I glance behind me to see Amber shooting daggers at me with her eyes and I frown in return.

What does she want?

Ever since last night I've felt her misplaced anger towards me has simply escalated and it's annoying me in more than one way.

We climb into the tunnel leading underground, trying our best not to mind the disturbing smells until we reach a ladder on the left wall leading a few meters down. The first thing I question is why is the entry to this so-called Dome located underneath sewers? What do they have to hide from? After reaching the bottom of the ladder, we arrive at this very dark corridor which separates in two.

"Ash, lead the way." My dad instructs.

Yay, another reason for me to look at him, I think bitterly to myself.

Although it's dark I can still make his broad shoulders and tall figure which is so annoyingly attractive. Why couldn't he look like a duck? It would be easier to stay angry at him.

Angry at him...

Why are you? a voice whispers in my head, is it because he kissed you or because it didn't mean anything to him and you were convenient?

I shake my thoughts away as I feel a painful tug in my heart.

We arrive in front of a door after a minute or so and Ash types in a code and then a smaller opening in the door is revealed to see yellow lights coming from a lit room on the other side of the door and then suddenly there's a pair of striking eyes blocking it.

"Ash?" He questions, sounding surprised.

"Yea that's me."

"Come in! How long has it been?" He says unlocking the door from the other side.