The Truth Will Set You Free

When You're Sprinting, It's Hard to Apologize

~Poppy~

            The next morning came way too early. Meredith’s mother shoved us out of the house and onto an air-train, punching an address into the tiny computer. I was too groggy to feel sick-but I was worried the orange I had for breakfast would come out anyways.

            “So, I guess little revolutionary was right about the working, huh?” Hector said, wincing as he rubbed his shoulder blade.

            “I’m sure it’s not that bad.” Peter said. I craned my neck around to look back at him.

            “Well, wouldn’t they tell us about it if it wasn’t bad? Why are they keeping it a secret?” I groaned. The work should’ve felt like nothing-after all, it’s not like we were going to be doing it for long, a day or two and then we’re back home. But what if it was just too much to handle?

            THUMP. I fell into the air and hit my plastic seat with a thud. We had fallen, and now the air-train was going slower, lurching across bumpy terrain. I pressed a button on the side of the train, and the white painted walls of the vehicle dissolved, leaving us in a clear contraption, a full-room window.

            It would’ve been nice if we could’ve seen anything. The computer at the front of the train provided a dim light, which showed only little patches of dirt  on the ground underneath us. The occasional lantern was hung on the cavern walls, but they didn’t show much more.

            I started to blink rapidly as light flooded into the cavern, revealing a group of people staring at us. Behind them was a metal wall, sealing off the rest of the cave, with a large metal door and wheel attached to the front. The group was all wearing dingy crewneck long-sleeve shirts and baggy tan pants, which gave them a dreadful parachute look. I grimaced. I wasn’t one for fashion, but you wouldn’t catch me dead in one of those. I looked back at Hector, who I could see was sweating and shaking. I guess I wasn’t the only one who valued fashion.

            The car slowed to a stop and we stepped out to the sides. I felt the cold air swirl around me and I started to shiver. Maybe the heavy outfit would be more useful than the shorts I had thrown on-but couldn’t I get it in another color?

            One of the people stepped forward, an older girl who towered above the rest of them. She tossed us three outfits and they hit the dusty ground in front of us. She smirked. “I’m surprised you guys dissolved the wall-there really isn’t much to see coming down here. Whatever. Just slide your suits on quickly so we can get started, ok?”

            Hector was the first to slide his pants and shirt on. Peter and I reluctantly followed. The material was rough against my shivering skin and there was almost too much insulation. The group started to walk towards the towering wall and we followed in the back. Peter leaned over and whispered in my ear-I had to strain myself to hear him. “That girl,” he breathed.

            “Which one?”

            “Which one do you think, smart one? The one who was talking at the beginning. We’ve seen her before. She was at the restaurant, before the whole fiasco thingy. Red headband.” Everything finally clicked in my head as the girl-did we learn her name? I couldn’t remember it-spun the wheel on the door to open it up. Everyone trudged in behind her.

            “Well, sorry for not recognizing her immediately,” I mumbled, raising my eyebrows. “The white outfit threw me off a bit.”

            The door slammed behind us and we were in a giant pipe. That’s literally the best way to put it. The walls were all monochrome grey, covered in a thick layer of  grime, filth, and too much mud. We were teetering on a small, foot long ledge on the side. Someone pressed a button and what looked like an older, silver version of the air trains came rattling towards us. The cars only fit two people each-I was thankful to slide in with Poppy while Hector slid in with an older man. Red bandanna girl was sitting at the front, and she flipped a lever, making the whole thing shake and start to lurch forward.