Toxic City

Chapter 3

"Abi? Abi?" Trent waves a hand in front her face, pulling her back to reality.

"Huh?" She blinks, blotches of space clouding her perception. "What is it?" Abigail asks.

"He's been talking to you for the past ten minutes." Leah flickers her golden hair over her shoulder with entertainment. "What's up girl? You have been spacing all day."

"You weren't even paying attention in class today. That's rare for you, honor student." Trent says, grabbing Abigail's hand and cupping it in his own.

They all lay sprawled on the roof of one of the school buildings after educational hours are over. At this time, everyone is returning home, Ally most likely at home by now waiting for Abigail.

"Sorry, just thinking." She glances at the slum district, past the honor district where the commoners live. A small wall caging the Furrows out like it's their own little trash city beyond it. It's hard to tell if the wall is blocking them out, or trapping humans in.

Black smog clouds the area, and the roofs going from shingles to rusty metal plates balancing on wood shacks. Most of the houses in the slums were made by the Furrow that live there. Trash litters the streets, the putrid smell enough to scare the defense officers away and keep the rich out.

"Hey..." Abigail begins, "Do you guys...hate the Furrow?" She asks, skeptical.

Leah goes from snarky silence to bursting laughing and sputtering. "You're funny! Of course not! Hates a strong word!" She says. "We despise them!" Dropping the laughing as quickly as dropping a coin, she curls her nose up. As if smelling a pile of trash and Furrow shit isn't enough to make her be disgusted.

"Furrow were the cause of the Plague after the Third Reset, not to forget they started the Third Reset." Leah states it as a fact. She always sees herself as the historian of the group, bragging about her smarts.

"But why? Why is that an assumption? Is there proof they started it?" Abigail says with dissatisfaction.

"Abi...." Trent gives her a look of pity as if not knowing is a sin. "The Third Reset started because humans saw that most political and economical issues were stationed around Furrows. To settle the dispute they stabilize balance laws for humans and Furrows to have a more effective way of living in harmony. However, as humans tried to create that new world of equality, we came to the understanding that Furrows...are not humans. Just how tomatoes are not a vegetable but a fruit, they disguised themselves among humans to hide their malicious intentions."

Leah interrupts with a giggle. "Really? A tomato? That was the best you could come up with?"

"Shut up." Trent frowns, continuing. "Furrows did not accept the new laws and revolted against the government like the animals they are, causing chaos. Which started the war, and lead to the Third Reset." He holds his hand out over him. "And we know how that ended."

Abigail casts her gaze downward.

Trent doesn't stop, continuing the explanation. "It's no assumption that they started the Third Reset. They should have cooperated with the higher species choices, basic survival instincts. But, chose to kill millions of people instead. And due to that, the Plague spread easier. All of it is their fault.

"Abigail, I understand that you are a kind person. But don't pity them. They almost killed our kind by not understanding their role in the selective process of being the-"

"Prey." Abigail spits, cutting him off. "But...they aren't just animals. They are hum-"

Leah covers her mouth before she is able to say more. "Don't go there, Abi. If people hear you side with the Furrow and presume..." she whispers the rest, "they are human, then you are going to have a bad time. It is against the foundation of the Synix system to doubt their judgement, and if you question it, that is opposing your own race, your own people. Listen, do not question it. This is how things are."