Author's note- Hey,
I'm speaking to you from the beginning of the story this time. Which is super weird. It feels slightly topsy turvy up here! Just thought I'd explain to you guys that this chapter will have major switching POV's. They will be indicated by the *** and will slide between the POV of Kate and Tom and then Flynn's POV. I know this might be slightly confusing because I write in 3rd person but I thought it's worth trying something new. Who knows how it will go?! Anyway I'll be off now. See you on the other side! - hippywitch
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With eyes turned half-moon, mirroring the setting sun, Flynn watched Tom and Kate float towards the 3rd rank platform. He was so pleased to see them.
It felt like he had jumped into a childhood photograph, burned around the edges but the familiar faces were nevertheless safe from Time's persistent grasp.
He chuckled, remembering Law Nine- All communications are to remain restricted to necessity.
The other Purifiers would report him if he'd engaged in Prohibited Communications. Which didn't frighten Flynn as much as it should have. The punishment couldn't be worse than anything he'd already experienced in the Forest Facility.
Running his fingers shakily across the black ridges on his forearm, Flynn caught site of the 2nd Purifier station. Higher rank; higher standards.
And so Flynn's routine began.
He boarded the rowing boat and ascended up to the platform. He passed the emaciated pipe workers. They too would work from later afternoon through the blackening night. Water Purification required constant maintenance and Flynn's job was one of the more demanding on the Rigs.
The Aquarists had it better in that sense. At least in those metal clad suits they only worked during the day time. Though when the week was over all workers would be sent home, suits and all, to be replaced with a new batch.
After the obligatory identity check, Flynn walked to a corner of the platform. In front of him, a circular symbol cut into the ground began to rotate like a rusted nail, slowing unscrewing and rising higher until it revealed a cylindrical crystalline frame.
The tube rumbled to a stop and the teenager stepped inside. His head pushed uncomfortably against the top of the elevator and the rings of circular light around the container began to glow brighter- a given now that the lift declined into the canopy of darkness below.
As Flynn descended he was hidden from the eyes of his fellow Purifiers. He closed his eyes, momentarily basking in the privacy.
"You know, for an elevator you aren't exactly uplifting," Flynn mused.
He grinned and took a bow, clearly imagining an audience applauding his pun.
"I'm just wasted in this place really I ummph!" The elevator had apparently thought different as it jutted to a stop, propelling Flynn face first into the glass.
From the exterior he looked like the victim of a dubiously sourced plastic surgeon, Flynn's face squished up against the glass, saliva running down in slapstick strings.
He pushed himself away from the edge.
"Well that was uncalled for," he rubbed his jaw. "What do you have to say for yourself?" The elevator made no reply, as an elevator should. Instead it just whizzed innocently into movement again.
"'Should have taken the stairs," Flynn said, knowing fully well that there were none to take him this far underwater. The elevator shook once again, threatening Flynn. "Okay okay I'll stop. Just don't ruin my good looks. They're all I've got!"
YOU ARE READING
The Fox and The Forest (EDITING)
Science Fiction3067. The year when the last forest was destroyed. The year when Kate Marsh died. Or should have. Little did she know that the government had plans that would ensure she was trapped in the land of the 'living' forever. The mere mention of the fo...
