Reality

Chapter 1

"Europa. The world as you know, is perfect. She's dressed in pristine synthetic grass, she radiates rays of luminous sunlight that stretches as far as the eye can see. Not a day goes by that you are not blessed with her crystal blue skies, clean streets, and glass buildings. She is the definition of perfection. However, what you do not see is a gullible civilization, consumed by lies and corruption. A civilization trapped inside an illusion, inside a dome to be put simply. Underneath her artificial land is the impurities of reality. A rude finality, your leaders hide from you. Sadly, we've all been blinded from millions of secrets. Perfectly molded into mindless individuals, deceived and lied to until we take our last breaths. Europa, your precious little Capital, hides behind white lies. From birth we are titled for training. As our lives carry on, we nestle into a home with a white picket fence, and not once do we question this perfect cookie cutter life. Just like the sun, the moon, and the universe; our seeds will sprout of intelligence, energy, and power. It's up to you to decide who abuses it."

Copeland, W. (5010). Path of the Universe (1st ed.). Capital, Europa

"Dad! Where's the toolbox?" I yelled up the stairs as I shut the closet door. "Why?" He called. I jog up the stairs and entered his office, his head comes out of hiding from behind his computer. The room always has a distinct lemon and wood smell, even during his worst dingy writing spells that locked him away for days on end. "I can't find it." His eyebrow raises in confusion, "Under the kitchen sink, why?" I find it weird explaining myself, I've spent so long pushing him away. "What's it to you?" We stared at each other for a minute too long. "You fixing your moms porch swing?" I forgot about that thing, "That wasn't my fault." He rolls his eyes but keeps a smile. I can feel the words wanting to come out but my gut turns nervously. I look around at the bookshelves and the mini-gold statues, back to his desk where I counted all the pens in a cup. Avoiding it at all cost. But there's so much I can look at till I have no other choice, "If I tell you, you'd probably never let me do it."

"Okay, well lay it out for me."

"The Labyrinth." He looks at me in confusion, "I may have read, the prologue or something." A weird smile tugs across his face, "But you always hated my books." Which was entirely true. Until this year, since publishing his books, he was pushed into fame. His books became popular but for all the wrong reasons, critiques wrote awful reviews and labeled him the Corruptor. A common word he used to identify the Founding Fathers. My mom and I shared the spotlight, finding out right away that he wasn't a celebrity but more the local psychopath. It's tough, being the Corruptors daughter, I started getting a lot of attention in school shortly after his rise. I lost a ton of friends last year because of him.

I shrug trying to avoid answering any further questions, it's awkward admitting that his books are actually not half bad. He pushes away from the computer, "And why do you need the toolbox?" There's a pause, long enough to come up with a decent response. "You wrote something about creepy underground tunnels. How every building, home and store connects to some sort of maze." A proud smile formed on his face. I smile back awkwardly trying to scare away his expression.

"So, Is it true or are you as crazy as everyone says?" I've never seen him get up so fast. "There's only one way to find out," He rounds his desk confidently, "and we'll need a sledgehammer."

I follow him out, heading back down the stairs with a devilish plan fueling every step. I'm surprised he's willing to do this, not that he's never spontaneously destroyed something in the name of science and truth. But I never imagined a sledgehammer being involved. "What changed your mind?" Dad asked as he unlocked the backdoor. I wouldn't be caught dead telling anyone e;se. "I saw something weird earlier. At the end of the street. You know that whole bit you wrote about synthetic animals?"