Trapped | The Trapped Trilogy Book 1

Two (Part 2)

Two (Part 2)

"So what happens when-are you okay, Eenie?" Nad asks, and I realize she's studying my face. "You look kind of pale."

I gulp and nod, moving my hand to where she can't completely see it.

My glove is melting. I can feel it. Why is it melting? It's curled down past my fingertip now, the purple material sticking to my skin and the smell of burned rubber reaching my nose.

I move my hand behind my back as calmly as I can, and say to Nad, "Yeah, I just... I don't really feel good."

Nad looks at me sympathetically.

"I'm sorry. Are you allowed to leave?"

I feel the glove move down my fingers a little bit more. If anyone sees this, questions will be asked, and I could be thrown out of the Dome. I might have dreamed about what it was like outside of the Domes when I was little, but I'm no longer concerned with it, especially if it means being exiled from society and losing everything I've worked so hard to accomplish. Everything and Nad, my new best friend.

But something inside me is still curious about the outside world. What's out there that the Government doesn't want us to know about? To see? Why are we inside the Dome, and how did this all happen? We were taught that it was because the rest of the world had been destroyed, and that our ancestors were the only people left afterwards. We were taught the rules were created to make a better society. To make sure history won't repeat itself. But what if that isn't the reason why they're there? What if it's a bigger reason then anyone inside the Dome realizes? What if the Government is hiding something?

"Yeah," I croak, pulling myself from my thoughts. "Yeah, I'll just have to sign out. Um... I'll see you later, Nad. Don't miss a panel."

She nods and says, "Feel better! Big day today!"

I smile sheepishly at her, remembering that today is the day that I will meet the guy who is supposed to be with me for the rest of my life. The rest of my life being the last twelve and one-half years I am allowed to live.

I direct the safety swing down to the ground with the joystick on the right side, and unbuckle the seat belt. The feminine voice announces the removal, and a hologram appears in front of me, flickering uncontrollably (it's new, and I think it was installed because of me). Between the flickers, I make out the word STATUS.

I use the holographic keyboard at the bottom of the spazzy screen to type in SICKNESS and press enter, and the hologram disappears.

I start to walk, and I look at the glove. The entirety of each rubber finger is melted off. I rip both gloves off, and dispose of them in a trashcan as I pass it. They land inside without a sound.

The bus stop isn't far, and when I reach it, I sit down on the bench and place my head in my hands.

What's happening to me?

I look up to the fake sky, and watch as fake birds fly across it.

What would it be like to see real birds? To hear them sing and chirp and watch as they fly across the sky gracefully? To feel real wind and feel real water running in a river? All I can do is wonder. And that's all I'll ever do, all I've ever done.

The big white rounded rectangle of a bus creeps up, and its doors open smoothly. I climb on and sit down a few seats behind the bus driver. She turns over her shoulder to look at me.

"You going to End Drive?" She asks.

"Yeah," I say. "I left work early. I'm not feeling too good."