"Ash?" Ben asks as I set him down to rest for a minute.

  "What's up?" I ask.

  "What do we do now?"

  I scoff, shaking my head, smiling mostly to myself.

  "Don't know. I haven't thought this far ahead. Not in depth anyway." I admit.

  His eyes grow wide.

  I throw my hand toward him in dismissal, "it'll be fine. I got us this far didn't I?"

  "Barely." He says.

  "Hey, those ferals came out of nowhere." I argue.

  "Why do they want people to come where all the freaks are anyway?" He asks curiously.

  I shrug, "I don't know really. The rebellion's supposed to be operating from the abandoned mine here. Maybe they chose it so those feds won't come sniffing around. The cameras here were all burned up, and those freaks keep most people out. Even the feds won't mess with this place anymore. They don't deem it 'cost effective' to repair the place."

  "What happened up there anyway?" He asks.

  I forget he wasn't even born when west district burned. I barely remember it myself.

  "Place was full of magnesium. It was their specialty. Rumor on the street is that someone let a fire get too out of hand, whole place lit up." I explain.

  "It burned the whole city?" He asks astounded.

  "Yup."

  "What about the people? Did anyone make it out?" He wonders.

  I shake my head, "no. No known survivors. The feds used atmos fields to keep everything in."

  "What is an atmos field?" He asks innocently.

  "They're these translucent force fields that act as their own little atmospheres using some sort of fancy tech. The founders of the city intended to deploy the small ones in case something like that happened. But there was just too much dust everywhere. It caught quick, and burned hot." I tell him.

  "Geez," he says, his face jumping in surprise, "why wouldn't they get the people out."

  "Don't know. The official story is it was accidental, and they wanted to keep the rest of the mining district safe. Because 'they care about the safety of the whole terrace'." I say using air quotes on that last part and scoff, "but I don't believe it."

  "What do you think happened?"

  I shrug, "that's what I can't figure out. I was too young to remember, but from the bits and pieces i've overheard and gathered, I think the Federation is heavily involved in the cause somehow."

  His face drops as he looks away from me, lost in thought.

  "But hey," I say, tapping his side with the back of my hand, "we're out of there now. I got us this gig. We'll be safe from now on."

  He smirks, "I hope so."

  It takes a little while longer for the elevator to slow to a halt, and I don't complain. I haven't eaten for a few days. My body could use the rest. I look at the ID and device and set them in the corner next to the doors. They can't see we have them. It's a bunked hiding spot, but it's out of view enough for us to get out of here quick.

  When the elevator slows, I force myself to stand. My knees pop and my hips groan in protest. I need real sleep and a good hot meal.

  I grab Ben up and wait as the elevator opens. A blinding white light invades the small space and we both shield our eyes with our hands.

  "Exit the elevator and stand still." A female voice says.

  If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

  I do as they ask and a laser scans us up and down.

  "Where is your sponsor?" They demand as the laser finishes its job.

  "He said he had more to take care topside. Said he'd go ahead and send us down and to meet him later I guess? Said you guys were good, that you'd take care of us." I explain, lying through my teeth.

  "Who sent you?" She asks.

  "Zeke Markos."

  Her shoulders square a bit as she sits up a bit taller.

  "Very well. Through the door you'll find Anchorage main. Report to the Citadel. Follow the sidewalk left all the way. Can't miss it." She says, allowing me to pass through.

  Her stiffness sends chills down my spine, and I break eye contact. My hand tightens into a fist behind me seeing the respect they have for him. What lies did he have to sell them to get them to react that way based purely off his name?

  I walk forward once I'm given the signal, through the doors. A blinding light smacks me in the face, forcing me to cover my eyes with my hand. Wind blows by me carrying a sweet smell in the breeze, grabbing my attention as my eyes adjust.

  Pink petals on dark brown trees sway in the wind. Delicate flying creatures flutter through the air, surfing the breeze. Green grass carpets the ground underneath the trees with a stream of clear water flowing next to the sidewalk.

  My jaw drops as I take in the rebellion base. The sun is out, beaming rays on us below it. A bright blue color decorates the sky above us, taking my breath away completely. No smog, no stench, no trash. Just beauty as far as the eye can see.

  "They have a whole sun underground? How is that even possible?" Ben asks.

  I shrug, "beats me. This was just supposed to be the abandoned mine, not all of this."

  I go left like the woman told me, eager to get out of here before they notice the device I left behind, but also curious to see more. The sidewalks are made of clean cobblestone, and seem to press in when I step on them like giant buttons. Strange looking plants line the sidewalk on each side, with long wispy like arms popping out of the ground.

  The buildings are made of grey stone and brick, and look clean. People walk up and down the streets with smiles on their faces and heads held high. They have no care in the world at all. No fear, no rage, just purely content with their lives.

  "Where are we?" Ben asks.

  "I have no clue." I say.

  "Well would you look what we have here." I hear someone say behind us.

  I turn quickly, tightening my stance bringing my hands up defensively.

  "Whoa, new blood's jumpy huh?" The man says with a wicked smile.

  "Leave her alone brother. She looks fresh." The woman says, smacking him on the shoulder.

  I give them an untrusting glance, not willing to drop my hands just yet. They both look the exact same. Their faces are angular and stern, watching my every move with hard eyes as if I were a wild animal. I notice they have a large matching exotic tattoo that tries to cover some kind of giant scar on opposing sides of their faces.

  "Didn't anyone tell you that staring isn't very polite?" The girl asks.

  My eyes twitch and my face jumps a bit, "what?"

  "We aren't trying to scrap with you, geez. Relax a bit yeah?" She says crossing her arms and smirking.

  My brow pops up and I stay still for a minute, my arms still stiff, ready to strike.

  "Ash?" Ben says behind me.

  I let out a breath and let my arms fall slowly, studying the twins as they lower toward the ground.

  "You just get here huh?" The man asks.

  I nod once, not uttering a word.

  "Alright. Well, name's Enzo. This is my sister Sara." He explains.

  "Ash." I respond.

  I stand stoically, unwavering.

  "Well, you need help getting to the Citadel? I assume you're here to sign up for the war." Sara asks.

  I nod once.

  "Alright then. Follow us." She says walking ahead with her brother, guiding us down the sidewalk.

  My body remains stiff, unwilling to move after them. Their hands are open, away from pockets, as one jokes and laughs as the other shoves the jester. Their clothes are clean, untattered and unstained. They look well fed, their skin is clean and free of acne and clogged pores. They're healthy and would need nothing from me.

  "You coming?" Sara asks, turning back to me confused.

  "I think they're cool Ash." Ben whispers in my ear.

  The twins look at me with realization painting their faces. The sister gives me more of a softened look, with a bit of sympathy woven in.

  "You're safe now." Sara ensures.

  I look them up and down and hesitate once again before finally forcing myself forward. They're too nice, too welcoming.

  I walk a few paces behind them, unsure of what to make of everything. It's all too clean, it all smells too sweet, too beautifully engineered. I have to be dreaming. It was never implied that Anchorage would be anything close to this. I don't understand how any of this is real.

  Then further we venture into the city, the more questions I formulate. There's a train that whizzes by us above the buildings, seeming to float above the tracks. Thousands of lit and unlit windows are moulded into the rock of this gigantic cavern. Flying machines look tiny as they fly high above us, patrolling the skies. Then there's the sun and sky itself that I cannot explain.

  My wild, racing thoughts get interrupted by a hub of excitement. A beautiful dark marble with gold inlay centered on the back wall of the city is buzzing with what looks like dozens and dozens of people. To either side of the place are giant hangars, with the advanced rotary winged machines coming and going, its mechanics hurrying to assess each one.

  The golden lettering to the building catches my attention. This is the Citadel. The capitol building for the revolutionaries. Dark grey and black uniformed people busy themselves with hurried conversation and bury their heads in holopads as they rush by us. None seem to even notice me as I get closer to the building.

  "This is the Citadel. Your intake officer should be waiting for you inside. He will take things from here." Enzo says.

  I nod, "thanks."

  "No problem. Maybe we'll see you around new blood." He answers winking, walking away with his sister.

  I slowly approach the doors, unsure of what to expect. The silver handle reflects my face like a mirror. I take it in my hand, and take in a breath before opening them slowly.

  A huge lobby takes my breath away. Revolutionaries are bustling around just as they were outside. Large posters are plastered everywhere denouncing the Archon and his Federation. There is a stairwell on either side of the room leading to a balcony in front of us. Above that balcony are holoscreens broadcasting live coverage of some operation on terrace four.

  Every piece of propaganda criticizes the Federation and their leadership. It calls them treasonous and tyrannical. It all promotes absolute freedom, and the need to rise up. My throat grows heavy and sinks to my feet as I swallow. I’ve never seen anyone blatantly challenge them out in the open like this. No on would dare to in the slums. It would mean certain death, publicly.

  Someone catches my attention in the shadows beneath the balcony. I’m barely able to make the figure out. He lurks in the dark, watching my every move, making my hair stand on end. I take a step back, unsure of what I should do. Something isn’t right. Those piercing green eyes. They stare directly at me, into my very being.

  The figure takes a few steps forward, and my breath catches in my throat. My hands and knees quiver. Blood rushes from my face as everything goes very still. The man reveals his face in the light, and pops his eyebrow up expectantly, crossing his arms.

  Zeke stands before me, as if he had been expecting us this whole time.