“This is the movement that saved our species,” the teacher said, while the screen in the middle of the room showed hurricanes, war, nuclear explosions, and other disasters that killed off a big part of the human race. “If we had not done what we had to do we could have experienced extinction.” Could have, Xavier thought to himself, not would have. They didn't give them a choice. They had to be locked underground and they had no say in it.

“The Earth was being destroyed. So the Authority Plan built cities underground, all around the world. Yes, it took 23 years to do so, but once it was finished we could finally get away from nature. Nature, so gross and dirty, it brings disease, sickness.” Xavier had never even touched dirt, all the plants in his part of The Underground were fake. He thinks all of them are. He knows what they’re trying to do, though. They’re trying to brainwash him into not wanting to go Above Ground, breath fresh air, feel the rough bark on the trees for the first time, see colorful bugs flying around and animals curious as to what he is doing. Or there could be no life, and the ground could be toxic, with skeletons crunching underfoot.

Not that he could get out if he wanted to. There is security everywhere. “We wanted to give the planet time to heal,” the teacher, Ms.Martin, said while smiling lightly. He smiled back when she met his eyes. Like they actually cared about the damn planet, if they did then they wouldn't have basically destroyed it in the first place. They don't care, they just act like they do. Ms.Martin looked away, Xavier rolled his eyes.

“And 300 years later, here we are, still alive and well. Managed and happy. The Underground World.” She smiled again and bowed slightly.

 

“Please head to your sleeping quarters, and take your daily pills.”

All of the students stood up and filed out of the the big circular room. They would have to do this exact same thing tomorrow, and everyday until all the minors turned 18. Different instructors, depending on age, would inform us on how we came to be living in the Underground. How great it is, how lucky we are. Propaganda, that's all it is.

Heading back to his quarters, Xavier saw the numbers 1756 plastered all over the walls. He felt someone bump into him.

“Hey X!” Xavier’s best friend, Ben, had walked up next to him, bumping him slightly to the left so that he almost fell over but Ben grabbed his shirt and made sure that he didn't.

“Hey Ben” he said continuing to walk to his quarters. He and Ben slept in the same quarters. Usually people shared a room with their families. But he and Ben were dropped off by their parents at a foster space in Ohio when they were babies.

“How was class?” B asked.

Ben is 17, while Xavier is 16, so they don’t have the informative class together.

“Eh, you know, the usual.”

Ben smiled, staring at his friend for a few seconds, then looked away. They walked in silence until they got back to their room. At the door they looked far down the hall and saw a giant locked door with the words ‘Exit from Ohio2, Entrance to Ohio3’. The world was separated into factions, there were tons of them. Each of the parts has hundreds of rooms, entertainment areas, small schools, and other areas. The areas have one door that leads to other parts. No one ever enters other sections other than their own, except for the leader of their part. No one even knows who the leader is, though. They unlocked their bedroom door and entered, kicking off their shoes. The 16 year old student walked over to the mirror to look at himself. He had chin length brown hair, and misty brown eyes. His cheeks had a natural pink to them. His features tended to be very sharp.

Ben was over at the little toaster, making toast.

“I wonder when Joe and Kevin are going to be back from their classes,” the blond haired friend questioned while waiting for his toast to pop up.

They roomed with 2 other people, Kevin a 17 year old boy, and Joe a 16 year old girl. Xavier turned away from the mirror looking at their relatively small room. There were 2 bunk beds, and a door that led to a small bathroom. The walls were a light yellow color, and there was a desk and of course with a little toaster on it. They all had little dressers near their beds, for their clothing and 3 personal possessions. And on their dressers was 1 pill each. They say it limits brain activity. They, the Authority Plan, say we take it so the people don’t try and escape to anywhere, or think of anything to risque.

Xavier stared at the pill on his dresser thinking.

“I’m not gonna take the pill today.” Ben's head shot up, his toast had just popped up. He was looking at his friend with wide eyes.

“What are you talking about, ma cherie?” asked Ben, stunned. Xavier was just so tired of everything. He has always suspected that everyone was lying about something. And today he was going to find out. He’s going to try and get above ground.

“Don’t you wanna see what’s up there? What’s actually up there not what they say?”

“Um, no,” Ben said, looking overall scared. “We should take our pills, and just head down to lunch.”

“No, the Watchers will be focused on the Eating Center, that’s where all the minors are. We would have a better chance.” Xavier smiled, and walked closer to Ben.

“Aren’t you just kinda tired of listening to the same stuff everyday? I think they’re all lies. I know you don’t, but please - I thought you loved adventure.” Xavier looked at the ground.

“Xavier Jackson you’re crazy. Let’s go.” Ben smiled widely. He grabbed X’s hand and started to run toward the door.

“Wait” Xavier pulled away and walked over to his dresser. He opened one of the drawers and pulled out a necklace with a heart on it. He squeezed it in his hands and closed his eyes, listening to his breathing. It was the only thing that was left with him when he was dropped off by his parents at the foster section of the Underground.  

“Prêt à partir maintenant? Ready to go now?” Ben asked, smiling lightly.

“Yeah,” Xavier answered turning around and giving Ben a heartfelt hug. They stayed like that for a few more seconds.

“Okay, we’re going to walk casually towards the exit door, then fastly try to figure out what the code is,” Xavier explained.

“How the hell are we gonna do that?” The brown haired 16 year old asked with confusion and admiration in his eyes.

“Well I think it will have something to do with the number 1756.”

“Yeah but it wouldn't be that obvious would it?”

“I don’t know, let’s go see.” Ben grabbed X’s hand just as he had put his necklace in his pocket. They were now walking towards the exit door trying to look as casual as possible, knowing that there may be cameras watching. Once they started messing with the door, guards were sure to come and stop them. They had to be fast.

They reached the door and untangled their fingers. They located the key pad on the door and typed in the numbers they had in mind.

“17….56”  Ben said while typing.

The pad beeped red. Ben continued to type in combinations. He typed in tens of different codes then sighed.

1,2,3,4 Ben started to type.

“That’s never gonna work.” The pad beeped green.

“What?!?”

The door slowly started to open. Down the hall they saw guards running towards them with guns.

“Hey! Get back here!” The seemed to be leader shouted. She was wearing all black and had a shield in her left hand and a gun in her right hand. Xavier and Ben ran as fast as they could down the hall that seemed to stretch for miles. They finally reached the end of the hall. There were 3 doors, one said ‘Aboveground’, ‘Manage’, and ‘Ohio3’.

“We want to go above ground right?” X asked.

“Of course! That’s the whole reason why we’re doing this.”

“Right!”

Ben rolled his eyes smiling at Xavier. Xavier yanked the handle of the first door displaying the words ‘Aboveground’. The guards were catching up.

    “Run!” Xavier said.

    The seemed to be youngest guard grabbed Ben’s wrist.

    “No!” He yanked his wrist away, the sped up running a few more feet until they were running up a staircase.

    “Look!” yelled Xavier with an astonished yet scared look in his eyes.

The stairs were turning into a slide behind them. They ran faster up the stairs as some of the guards fell off, sliding to the floor below. They ran and ran, finally they reached the top.

    “Where do you think you’re going!?!” The younger looking guard with short ginger hair raised his gun. His finger on the trigger. Ben grabbed Xavier’s cold hand. He was scared.

    “Run.” He said quietly. He knew what would happen if he didn't. And he wasn't going to let that happen. The soon to be lovers ran as fast as they could, the guard which X saw on his name tag that his name was John. He doesn't like that name. John. Xavier looked over his shoulder, he saw the guard raising his machine gun while still running. He again saw the guard ‘John’ put his finger on the trigger slowly. He had a smirk on his face and looked into Xavier’s eyes.

    “No!” Screamed Xavier, as the guard pulled the trigger sending a bullet straight through the loving friends back. He fell forward onto Ben. Ben turned around Xavier still on top of him.

    “No, no, no, no” Ben exclaimed with tears brimming his eyes.

    Ben pushed his friend off of him gently, then ran at the guard. They both had scared looks on their faces, but for two very different reasons. Ben grabbed the guard's gun and smashed his face with it. The guard fell over unconscious. Ben ran back to Xavier, laying there lifeless and limp on the ground. He grabbed him in his arms, and put his head next to his chest. Blood was pouring everywhere, Ben had it all over his hands.  

    “Xavier” Ben was gasping trying to find air, hot tears were rushing down his cheeks and onto Xavier’s seemingly sleeping face.

    He put his fingers on his friend's neck trying to find a pulse. There was no beating to be found.

    “Please, no, just, no” Ben whimpered. “We were almost there, we are almost there” Ben kissed Xavier’s lips knowing that he was dead.

    “I love you.” Ben whispered kissing him once more.

He slowly stood up and walked towards the door that was only a few feet away. He was going to find out what was out there. That's what Xavier always wanted. To know what was really out there. He placed his hand on the door handle, and slowly turned it. Fresh air, that’s what he breathed in. Xavier was right. He smiled lightly. He could see trees, buildings, and rabbits hopping around. He could see these strangely shaped house things. He opened the door all the way and walked out onto the grass. Two guards came out of nowhere, holding up guns.

    ¨You are not supposed to be Above Ground!¨ The guard held up her gun and shot Ben. Blood was pouring out of his chest, like a waterfall, it seemed to him. He fell over, holding onto life. Until he could no longer. His last image was the clear blue sky with little to be seen clouds. Surrounded by flowers and grass, birds flying high above. The sounds of the city in the near distance.  

the end.