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of the war we’ve all been dreading.
    “You’re starting the war,” I state. A steady smile remains stuck to Rupert’s lips, but I can’t help but notice the almost imperceptible beads of sweat on his forehead. He doesn’t know if we can win.
    “The war has been going on for years. Now we’re taking action,” Tor butts in. I raise my glance to his. The anger in his eyes radiates toward me.
    “And if we don’t win?” I counter. I’m expecting a lapse in response, but Rupert is prepared.
    “We have safety measures in place. For the past decade we have been building compounds, much like the one you’ve been living in. If we must, there is a switch that will lock these areas down forever. Most of the space has already been purchased,” he explains.
    By all of the wealthy denizens of the Underground, of course, but he doesn’t bother adding that. The rest of us will be left to chance, left to a terrible death by Harpy extremists. I can hear the screams of terror in my mind. I slam my eyes shut, willing the sounds to fade away.
    I don’t even want to ask the question burning on my lips. What about us? What about Asher and Myra and Shelley and Grier and Sandy? I already know what the answer will be.
    Rupert brings his hand forward, and I flinch as he strokes the side of my cheek.
    “I know it’s been rough for you recently, but I’ve only been trying to prepare you, to make you as strong as possible. It’s been a long day. Essa will escort you to your new lodgings. I would suggest you shower and catch up on your sleep. Tomorrow we will talk more about everything and I think you will come to realize what side you should be on.”
    He kisses me gently on the forehead and strides out of the room, Tor and Rassler on his heels. The door closes, and then it’s just me and Essa. She rushes toward me; I must be trembling.
    “He’s psychotic,” I whisper. Essa strokes a strand of my hair behind my ear.
    “You haven’t seen the worst of it,” she replies. Her eyes stare past me, to an unknown place filled with terror I’ve yet to imagine. Then she suddenly snaps out of it.
    “Let’s get you to your room. You look like you could use a nice, long shower.”

     

    Dust slides past my feet on the wind as we trudge through the wasteland. Both Essa and I are completely suited in anti-rad gear, and every step seems like we’re travelling on an alien planet.
    Surrounding the main entrance to Central and the guard tower is nothing but dead earth; pale and wispy, patterned with the petrified remains of what were once majestic trees.
    Off in the distance there is a hint of green; the Fresh-Air Compounds Elder Corp is building for the rich; areas enclosed with filtering glass so that only pure air can exist within. They look like massive snow globes, though I doubt I’ll ever see the inside of one.
    Beside me, Essa huffs impatiently.
    “Why didn’t we ask for a buggy or something? This wind is unreal,” she complains.
    “And how are we supposed to remain hidden while driving a cart around?” I counter. Sweat is already building inside my suit. The hot sun glares at us, defying us for coming above ground.
    Our plans are haphazard at best. We couldn’t let anyone know where we were going or why, and our search is going to be worse than trying to find a needle in a haystack; we have an entire world to explore.
    But we trudge along, and soon enough Central Tower is no longer in sight; we are alone in the wild.
    “Have you been up here before?” I ask. I motion for Essa to stop, to take a break beneath the shade of a massive rock. She shakes her head.
    “No, I’ve only done VR Mods. I’m sure you’ve been up here like a hundred times,” she remarks. I burst out laughing despite myself.
    “You think they let just anybody up here? It costs the Corp a fortune.” Seeing her hurt expression, I add, “I’ve only been up here once or twice, and never as far as we are now. The tower has too many defense features.