Eighteen

Anaya wasn’t sure what she’d expected, but when she saw the thing sitting on the tracks, she groaned.  A hand gently squeezed her shoulder as Dan moved beside her.

“You’ve done well through this ordeal. I promise you, you’ll only have to endure this a little longer and I’ll have you safe.”

She nodded.  She believed him.  Even though she barely knew this man, she trusted him with her life.

“It looks like one of those metro subway cars.” Dad commented as he stood on the other side of her.

“Pretty much.” Dan replied as he led them to its side where an opening greeted them. “Climb aboard.” He bowed to Mom.

She smiled at him and with Eli clinging to her, she stepped up and into the car.

The “subway” car wasn’t very large, it held no more than a dozen seats, with a small oval window for every other row of cushioned bucket seats.

Anaya followed Mom and Eli and sat behind them.  She wanted her own window.

The men sat across from them. Dad looked over at Dan as he took his seat with the rest of them.

“Who’ll be driving the car?”

Dan crossed his arms as he leaned back.  A sly grin creased his lips.  “It can drive itself.”

On cue, the door hissed as it slid shut.  Then with a jump, the car started slowly and within moments, it was gliding across the steel tracks.

Anaya felt like she was flying.  Everything in her window passed as a blur.

“How fast are we going?” She wondered.

“Quite fast.” Dan said as he closed his eyes. “We’ll be home within 30 minutes.”

Home.

What kind of home would an underground city be like?  All she could picture was rows of caves for homes, with dim lights and stale air.

No more blue sky.  No more spring-scented breezes.  No lakes or oceans.

She sighed deeply as she glanced out of the roundish glass.

She just knew she was going to be miserable there.

__________________________________________________________________________________

“Ana?” It was Mom.

Anaya opened her eyes and saw Mom standing over her.  She felt confused as she peered over to the window.  They’d stopped.

“Did I fall asleep?”

“Yes.” Mom smiled. “We’re finally here.”

“Thank goodness.” She muttered as she stood up, but swayed towards the floor.

“Easy.” Dan’s hand firmly grasped her arm.

“Sorry.” She shook her head. “Dizzy.”

“When was the last time you ate?” He asked.

“Can’t remember.”

“Here, have my granola bar.” He offered.

“Thanks.” Anaya accepted it and immediately tore open the wrapper, and bit into the content.

Dan chuckled. “Hungry lady.”

“Mm-hmm!” She nodded as she finished the remainder with the next bite.

“Ready?”

“Definitely.”  Anaya then followed Dan to the door and stepped down to the gravelled ground.  She looked around and saw that the tunnel had ended.  Directly ahead was a pair of gray elevator doors.

Great. Another elevator.

Dan guided them to the one on the right, and the door automatically slid open.

“We’re just about home.” He said as they followed him inside.

Anaya studied the metallic walls.  They were shiny. Reflective. She grew horrified when she caught sight of the sorry, dirty state she was in.

Hope they have showers down here.

The elevator then settled quietly and smoothly as it came to a halt.  When the door slid opened, she was instantly blinded by bright whiteness.

Copyright © 2012 Carrie Ann Golden

All rights reserved.

 

To Chapter Nineteen