Chapter 199
- Kaysi -
Personally, I wish I could say I prefer to remain ignorant, but we have no choice. Whether we like it or not, we must confront the truth now.
Bushel Shell City used to be a masterclass in illusion—a happy bubble of peace and the blissful unawareness we could no longer afford.
That ignorance has since consumed the city, fracturing it into two distinct factions: those willing to do whatever it takes to survive and those who prefer to keep their eyes closed.
But not everyone with eyes will see, and the same goes for hearing.
Some simply choose not to listen.
Only a few hours ago, the untouchable, perfect city 5 now slowly lost its grip.
There are entire sections of the skyline that stand black against the dome overhead. Light faded one building after another, disappearing from the horizon as additional backup generators failed.
Even the survivors from Cities 1 through 4 had begun to understand the truth.
The rich couldn't stop the flood either.
I stood beside Becky near one of the main streets while Arthur listened to another radio report.
Static crackled.
"The ninth generator is down on Cherrywood Lane."
Arthur closed his eyes.
"...Understood."
The radio clicked off.
Josh whistled.
"What was that, the fourth now?"
"Five," Arthur corrected.
Around us, survivors began to head to City District 6.
Although the flood hadn't reached us yet.
Not physically, that is. But the moment the power died, people expected the floodwaters to follow.
Families were carrying what they could still afford to take, which was not much at this point.
I overheard a young boy walking by, holding his mom's hand.
They both looked tired, and though the mom tried to keep a brave face for her child, they were both scared.
"Mommy, we're in city 5, going to 6," the boy said, looking up at her.
At first, the mother did not reply. You could tell she was searching for the right words to say.
"There is only one more city left after that."
My heart ached hearing his little voice.
"What happens if the flood gets there?"
The mother froze in her steps. For a second, she looked like she might cry. They took a deep breath, facing away from the boy. She knelt to the boy's eye level. And forced a smile.
"We'll be okay. Mommy is right here, right?"
The boy nodded, satisfied or at least being brave for his mom.
Children always trusted answers more than they understood them.
I watched as they disappeared into the crowd.
And for the first time all day, I realized nobody had actually answered his question or at least had the right words to say. Because nobody really knew what fates awaited them.
I looked back at a city camera.
"We need to get the people out of here then. Meet up with James for a progress report."
Micah walked beside me.
"I have been thinking for a while now. The only reason this whole place hasn't completely flooded over is that he has been fighting behind the scenes, trying his best to stop the hackers."
"I agree, but I am worried at this point why he has not locked them out and restored the city to stable condition. He himself could be in trouble."
By the look on Micah's face, she had not come to that conclusion yet or didn't want to.
"You're right, let's not waste any more time."
Arthur immediately started moving.
"Then let's stop standing around."
The rest of us followed behind him deeper into the district.
The difference between this part of City 5 and the rest of the city still made me uncomfortable.
More perfect sidewalks, gardens, and homes.
Everything looked untouched.
As though the flood existed for everyone except the people living here.
Yet even here, the illusion was beginning to crack.
More windows were dark.
Street lamps flickered.
Emergency lights blinked weakly from backup batteries.
Entire neighborhoods sat in an unnatural rolling blackness.
We passed one large home where several servants were loading supplies into a transport truck.
The owner stood in the driveway shouting at them.
"Not those, the imported ones, you imbeciles!"
Most of the workers already looked exhausted, ready to quit.
"Sir, those are decorations."
"They cost more than your yearly salary!"
Josh stared.
"What the hell? He's really packing decorations at this time?"
The man finally noticed us.
"You there?"
Arthr didn't stop walking.
The wealthy man stepped directly into our path, blocking us from progressing.
"I told you that. I need transportation."
"So does everyone else," Arthur said, going along with him.
The man pointed to his mansion.
"I will have you know. My family owns three blocks of this district!
Arthur's expression never changed for a second.
"And?" He asked very dispassionately.
"And I expect priority assistance as I help fill your wallet as well."
We were not the only ones who saw Arthur as the governor's look-alike.
I almost chuckled.
The man looked around at all of us as if we worked for him.
"My wife refuses to leave without our valuables."
I walked over to the well-dressed woman holding a very expensive vase.
"I want this one wrapped as well and carefully placed in the front."
She spoke as if others weren't carrying their children through flooded waters just a street down from her.
Before she could react, I grabbed the vase on the ground as hard as I could. Maybe it wasn't a great idea, but it made a point.
Porcelain pieces shattered across the ground. One jumped up and cut my cheek, but I didn't flinch. Another barely scratched the woman's leg, and she whined.
"ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MIND? DO YOU KNOW HOW MUCH THAT COSTS?"
She shouted in response.
Arthur finally snapped, but only a bit.
For a moment there, I thought she might actually yell.
Instead, his voice remained calm.
"How many people live in your household?"
The man was now by his wife, coddling her scratch on her leg.
"Twelve?"
Arthur pointed toward the City 7 evacuation transport sign, pointing to the next district, the City 6 sign.
"Then you get twelve seats."
"What about my belongings?"
"Make your choice: salvage your worthless trinkets, or watch twelve bodies sink into a watery grave, their lungs choking on salt water."
Cold, harsh, and to the point.
The man looked offended.
"I beg your pardon."
Arthur stepped closer, leaning into the man's face.
"If I weren't clear enough, let me make it simpler. You can fill the seats with your people or with furniture. Whichever you think is more important."
He turned and walked away.
"We're moving on."
The man shouted back at us.
"You can't just leave!"
Arthur, without ever looking back, muttered under his breath.
"Watch me."
Josh leaned toward me.
"I kind of think he's growing on me."
"I noticed your smile didn't hide anything."
Evan pulled a napkin out of his pocket and wiped the blood that dripped across my upper cheek.
There was a piece of glass embedded in my cheek that snagged the cloth and cut it.
"Ouch!" I winced. "I am sorry, Evan; I didn't mean for it to cut your cloth."
Evan nodded but was worried.
He looked at the others.
"Does anyone have Twizzlers on them?"
Everyone checked one by one.
Micah spoke first.
"No, but you could get it out like a snake bite or a splinter when we were kids."
My eyes widened.
"No, I will let it work itself out on its own."
Josh grabbed my face and gently turned me back around towards Evan.
"Stop being a baby and get it out before it causes an infection or scarring."
I saw Becky from the corner of my eye smile.
"We can look the other way." Micah sarcastically offered.
Before anyone spoke or turned away, Evan had his hand softly around my chin.
He gently sucked the glass piece out.
He grabbed the glass off his tongue and spat the blood out.
His face was beet-red all the way up to his ears.
Becky quickly redirected Evans' attention before he would faint. She slapped him on the back. And put a bandage on my face.
"Kaysi's hero, that piece was HUGE. Any longer, it could have migrated to her eye. And she would have lost it."
She smirked at Micah and walked away.
If I didn't know any better, I would say this was planned.
Just like the rest of the city, the small, mundane problems of the rich could soon prove to be as fragile as the cracked or broken pieces of their own demise.