Paradise

The air was thick with humidity and sweat, bodies packed tightly in the middle of the city, suffering together in the unbearable heat. Each body drudging on like automatons destined to repeat their loop until death. The business suits covering the shame and pain of who they want to be, but aren’t allowed.

The overwhelming oppression of success staining each step, each Rolex, each Tesla. The cockroaches of humanity scurrying to the next crumb fallen from the latest and greatest hedge fund.

Lacking in spirit or hope, they carried on with the pointless nature of their NPC lives without notice or knowledge of the light and liberty that dwelled deep underground, where freedom seekers lived short, but meaningful lives. Offering their bodies as sacrifice for something more than an Upper Westside apartment.

The child peeked out from the sewage drain to spy on the machines she had been warned about. The soulless bi-peds who destroy and consume everything for what they can carry, discarding others without a thought. Her mother quickly pulled her down from the drain.

“Beuard! You know you mustn’t.” the woman whisper-yelled at the small child.

The child rubbed under her arm where her mother had gripped her too hard in her opinion. “I was doing no harm, ma. I just wanted to see them.”

The mother tenderly caressed the child’s soft brown hair. “I know, child, but they are such a terror, I wouldn’t want them to harm you.” The lilt in her voice sounded refined, educated, out of step with her dirty worn clothes and appearance. She smiled at the child picking her up and bringing her to rest on her hip.

Moving away from the light streaming in from above, she steps over scurrying rats and discarded cups with their faded and stained green logos. That was what the machines had done. Half alive, fueling themselves with caffeine, cars, carnal delights, and anything that would prove to the other machines that they were worthy.

The mother sighed, that’s not how it’s done. She smiled as she saw the heavy dark metal door before her. Waiting to be let in by Unger the overwatcher she put down the child who was eager to get home.

The door opened to an underground paradise lit up with bioluminescence throughout lush green gardens. People happily picking fruit, or weaving baskets, engaging with others, the glow in their faces evident to see. This is what they were hiding from the top dwellers, for if they discovered them, they would surely attempt to take everything they had built and destroy it, as they had done to the planet above.