I sit up to stretch and notice the sun’s rays shining through my window. I rub my eyes and slowly make my way out of bed.

“Hey, mom?” I say as I walk into the living room and plop myself down on the couch.

“Good morning, sweetheart. How come I didn’t see you at all yesterday?” She continues to sweep the floor.

“I was home for a little bit, but you and dad were in town. Then I went out with Sage and didn’t get back until after you were already asleep.” I’m trying to keep a straight face. My mom can tell when I’m keeping something from her, and I know I will be in serious trouble if she finds out about last night.

She stops sweeping and looks at me with a look that parents give you when you do something that they don’t approve of. “There was a Constables’ meeting last night. Might I ask, what were you doing out?”

“I was at Sage’s house.” I quickly lie.

She starts sweeping, her expression turning soft again, and says, “Oh, okay. Have you thought anymore about college?”

I groan. “Mom, do we have to talk about that first thing this morning?”

“Morning is as good a time as any. So, have you?” She sweeps dirt into a dust pan and pours it carefully into the trash.

“A little bit. Look, if you promise me that we don’t have to talk about it now, I will apply to some schools.”

A smile appears as she says, “Deal.”

“Where is dad?” I turn on the TV.

“Helping the neighbors fix something. I told him not to do it on his day off from work, but you know how he is. Always helping others. He is a good man.” I nod my head in agreement. My dad is amazing and always putting others before himself.

I spend most of the day vegging in front of the television. I was going to hang out with Felix, but he is helping my dad at the neighbors’. I finally break free from couch potato mode and take a quick shower. I get ready and head out to see what Sage is doing tonight.

WE DECIDE TO hang out at the Quest with the rest of the teens in Dandux. Sage pulls me away from the group, and I can tell she is upset. I cross my arms over my chest, waiting for her to start freaking out about last night. I know her too well.

“Did you tell anyone about last night?” she asks nervously and in a hushed tone.

“I told Felix. Did you?”

She shakes her head no. “I’m scared. You know they see all and hear all. What if-“

“Don’t do this, Sage. Please don’t play the what-if game. If they saw us, we would already be dead.”

“I know. I’m just being paranoid. You have to promise me you won’t go searching for this so-called Earth.” I’m about to promise her I won’t when I realize that I really can’t promise that.

“You can’t honestly tell me that you are not at least a little bit curious about it?”

“I’m curious, but I’m not stupid.” She places a firm hand on my shoulder. “Promise me.”

“I think I may go tonight… see if I can find it. Whatever it is.” I admit. She rolls her eyes at me because she thinks I’m joking. I play it off as just that, joking, knowing that it is exactly where I will be headed later tonight.

“Well, I don’t believe you. But if you do decide to go, you will be going alone. I don’t want any part of this.” She starts walking back to her group of friends, and I follow her.

I don’t know why I hang out with this group of Dwellers anymore. Ever since I was diagnosed as angry, their parents have forbidden them to be around me. I mainly come here because Sage wants me here, and the lack of better things to do.

AFTER I CONFIRM that everyone in my house is asleep, I put on my boots and grab my messenger bag. I quietly leave my house and sneak down the back roads of Dandux. If someone sees me out, I will be taken into custody for questioning or possibly killed. Being killed is more likely. Dwellers are not allowed to be out past 11:00 P.M. and can’t leave their homes until 6:00 A.M.

The rules of Dandux, as well as the other towns in the Sphere, are never ending. The Constables claim that they are protecting us from destruction by putting ridiculous rules in place. The rumor is there were once more Spheres, but they were destroyed because they were rebellious. I seriously doubt that theory after what I heard the two men talking about last night. I believe that Dwellers have been kept in the dark about something. Why else would Dwellers want to escape? Do they know something us other Dwellers don’t? There are questions I need answered, and I’m going to find out for myself.

I reach the end of the line, the edge of Dandux that is forbidden to cross. I throw my hood over my head to shroud my face. I cross my fingers behind my back, wishing myself luck, then crawl cautiously under the fence that could fry my insides. I turn my head, avoiding the surveillance cameras.

“Oreo!” I jump when I hear Sage say my nickname in a whisper loud enough for me to hear.

I squint my eyes to look around. It’s dark, and I can’t see a thing. Once I spot her, I say, “Sage? What are you doing here?”

She crosses her arms across her chest and says, “I knew you would be here, and I refuse to let you do this alone.”

I smile and whisper, “Have I told you lately how much I love you?”

I can barely see her roll her eyes, and she laughs quietly. “Do you remember where that guy disappeared when we saw that bright light?”

I point into the wooded area ahead and say, “I think over there.” I curse silently at every stick that pops as we walk in that direction.

We reach the spot where I think he was, and I stand confused. “What should we do now?” I ask.

“Do a dance? Hell, I don’t know!” She starts doing a dance that involves flopping her arms around which makes me laugh.

“Stop doing that before you get us caught!” I cover my mouth, trying to silence my laughter.

She smiles and sits down on the ground. “Well, I don’t hear you coming up with any suggestions.”

I sit down on the ground and run every possible idea through my head. “I don’t know… I don’t even know what Earth is…”

I look at my watch to check the time and notice it isn’t working. I thump it with my finger, trying to make it work.

“What are you doing?” Sage asks.

“My watch stopped working.”

She looks down at her watch, tapping it gently and says, “Shit. Mine too.”

I’m about to comment how that is strange, but I start feeling extremely dizzy. My vision blurs, and it is as if I’m going blind. I’m completely bewildered at my physical state. I quickly try to get up but stumble forward and fall to the ground. Through blurred vision, I try to look for Sage. I can’t find her. I immediately start panicking. Instead of being quiet, I start yelling for her. Something is very wrong.

I can no longer see, and I’m feeling around for a way out of whatever mess I’m in. “Sage!” I beg, but she doesn’t answer. I’m as good as dead. This must be some sort of punishment. A slow and miserable death for passing the forbidden perimeter.

I close my eyes. There is no point in keeping them open. Why do I not listen to my better judgment and stay out of trouble? Now I’m going to die.

I feel someone slap my face multiple times, and when I open my eyes I see Sage, freaking out above me. Her lips are moving, and I can tell she is yelling, but I can’t hear a thing. She keeps looking over her shoulder and shaking me.

Finally, my brain is able to make out what she is trying to say. I watch her lips form silent words. Get up! Get up! Run! It takes a minute for my body to listen to my brain. I get up and start running. I stumble on legs that feel like Jell-O, but I’m somehow able to keep a close pace with Sage.

I start to look around and realize there are large shiny objects on wheels moving all around us. The Dwellers, or some other beings are operating them, trying to miss us. We finally reach a spot on the edge of the black concrete where Dwellers are standing. I look around and wonder what these large machines are. I notice Dwellers inside of them, as if they are the ones operating them. My heart is racing, and I look at Sage for answers. She shrugs her shoulders.

“Are you going to cross the street?” A voice says, and then he pushes past us. I notice all of the machines with wheels are stopped and quickly realize they are controlled by lights that tell them when to stop and go.

Sage and I start aimlessly walking with the crowd, and she grabs my hand. I can feel her hand shaking, and I give it a squeeze to try to comfort her. Once we get across the street, we move out of the way of others and stop.

“Have you ever seen anything like this?” I look at the lights and bright colors.

“Do you think this is Earth?” She looks around with wide curious eyes.

“It is definitely not Dandux,” I reply, completely dumbfounded.