The Dark. Chapter 3.

10-15-2218

10:47 p.m.

Energy Production Building, maintenance room.

Analia was working on a particularly suborn bike chain when she heard the commotion from outside.

Mr.Tind went outside to see what was causing the crashing sounds and soon Analia and her Mother heard shouting.

“Stay here.” Siantha said as she stood up and walked to the door.

“I want to come too.” Analia said standing up to go with her.

“No Analia, stay here.” Siantha said and closed the door behind her. Analia frowned, hating being treated like a kid. She went to the door and pressed her ear to the back, hoping to at least catch whatever was being said. Mr.Tind and her Mom were arguing with a man in the bike room.

‘How did someone get in?’ Analia thought. They had locked the doors behind them like usual.

“What is all this? Glass?” Siantha said.

“Just don’t step over there, he broke a window.” Mr.Tind said.

“What are you doing here? Jik Fondrey, are you drunk?!” Siantha sounded shocked and angry. The only way Jik could have been drunk was if her were using their fruit to make alcohol again. Something he had been punished for doing twice before.

“It don’t matter fff I’m drunk!” Jik slurred, “S-not like we’re gonna be here long nny-way. L-light’s goin’ out a-lla time... Can’t even see the dome anymore!” Analia thought that at least was true. The lights hung in the colony didn’t reach the dome, she had only ever felt it a few times. There was nothing to see but darkness, so she found it mostly boring. She thought maybe the adults decided to cut out those lanterns closest to the dome first to avoid seeing it. Maybe they found it depressing, knowing that they were trapped in here.

“Get out Jik. Take that gloom and doom attitude somewhere else. There are some people who are trying to be useful here.” Mr.Tind said.

“Don’t touch me! Stupid hypocrite. You know we’re all gonna die down here jus’ like I do. Yur just too blind to admit it.” Jik said.

“No one’s going to die.” Siantha said calmly.

“Yur jus' idiots, yur all idiots! There ain’t no way out. There ain’t no sun. There’s nothing! It’s better to go out quick, ya know? Jus go like you don’t even know it.” Jik said.

“Jik, if you want to drink yourself to death leave the rest of us out of it. We don’t plan on dying any time soon.” Siantha said angrily.

“You better leave now, I don’t want to see you anywhere near here unless you’re here to do your two hours.” Mr.Tind said hotly.

“Okay, okay.. I’m goin’” Jik said.

Analia heard the shuffle of feet and tinkle of glass slide across the floor, then the metal front door opening and closing. There was silence for a moment before she heard her mom and Mr.Tind speak again.

“What do you think he was doing here?” Siantha asked.

“I think he was looking for that easy out he was talking about.” Mr.Tind said.

“What do you mean? You think he was here to kill himself?” Siantha asked. Mr.Tind took a moment to collect his thoughts and then quietly said,

“I think he was trying to take the whole colony out. He had matches in his back pocket.”

10-30-2218

1:20 p.m.

Energy Production Building.

Analia walked into the changing room of the Bike Mill and changed quickly in the dim light like always. She hoped she could snag the bike closest to the door. The breeze from people entering and exiting created a slight draft that helped with the sweltering heat.

She stopped in the door, shocked. The bike room was packed! There were eight more bikes in the room than there had been yesterday. She found Mr.Tind in the corner at his desk where he logged down peoples hours.

“You finished all eight?!” She asked excitedly. They had been working on them for a week. Everything seemed to be in place, but these eight still hadn’t generated energy correctly. Apparently Mr.Tind had found the problem after they had left last night.

“Yeah.” He said, “They were all missing a copper cord in the primary box. I had to take the whole thing apart to get to it.”

“How could those be missing?” She asked. The primary box was sealed tight with screws. If pieces were missing from it, they were taken out intentionally.

“I don’t know, I’m just glad I found it. We’ve got eight more cycles now. If everyone moves to doing three hours a day we should have enough power for the greenhouse and light up the streets a little better too.” Mr.Tind said.

“Do you think people would agree to that?” Analia asked.

“Maybe. I’m sure we can convince at least half the colony to pitch in. We all want a little more light in here.” He said.

Analia smiled feeling accomplished. They had done it. There would be enough light for the greenhouse. The older people might even stop complaining about the dark. She did her two hours easily, hardy even noticing the heat.

In the coming days the greenhouse was lit up brighter than ever, extending it’s light to surrounding houses for hundreds of feet. Most of the colony had gladly agreed to put in the extra hours to light up the streets, some pulling five hours a day. Analia heard a new hope in peoples voices, and saw new light in their eyes. It was like the whole colony had been refreshed by the light. Even Analia could see why some people would miss the brightness.

It couldn’t last though. Three days later the lights went out. Throwing the colony into a new and terrifying darkness.

End of chapter 4!