A New Start

I studied the barren landscape around me, wondering if anything they had taught me was the truth. It was bright. Far too bright for all of us since our eyes were used to the dim lights under the surface. Our whole lives we’d been told that the surface was a toxic wasteland no one could enter until the Community ran low on supplies.

The Elders had summoned twelve of us. All deemed an unwanted burden to the Community. None of us had family willing to claim us. For all they talked about honor and being heroes, it was obvious they had chosen us because we wouldn’t be missed when we failed. Make no mistake, we were being sent out to die. I could see the truth in their eyes.

“What now?” Lil’s question brought me back to the present. She was the youngest of us, but I could see her fear mirrored on everyone’s faces. No one seemed to have an answer, and I looked around again. The light glinted off something in the dirt, and I moved toward it without thought. It appeared to be a thin chain, useless for holding any actual weight. I pulled on it gently and it broke free from the dirt. It had a clasp and a heart-shaped piece attached to it. Eventually I remembered an image I’d seen. I’d ‘borrowed’ a book from one of the Elders and it had pictures of people wearing jewelry. It was a pointless waste of resources and I couldn’t help but wonder at the type of people who would do such a thing. The piece I was holding appeared to be a necklace. No, there was a hinge on the heart, so a locket then. I held it up, watching as the light reflected off of it, until I heard nervous shuffling behind me.

“We do as we were told.” I turned back to them and saw mostly frowns. “Though perhaps once we find what we’re looking for we don’t go back. No one expects us to return anyway.” They were supposed to look for supplies and new sources of food and water, but it was done out of desperation. Everyone knew that going to the surface was a death sentence after all. The older ones were mulling over my idea, but the three youngest just stared at me. They weren’t as jaded as the rest of us but the fact that they were here at all made me want to leave the Community. Lil only just turned thirteen and the other two were fifteen. The Elders sent babies out to die so they could tell everyone that they’d tried.

“I’m in. It’s not like we’ll be treated better even if we come back with everything they asked for.” Gage was the only one of us who had been really useful to the Community. They still treated him exactly like the rest of us. He was proof that we’d never be seen as anything but a drain on resources. Once he agreed with me, the others quickly took to the idea.

“So, where to?” They were all looking at me again. Probably because I was the one constantly getting in trouble for asking questions about the past and reading books no one was supposed to have access to. I had seen maps of the surface but none of them had shown where the Community was. I slowly turned in a circle; my eyes looking into the distance. It was strange being able to see so far. Finally, I caught sight of something promising.

“That way. Vegetation means water and the mountains beyond will provide caves for shelter.” We had been given supplies for a day, two if we’re careful, and I could already feel my skin burning from the light. The others immediately began walking, but I paused to consider the worthless object still in my hand. I should just leave it, but the Ancestors had placed value on such things. I slipped the chain over my head before following the others. Maybe there was a use for it. Either way, I could always get rid of it later.