Future World Story - Elena S. - 12/27/17

Contest: Winners

Future World Story

Submitted by: Elena S., age 13, Crowley, TX

The World Above
    
There is a legend among us, the peoples that live under the earth, that tells of those who came to us from above because of a disease that had spread over their land, the cause of which was nuclear war. Perhaps this is just a story, perhaps not. But I am not here to argue about history. I am here to tell you a tale of one of our own people: a girl called Eurydice.

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Eurydice woke just before dawn. The lamplighter could be heard lighting the lamps to bring morning to the underground world. She got out of bed and dressed; then she picked up the urn beside the door and stepped out into the early morning. It was her task to fetch water from the fountain, and she did it with relish. She loved the feeling of the damp morning air and the quiet sound of her sandals on the cobblestones.

When she reached the fountain, most of her friends were already there. Moira and her sister Kore sat on the edge of the fountain talking, and Daphne was leaning against the side of one of the houses reading a book.

“Where is Io?” Eurydice asked, looking for her other friend.

“I don’t know,” Moira replied, anxiously glancing up. “She’s never been this late before.”

Just as Moira finished speaking, Io rushed around the corner between two houses. She looked tired but excited. “He’s back!” she exclaimed. “My father was part of the expedition sent Above to see if the atom disease had been cured, remember? He’s back! And he says it’s safe. The consul even left the tunnel open so anyone can go up!”

“What are we waiting for?” asked Daphne. “Come on!”

The tunnel was a hole in the ceiling with scaffolding to reach it. They were all curious to see the Above, so they climbed quickly. When they reached the top, they stood in the sunlight looking around and breathing the crisp air.

“It’s almost like a dream,” Eurydice whispered.

“If it is,” Io replied, “I hope I never wake up.”


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