A new place

Dazed, they followed James who was striding confidently into the city. He left them some space to admire the new surroundings but didn't move too far away so as to ensure they would not get lost in the wonderful and expansive space before them. With each step, they were even more enchanted by the novelty of the city, people, and atmosphere.

"How- How is this even possible?" Leo questioned with both awe and scepticism.

"Aren't you rebels? Rebels don't do anything legally. So how is this possible?! All this space! All these people! How can you even sustain them?! Oxygen can only be generated within the domes and you need to pay for it! Food can only be found above and guess what, you also need to pay for it!? Everything needs payment, even this ridiculously large space...." It's like a dam had broken, everything he had come to know as reality, everything the human race had come to know, was being conflicted by the very existence of this city. This rebel city.

"So...how is this possible?" Leo finished in a low resigned tone as he halted and looked up at James with a blazing inquiry as memories of how the failure of payment had cost him and the younger ones dearly. Days would pass when they could not eat due to Nina lacking payment. More than once, they lacked enough money for oxygen and they were dumped into the 'Stale Room' by enforcers, where the oxygen quantity was very scarce. They experience it all; Shortness of breath, searing headaches, their empty stomachs turning inside out, losing control of their limbs. It was a horrible experience. An experience which they had to endure whilst Nina looked for money.

Lucas paused and clenched his bother's trembling hand tightly, seeking to give him comfort while Mirai wrapped her arms tightly around Leo. They both knew what was going through his mind, and it definitely wasn't pleasant. It was a heart-wrenching scene. James stopped short and turned upon sensing the tense atmosphere. He turned. It seemed that this kid, all these kids, had experienced a nightmare.

James walked and squatted before them, petting Leo's head briefly. A grin formed on his face," Do you know where we are? We are directly under the Aristrocat's earth base...mind you, it's a base they never enter because they are out there in space enjoying the life!" He chuckled, " So do you know what we do? We siphon oxygen from their base up there to sustain ourselves." He said cheerfully as he pointed upwards.

Everyone's eyes widened," So is this an underground base of theirs? Jenny asked.

" No...all this.." He stretched his hands to emphasize as he stood straight," All this is made by the rebel army...with our connection with rebel enforcers, it was relatively easy to build this space right under the Aristocats noses. The food we get is also courtesy of those same enforcers, who are still working undercover for us over there."

Their jaws dropped in disbelief. This was very shocking. The smirk on James' face grew as he saw their clear-cut shock. " Just be happy...though we are stealing, we are stealing from the greatest and always absent tyrants of all time...so it's all good." He ruffled Leo's hair again then began to walk again," Come on!" He cheerfully called for them.

They came out of their shock and Leo was the first one to speak," Does everyone here know this information?"

James shook his head, " No, but it's no secret, it's just better not to advertise that we are criminals, struggling to survive...some people here have struggled enough as it is under the aristocrat's rule."

Leo didn't say anything, it was true. He nodded and smiled, grabbing Mirai's hand and walking to follow James with Jenny following behind. They had all suffered enough.

As they walked James brightly pointed out some cool structures and told them interesting and funny things, therefore, easing the mood. They continued walking forward till they arrived at the end of the city. Before them, was the hive-like wall that encircled the whole city. James led them straight ahead to a strong, rectangular, metal door. There was a small barely visible, card scanner.

He turned towards them and nodded," This will be your living quarters, you will all be living together."He paused waiting for any disagreement with the arrangement but upon receiving none, he continued," Now, the card you were given are very crucial to your stay here, they give you access to everything you might ever need in here. Jenny, if you don't mind, please give me your card."

Jenny examined James and passed her card towards him. He hovered it above the card scanner.

BEEP!

The door immediately flew open to reveal a large room with a small, three quarter, wall separation within it and a door leading to a fully stocked washroom. Two beds on each side with a small side table with a quaint lamp in between them It was a brightly lit room with smooth beige walls which contrast the exterior course walls. There were four wide-open intricate, metal cupboards with plainclothes within them, two on either side of the wall. Unfortunately, there were sparse decorations on the walls; a single colourful painting and a single wall clock. The room was very ordinary. However, that did not stop the excitement from welling up in the children's hearts. This was a new place!

" This will be your room, you can decide which side will be for the boys and for the girls later but first let me show you the important places." He cheered," This way please." he directed like a tourist guide as he closed the door for the room and gave Jenny her card back.

James took them back to the city, where he directed them to a cafeteria, which had few people. He taught them how to order food with their cards, then after the learning process they sat down and wolfed down their meals. There was no time for conversation, this was the first complete meal they had eaten in a long time. James just drank some water elegantly as he waited for them to finish.

Once they were done, James guided them to the recreational areas, training area and finally the largest building in the middle of the city," This is where the 'Primes' reside."

"Can we enter?" Lucas asked.

James shook his head," No. You need to be invited. I just needed to show you the place. Let's go." James said with nonchalance as he led them back. Once they reached the door for their living quarters, Jenny hovered her card above the card scanner and they all entered.

Settling in took about five minutes. Once they had cheerfully and rowdily allocated their beds and changed in the washroom, James sat on beside Jenny on her bed and spoke with the others sitting comfortably on the opposite bed," Now that you have settled in, you all need to know the one thing that ensures you live here peacefully, it's the only rule of living here." Everyone became serious, James then continued solemnly," you must always obey ' The Primes'."

The children had confusion written all over their faces but Jenny understood and nodded her head in understanding, she knew the primes all too well. With Jenny's affirmation, James looked up causing Jenny to move her eyes upwards discreetly and she saw a barely visible red blinking light. They were also being watched here! He was trying to warn her. Jenny nodded again but this time it was a slight nod.

With this, James became cheerful again and lightened the mood with his stories and jokes until an announcement was made across the whole facility.

"IT IS NOW NIGHT-TIME, ALL RESIDENTS ARE REQUIRED TO GO TO THEIR LIVING QUARTERS."

Hearing this James chuckled sarcastically but stood up waving at the younger ones who had already gone to their individual beds and were burrowed deep into their blankets falling asleep," Goodnight kids." He said lightly as he left with Jenny escorting him, he then turned to Jenny and smiled lightly," Goodnight moonlight," he softly as he closed the door behind him. Jenny smiled, standing at the door for a few seconds.

She walked towards her bed and made herself comfortable within the blankets, closing her eyes with a smile," Good night." She whispered as she drifted into the first sweat dreamland she had entered in a long time.