River nervously waited for Karen, she was the one running late today. She paced the hallway of the building as she waited. This whole plan was making her so nervous, and Max wasn't at the building yet. Would this even work?

Karen pushed the door open breathing heavily " Sorry I'm late River, I had a last-minute errand to run, let's go" River smiled and followed her to the electric car, she hoped Max would be waiting at the other building if he was running late.

Max ran as fast as his legs would take him, he wore a blue hoodie so he would fit in with River and blue matching combat trousers. He could see the building he needed to get to and hoped he would make it in time. His chest was burning as he reached the main doors. A guard opened the door and asked him for some Identification. Max showed him and he quickly apologised when he read it "Oh, sorry. Go straight in" Max thanked him and walked into the building, one he had never entered before. It was huge like the one the machines were in and people were busy walking and talking, it was far too easy to get in unnoticed. He looked all around until he spotted her, the girl in blue. Her familiar smile and dirty blonde hair seemed to look golden in the sunshine. A smile grew as he caught his breath for a moment and slowly followed them not getting too close. He couldn't believe he was doing this, he wasn't sure who he was doing it for. Was it for River or was it for the truth, he wrestled with those thoughts all morning.

Karen had reached the top of the elevators and had said goodbye. River looked around bending down to tie her boot lace up while she checked for Max, he was nowhere to be seen. She took a deep breath and stood up again walking towards the elevator doors. Pressing the button the Guard smiled at her, he recognised her now after the last few days. The door pinged as it reached her floor and the doors swung open. She walked in and turned around waiting for the doors to close. She looked up to see his cheeky smile as he quickly stepped into the elevator with a leap before the doors closed. The guard in the elevator didn't bat an eye. Max turned to face the doors and then found Rivers's hand squeezing her fingers. He looked at her and winked giving her his cheeky smile once more before the elevator began to plummet down into the Under.

River felt his hand in hers and the elevator seemed to get really hot.

Calm down River, he's just holding your hand because he's probably scared out of his mind.

River knew exactly when the sound would be turned off for the both of them, she squeezed Max's hand gently holding it as they passed the sound barrier.

Max didn't know what to expect, he felt River reach for his hand again and squeeze it. Suddenly it was just as if someone had flipped a switch and tuned his hearing off. The elevator no longer made a noise all he could feel was River's hand and the downward motion as it came to a halt. River squeezed his hand in pulses as if she was doing morse code to try and help Max concentrate on her hand and not the silence.

The doors flew open and they both stepped out cautiously, walking away from the guards River pointed to the stairs. As they reached them she could see the fear in his eyes, the fear of the unknown. She thought he was crazy doing this but also he was quickly becoming her hero, someone she liked. She stopped and held his shoulders so he would face her and then smiled at him and put her thumbs up.

Max looked at her and her kind eyes that were reassuring, River just had a way of helping him stay calm.

They both walked slowly down the stairs until they reached the last one, River knew it would be a shock to the system when she opened the door so she took it slowly holding onto Max's hand.

As the door opened an intense heat hit Max's face, it was like a steamy kitchen when the air is so hot it hurts to breathe it in. He took a deep breath and stepped forward. His eyes couldn't keep up with the movements of all the bodies and buildings. 

It was darker and dirty, rust covered the large buildings and steam flew from pipes coming from everywhere. He had never seen so many people at one time like a sea of humans passing by. Old bikes and the odd larger vehicle that had tools to collect things from the side of the busy road. It had to drive slowly as people used the road to walk and bike, they would never hear it coming anyway.

River pulled Max's arm and led him to the coffee shop, it was a good place to take a moment. She found an empty table and sat down with him. She pulled out a small pad and wrote a note to Max. She could see he was overwhelmed and looking at his eyes he was drowning.

Are you ok?

Max took the pencil and wrote something back.

I'm so sorry, River. I'm angry, I'm sad, but most of all I feel ashamed.

River read the paper and she could see so much sadness in his eyes. She smiled at him as the old lady placed two grotty mugs down on the table and River gave her two coins. She looked at the both of them and signed "He's a handsome choice, it's in the eyes and his are like windows" Rivers cheeks blushed a dark red colour as she shook her head "We are just friends but he is handsome but I will never tell him that, his head is big enough already" The old lady laughed and looked at Max and then laughed again " I like you" River smiled at the old lady " My name is River"

"River, nice to meet you I'm Hope" Hope moved off quickly to the next table.

She quickly wrote something

Sorry

Max looked confused, what did have to be sorry about? He took a sip of the coffee and pulled a face.

Sorry about the coffee.

They both began to laugh but it was so strange for Max not hearing any laughter. He could see River was laughing at her actions and face but nothing..

How can you be so kind and amazing about all of this and to me? How does the sadness not take over you River?

River thought for a moment and then replied

My father once told me "You'll never find a rainbow if you're looking down" I just try and focus on the things I have and the small things I can change. It wasn't your fault Max, this all started a long time ago.

Max smiled and then drank the bad coffee because it somehow helped. He looked around at the other people with their dirty faces and clothes that had seen better days. They sat hunched over tables, tired and wounded. It was time to walk back to River's but before they left she noticed Leo was on a table at the back of the cafe, he had been watching her.

River waved and he walked over and signed "Hello, River" River was excited because she had fixed his music player already "Hey Leo, I'm good. I managed to fix your little treasure" Leos's eyes popped open with excitement "No way? Already? Who's your friend?" River tapped Max and signed to Leo "This is Max, he can't sign yet so we are writing and yes, I'm good at fixing things so it was no problem"  

Leo wrote on the paper

Hello Max, I'm Leo. Nice to meet you.

Max replied and told Leo it was nice to meet him, he seemed different to the others in the coffee shop, he looked happy, and full of energy, just like River.

" I will meet you tomorrow night all being well at the tunnels and you can test your music box out" Leo gleamed with happiness "Thank you River, see you tomorrow"

Max felt left out when River signed to her friend, he had no idea what they were saying. He felt isolated and frustrated, he could see how this would take away the people's voices, their spirit.

River wrote

Sorry, I know it's horrible not being able to sign, I've been there. I will teach you some little easy bits. It's time to walk back to mine now Max, just follow me closely and we shall be in my safe apartment in no time.

Thank you. River showed him how to sign thank you and then they set off.

Leo watched the two of them walk away and wondered who Max was, he had never seen him before today.