After somewhat good night sleep I was on my way to market area. It’s time to get something to eat, which is one of the most important reasons for me to work. The queue was already long when I got there, it was 60 feet long and circling around the square.

When it was my turn I paid a total of 3 dreams. Dreams are just some silver coins with a picture of tower printed on them. When the city was built they needed their own money. And you might want to know what you can get with three dreams? Well, just a half gallon of water and a lump of bread. Nothing much as you can see.  The name for our money was sick in my mind. I bet that the person who came up with the idea of this place being called “The Land of Hope” and our money being dream had some twisted state of mind or just bad taste of humor.

“Well, it’s not rotten this time,” I sighed when I looked the bread from every direction. It’s also important to eat with your eyes in here. Usually we get the leftovers or the storages that have gone too bad to give to the Tower People. I’m leaning against a rock in the yard, it’s just couple more hours until I would meet up with Poppy at my grandpa’s place. However I’m still not sure if I should tell her or my grandpa about Marko.

The mere thought of Marko made me feel frustrated. “That stupid, annoying jerk,” I muttered to myself. The rudeness and arrogance of the Tower People sure was something new to me. And I don’t like it at all.

“Dawn,” I heard a small whisper behind of me. I look over my shoulder and I see a little girl behind of me.

“Oh, hi Sand,” I smile to her as I pat the ground next to me. She sits down and I break my bread, giving a chunk to her to eat. She smells the bread and takes a bite. She’s just six and she lost both of her parents last winter. It was hard one.

Sand got her name because of her hair which reaches her shoulders, it’s straight and shiny. The color is like sand but her personality is all but dry. She is always there to find the good sides in things. When she’s around you won’t feel down. Sand is still too young to work so she is just nameless, without even the number as a worker. However we, her friends, know her as Sand.

“How’s the work going Dawn?” Sand smiles her sweet smile and her brown eyes are sparkling. She still thinks that when you get to work your whole life changes into something much better. However it doesn’t.

I shrugged my shoulders and look at her, “It’s really great.” I lied to her, she still needs her dreams to believe in.

“What’s the tower like in the night?” Sand asks from me with her mouth full of bread.

I sighed and pulled out a small piece from my share of the bread. Slowly I start to munch it. “Please Dawn, tell me!” She pleaded and I glance at her.

“Alright, so. It’s really dark but I’m not afraid of it, well except if there are some rats running around. Those I hate!” I laughed.

Sand nodded her head and some of her hair went over her face. I wiped her hair behind her ear.

“That sure isn’t all you have to tell me, right!” Sand said with all of her presence getting excited.

“Yeah, well,” I laughed nervously.

“What are the apartments like? What do you do there?” Sand asked all of a sudden and my face turns red. Then I grinned to her and I put the rest of my bread back into bag.

“Umm, I just clean and do some maintenance. They have all food you could dream for – milk, honey, meat, fruits and everything that we only hope to taste! Also they have the possibility to use electronics and hear music,” I sighed and then I look at Sand.

“That’s so awesome,” she giggled and then her expression went serious.

“What are you thinking?” I said and rubbed her back.

“Just what the music sounds in the Tower. It must be different from the songs what we sing in here,” Sand whispered and looks at me.

“Can you sing a song of what they sing?” Sand asks from me and my heart jumped.

“No,” I laughed, “But I can let you listen.”

I pull out a small player and I place ear buds into her ears. She startles. “Relax, it’s not gonna hurt you but don’t tell anyone,” I pinched her nose and she giggled a bit.

Then I turned on the player and her eyes widened. “This is their music!” She squealed and I nodded my head. She closed her eyes and enjoyed. Her reaction made me feel warm inside, she’s probably hearing things like instruments the first time in her life.

We are not allowed to own instruments to create music, that’s one of the many downsides of being part of the Ground Pack. The creativity they can’t take away or our voices. You should see Crazy Beat when he does that amazing street music every afternoon. He uses his body and things in the nearby to create music and beat.

Sand pushes my shoulder and gives me back the player. I take it and nod my head to her while smiling.

“That was really good! I like your singing better though,” Sand whispers and my cheeks flush.

“I’m not that good,” I laughed as I lifted myself to stand.

“You’re going to Grandpa Thunder? Right?” Sand grins and takes my hand. Her small fingers are a bit cold and I look at her sadly. She has even less things in life than I do and she never complains.

I snickered, “Totally am. Would you like to come too? Poppy is there too!”

Sand nodded her head and smiled happily. She liked nothing more than seeing my grandfather. He is one of the bravest in the Ground Pack which his name comes from. He isn’t afraid to tell what he thinks and he tells stories about the ages before the big hunger started and the towers were build up.

For the whole way I told Sand about how it felt like working inside the towers. She was walking on top of a fence that was separating the fields from the road that circled all around the area inside the walls.

My grandpa works in the fields and not inside the towers like many others do. I still remember how he once stole an orange and gave it to me and my dad for Christmas. I can still taste the sweetness of the fruit.

“Grandpa Thunder!” Sand shouted as she saw few men working on the field. Soon it would be their time for break.

My grandfather is a 75 year old man. He has gray friendly eyes, his silver and white hair is really popping out from his sun tanned skin. Field workers work during the day since it’s the best time to do because there’s light. It’s sort of ironic since for me the darkness is best option. I cannot be seen.

“Sand!” My grandpa straightens his back. He seems even more fragile and like he has gotten thinner from the last time when I saw him. “And my favorite grandchild,” he chuckles and I roll my eyes.

“Let me correct – your only grandchild,” I said and went to hug him. He laughs and pats my back, I wrap my arms around his back and I feel his spine sticking through his thin skin.

“Grandpa,” I started but he hushed me.

“Nothing to worry sweetie, now follow me. Poppy already went to our normal lunch break place,” he smiles and I see his face wrinkling.

“I’ll be going to my lunch now, fielder 655,” grandpa shouted to a person 50 feet away from us. She waved her hand for a response. The people who worked on fields are called as fielders.

We’re walking for some distance to our place where grandpa eats his lunch and tells us stories. His lunch is just after my breakfast time. The rhythm of our day is just different.

Poppy is standing on top  of a large rock and waving her hand when we’re approaching her. “Dawn! Grandpa Thunder!” She shouted.

“And Sand!” Sand giggled and runs to Poppy. Poppy hugged the little girl and laughed a bit. I’m walking calmly with my grandpa.

“The meadows are looking nice today, don’t you agree Dawn?” Grandpa said all of a sudden and I’m looking around me.

“They sure do,” I said with a smile. The wind was gently making the grass dance and I inhaled the air. It was a hot day of late August. Soon the fall would come.

“I would love to hear a song,” Grandpa chuckled and I stopped on my steps.

“I’m serious Dawn,” Grandpa said strictly and I sighed. He knew that I got stunned of his words. I don’t like to sing that much but I do it in special occasions if people ask me to do so.

I followed him without saying anything. He pulls out his lunch bag from his front pocket. “Sand, be ready,” he laughs as he pulls something out. I got a glimpse of the red shiny surface before he threw it to Sand.

“What’s this?” Sand said as she was turning around something in her hands.

“It’s an early apple from the first harvest. Take a bite,” Grandpa smiled warmly and looked at the little girl while he took out his dry piece of bread and started eating.

Sand lifted the apple closer to her face and sniffed it before biting her white teeth into it. Her eyes were shining when she finished munching the first bite. “It’s really sweet and juicy! Thank you Grandpa Thunder!” She said happily and eat some more.

I sighed and go closer to my grandpa. “You know, you shouldn’t steal from the harvest. What if they caught you?” I lectured him.

“Dawn, I’m an old man. The worst what could happen is that my death comes few years before. Don’t worry child. Now, would you warm an old heart with a song?” he said playfully.

“Song! Please Dawn sing something, it sure would brighten up a day,” Poppy grinned and laid on the grass.

I smiled and raised my eyebrows, “I guess that’s two against one?”

“One, two--,” Sand started counting and I laughed when she lastly pointed at herself, “—three, three against one.” She smiled and pointed me. I rolled my eyes and shrugged my shoulders.

I looked into my hands and I tried to think of a subject of what to sing about. We create the songs from events and feelings that have occurred to us recently or in the past. Each song is always different and unique.

“Well?” My grandpa’s soft voice spoke and I hushed him. I closed my eyes and searched inside of me.

“Every day starts out as a new, the first beams of light are lighting up my path.

When the night comes, that’s when I guide myself.

You may think that you’re better than me, staying in the cozy place called home.

Let me tell you something, I’m not a being of darkness, I’m not a lab rat you think that I am.

Now I’m telling you this straight, I’m the first light of day.

The light that paints the sky in bright colors,

all vibrant and warming up the place.

What’s my name you ask?

It’s Dawn that you’re searching for,

just look at the sky in the morning and you’ll find it.

Dive into my eyes and see the shine of an Emerald.

I’m not a mole, I’m not a test subject,

I’m Dawn Emerald.

You’re all thinking that you’re better,

however you have no idea of what we are.

Our strength is something you wish to own,

the wisdom of us is much greater than you knew.

We know how to love,

we’re not afraid.

We all have our dreams and hopes,

that’s why we’re not sticking by your rules.

We’re not nameless,

We’re something.

What’s my name you ask?

It’s Dawn that you’re searching for,

just look at the sky in the morning and you’ll find it.

Dive into my eyes and see the shine of an Emerald.

I’m not a mole, I’m not a test subject,

I’m Dawn Emerald.

I’m not standing alone,

the way we care of each other.

We’re not alone.

When the seasons pass,

We’re like rock,

we’re like trees.

We stand there solid,

through the changing weather.

What’s my name you ask?

It’s Dawn that you’re searching for,

just look at the sky in the morningand you’ll find it.

Dive into my eyes and see the shine of an Emerald.

I’m not a mole, I’m not a test subject,

I’m Dawn Emerald.”

I finished my singing and Poppy’s jaw was hanging open.

“Whoa that was some strong singing this time, I mean I have never heard you singing like that,” she laughed nervously and I saw my grandpa glancing at me. I was still breathing heavily, the song took its toll. My soul is still on flames while I think of the source of the lyrics, the guy who is giving me trouble already. The guy who insulted me, Marko.

Sand giggled and leaned her chin on her hands. She was laying on the grass next to Poppy.

“Poppy, would you be nice and take Sand for a walk,” My grandpa said as he was getting out his smoking pipe. He stuffed some grass inside and lit it up. Poppy nodded and took Sand with her.

I felt nervous when grandpa took a couple inhales of the pipe, blowing smoke clouds into air. “Dawn, what has happened?” he asked and broke the silence.

I moved restlessly on the place where I was standing. “Nothing,” I laughed nervously and I went to lean against the tree.

“Something has happened,” he said simply and lifted his eyebrow.

I sighed my defeat, “Alright. I may have been spotted last night. While I was working.”

Without saying anything my grandpa crossed his arms and looks at me. I just stare at the smoke that is rinsing from the pipe like I’m enchanted.

“Tell me more,” grandpa pushed me to continue.

I sighed and sat on the rock. “Alright so I was cleaning and some guy who lives in the apartment saw me,” I said quietly. It broke my heart to see the worry in my grandpa’s eyes.

“What happened then?” Grandpa asked.

I played with my hair and bit my lower lip.

“He promised to keep it as a secret if I speak with him every night and agree to be--,” I said with every word being more silent than other.

“What did you promise to him?” The nickname of my grandpa was now loud and clear in his voice. The roaming thunder like voice of his made me flinch.

“He can do tests with me. He is curious about us, the Ground Pack. He is scientist, I think,” I spoke fast and closed my eyes.

We remained silent after that. I lost the count of time and then Poppy got back with Sand. Poppy looks at me like she wants to know what’s going on but I smile to her sadly back.

“So I think that I’ll leave now, are you two coming?” I look at Poppy and Sand.

“Umm.. Can I stay and help out Grandpa Thunder in the field?” Sand grinned and looks at grandpa. He was just collecting his things and he smiles to Sand.

“Sure thing little lady,” grandpa pinches Sand’s cheek and she laughed with joy.

“Alright, see you later Sand. Bye Grandpa,” I said and glance at my grandpa. He isn’t even looking at me which made me sigh.

“Bye Grandpa Thunder! I hope to hear one story of yours the next time,” Poppy chuckled and runs after me. I had already walked away from them.

“Dawn!” I heard grandpa shouting and I turn around quickly. My palms are sweating because I’m getting nervous.

“Be safe! You’re young, you have your whole life ahead of you unlike I do!” He said with his voice broken. I nodded my head to him and waved my hand.

“What was that?” Poppy asks as we’re closing in the living barracks.

I chuckled, “Just something that’s between me and him.” I still don’t like to put Poppy in danger with this information.

I look at the area near the walls that go around the land.

“You’re going again to spent some special alone time?” She smiles to me and I smiled back to her gratefully.

“I hope that you don’t mind?” I grinned and she shook her head while smiling.

I hugged her quickly before I run towards the wall. This time I’m for sure going to find the best way out. I can’t stand being trapped in here and it would be the best solution for my problems. He can’t tease me if I’m not around.

Lately I have been trying to widen a crack in the wall, I have covered it with plants and soon it will be big enough for me to leave permanently. There has been more of times when I have actually been outside the wall and scanning the nearby areas. I need to find out as much as I can before I can leave permanently. It’s my own little secret.

I grinned to myself when I saw the wall spreading in front of me. Quickly I look around me and gladly I see no Wall Protectors around me. They are there to keep us away from the wall, making sure that’s it’s protecting us. Hah, for me the wall is just a barrier that’s destroying me.

When there was no one to be seen I run to the place where I have been working on lately. I notice the plants scattered everywhere and being crushed.

“No,” I whisper as my heart is beating painfully. Again they had found out the place which could be my way to freedom. This is once again a delay for me to get out. Now it’s all blocked up, they have closed the crack which was almost finished into my passageway.

“Ah! I hate when this happens,” I groaned and kicked some dirt. I run my fingers through my hair and I decide to go away. A nap on the meadows always cheers me up.

Before going to sleep I watched at the sight of the city opening up in front of my eyes. The towers are as annoying looking as ever. The darkened windows of them are sucking the light in and making the buildings look dark. I don’t want to wake up before I have to go to work.

The cooling air woke me up. I sighed when I noticed that the sun was already setting. How does this always happen? Quickly I stood up and start to run back and towards the towers. Ms. Spank would be really mad if I’m late again.

The evening was already arriving and I was almost there. The Tower 4 was now standing in front of me. Quickly I go inside and go to get the things that I need from supply storage. I didn’t stop to listen the whining of Ms. Spank.

“The guy needs his cereal,” I whispered to Poppy who stood next to me.

“Guy? How do you know that it’s a guy?” She questioned and my cheeks blushed.

“Umm.. from the information about the workplace?” I laughed nervously and Poppy hummed. She looked like she was suspecting something.

The door opened into the dark corridor and workers were moving inside. I was one of the last since I hate to stuff myself inside the crowd.

When the door closed everything went black and I made my way towards the apartment.

Before opening up the passage to the insides of the apartment I hesitated. “Please be asleep,” I whispered when I pushed the door to open.

The apartment was dark and silent. I sighed in relief since it seems that Marko is fast asleep.

A clicking sound was coming from  the kitchen and lights went on.

“I thought that you’re not coming,” Marko grinned and leans to kitchen counter.

The sight made me feel nervous. He had some bottles and needles in his counter.

“Come here,” he chuckled and patted a metallic chair. I went to him and I placed my back bag to kitchen floor. Then I sat on the chair.

“Alright, now place your arm on the counter,” he said and pulled some plastic gloves into his hands. I stare when he puts a mask over his mouth.

“What?” He snapped and his eyes met mine. “Just put your arm there,” he ordered and lifted my arm on the counter.

“Why?” I whispered when I see him tying my arm with rubber string. My arm feels like its pulsing.

“I’m taking my first sample of you,” he says and is organizing equipment.

I see him taking a needle from the counter and I flinched. “Does it hurt?” I whispered.

“A little,” he stated and he is tapping the bend of my elbow with his fingers.

“What are you doing?” I said and I wanted to pull my arm from him.

“Taking a blood sample silly,” he chuckled and I closed my eyes when he was about to push the needle into my skin.

I didn’t feel a thing. “Are you afraid?” He asked gently and I open my eyes. He is looking at me  but he isn’t sticking the needle into me.

“Not that I would admit,” I said coldly.

Then I felt the sting when he pushed the needle inside. Then he brought a small bottle under the flowing blood and I stare at the sight. My head was feeling blurry.

“Just breath and the dizziness wears off,” he said and closed the bottle. Then he pulled the needle out and placed a something to cover up the wound.

I see how he pulls out the mask from him. “Now you do me, it’s fair. Right?” He smiles and pulls his sleeve up.

Marko ties his arm with the same rubber string that he used on me. In the meanwhile he made me put on some gloves. He is bumping his fist and he gives me the needle.

“Search the vein first, it’s a bit bluish. Aim on it,” he grins.

I held my breath when I searched for the thing he calls as vein. I pushed the needle in and he winced.

“What?” I snapped to him.

“You missed,” he laughed nervously and pulled the needle out. Then he pushed the needle back in and now his blood is coming out. He moves quickly and places a bottle underneath.

After he had finished taking samples he goes to a weird looking machine. He places the bottles in there and he glances at me smiling. “You’re staring,” he states as he presses the buttons of the machine. I hear it humming and then it’s spinning the samples around.

“Am not,” I hissed to him.

“Did you bring the stuff I wished for?” Marko asks and goes to his fridge. He isn’t in his pajamas now but in a weird white long coat and gray pants.

“Yeah,” I said and went to empty the bag.

“Leave it on the table,” he told me and I start putting out some cereal and orange juice in his table. He slams two bowls into the table, as well as glasses and spoons.

“What?” I asked as he brought the milk on table. “I bet that you haven’t tasted cereal as breakfast ever before,” he chuckled and pulled out the other chair.

“It’s not morning,” I sighed and he ruffles his hair.

“Yeah, anyway. Just sit there and have some cereal on me. You need some sugar because I took your blood,” he rolls his eyes.

I went to sit on the chair that he had pulled out. It’s funny how fast he took his hands out when I sat on it. He gave me some cereal with milk, then he poured some orange juice in my glass.

He moved fast and then he sat across the table. He was already munching his cereal. “You know, you’re so hyper that I think that you have ADHD,” I sighed.

The spoon of his hit the bottom of his bowl. “Yeah? How did you guess,” he smirked and took his bowl away. He is so weird.

I ate my cereal and then the odd machine beeped. “Finally!” Marko exclaimed and runs to the machine. He took the samples out and went to another weird thing.

Slowly I went to stand next to Marko. He was leaning over desk and looking into some weird looking eguipment. “What are you doing?” I muttered.

“Looking your blood sample through microscope. You want to see?” He asked and stepped aside. I look at him weirdly and he sighs. “Just stick your eye close to this,” he pointed at a thing with a lens.

I sighed and lean forward. “Do you see?” He asks and I feel his hand on my back.

“No,” I murmured and I felt him pushing me down when I tried to move away. “

“How about now?” He said and I notice how he did something. After hearing a clicking sound I could see some red flakes on a glass. “Yeah,” I whispered in amazement.

“Those are your blood cells,” he said. Then I notice how those disappeared and he places another glass plate for me to see.

“These are mine,” he says. I’m staring at the sight.

“Umm.. they look the same as mine,” I said quietly.

“Precisely!” He sounded victorious as he slapped my back. Then he walked away.

I lift myself up. “So what’s the result?” I said with curiosity.

“I need to study you more,” he chuckled and held his hands behind his back. Then he stretched and yawned.

“Alright, Worker 1989, I’ll be going to sleep now. Don’t overwork yourself while cleaning the place up,” he laughed a bit and went towards his bedroom.

“Dawn,” I said and he paused.

“It’s not dawn yet,” he smirks and looks over his shoulder.

I cleared my voice, “My name is Dawn.”

“Thanks for sharing, Dawn. See you next night,” he smiled mischievously while waving his other hand.

He left me standing in the kitchen and I started to clean up the place. I need to do it quickly before the morning arrives. While I’m cleaning I’m humming a song silently.

“What’s my name you ask?

It’s Dawn that you’re searching for,

just look at the sky in the morningand you’ll find it.

Dive into my eyes and see the shine of an Emerald.

I’m not a mole, I’m not a test subject,

I’m Dawn Emerald.”

A/N:

Here you go! Another chapter! Took me long, I know. However I’ve been working of the back stories of the characters. Haha!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!