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don’t think he knows the science exactly, but he does know how to market it and take credit. Throughout the scientific world, he’s known as the man who ended the nightmare and brought the cities together.”
    â€œWhich is partially true,” Prophet added.
    Wasley nodded. “He was also involved in the construction and funding of the false sky. Doing all of this gives him a considerable amount of influence over the population. People don’t seem to realize that they’re living in a fake city anymore and that their happiness is completely false and fed to them through a device. It’s not right.”
    â€œPlus,” Prophet interjected, “it’s not going to last forever. Soon, the city will be destroyed.”
    â€œAssuming that’s true, yes. We could all be buried as well.”
    â€œAssuming?” Katsuni slammed an open hand on the table. Ian and Wasley’s heads jerked in her direction. “I know what I heard in my dream. I heard it several times, and I could still feel the numbing wind on my face.”
    Ian’s fists tightened and shook. For a second, he stood again in the field as fierce winds bit at his extremities with small, cold teeth. The wind streaked his sight with tears before the vision dissolved back into the cramped, grimy room. “It seemed so real,” he said dreamily and looked at Katsuni.
    Her expression softened a bit. “Yes, it was.”
    â€œEither way, we must get out of the city,” Wasley said.
    â€œBut, what about The Dust?” Ian straightened up a little.
    â€œIt’s been years. I don’t know the particulars, but it eventually dissipates. The cities were never meant to be an end-all solution, more like elaborate bomb shelters. We’ve become too comfortable down here and, earthquake or not, it will be our downfall. Ellis and Lamore Industries are to blame for that.”
    â€œHow are we to get out, what would make people leave?”
    â€œA city-wide crisis. We’re going to destroy the ventilation system.”
    Ian’s eyes widened, “What? We’ll all die.”
    â€œIf the ventilation system were to ever go down, it would be switched over to an emergency power source which allows it to run until everyone escapes,” Wasley explained.
    â€œIf something like that were to happen, wouldn’t that cause a mass rush of people? They could get hurt?” Ian asked.
    Wasley nodded, “That’s a possibility. There will be guards to help with the evacuation, and there may be some injuries, but I feel that this has to happen.” A long silence followed Wasley’s words, and then he added, “Imagine if we didn’t do this and Phineas’ earthquake happens, do you know how many more people will die?”
    â€œWhat if it doesn’t happen?” Ian asked.
    â€œIf we do nothing, we’ll live in this artificial word, left to stagnate forever, pretending we’re happy. I don’t like either choice.”
    â€œAnd Ellis knows you’re going to do this?” A sudden chill stabbed through Ian’s spine
    â€œHe’s knows that we’re planning something, but he doesn’t know what. We can’t live down here forever, Ian. Reality can only be distorted so much.”
    â€œWhat about the other cities?”
    â€œWe have a large network. Once the plans are set in motion, all the city’s systems will be taken down at the same time.”
    Prophet stepped around Wasley’s chair and stood closer to Ian. He hunkered down and leaned toward the fifteenyear-old’s face. “Are you with us?”
    Wasley shot an accusing look at Prophet, causing the thin man to quickly bolt up and take a couple of steps back.
    Ian cleared his throat and opened his mouth to speak, but his voice struggled to form words. He closed his mouth and looked at the floor as if the wooden planks held an answer. “I need to think, because right now