Midnight Blue (Jack Morian)

Jack Morian pivoted on the edge of his skateboard, catching it reflexively as he looked around at the drab surroundings of Subterranea. He removed the faded Volcom cap on his dark-haired head, the tendrils framing a face so gaunt that he resembled more a war veteran than the seventeen-year-old he was.

Life underground took its toll on the citizens of this place, especially children. There were 5,550 residents of this city, though only 2% were below eighteen.


Sixty years ago, war had ravaged the Earth until the atmosphere was so contaminated with toxic gas and radioactive smog, all human beings and wildlife were forced to inhabit the underground levels of buildings across the world. Forever escaping the atmosphere, each year they would dig deeper. The war had followed, and the population dwindled because only a certain number of the refugees were of the proper age or condition to procreate. Food supply was low, and some of the wild animals had gotten loose.


TPS (Toxic Particle Sickness) cut that portion in half. These were the teachings of the Oligarchy since they were old enough to comprehend it. The government concealed the remainder that existed now, as to prevent anyone from getting any ideas. It was rumored that thousands of ‘Subterraneas’ had been established across the globe, but the Oligarchy had effective ways of silencing those who riled up the population. Jack and his friends had laughed. Couldn’t even go to the library and the government still held to the idea that someone would be intelligent enough to overthrow them. What could they do?


Secretly, beneath the toughened orphan exterior, he yearned for the time of his grandfather to return. Through him, Jack gained beautiful memories and visions of the world above—what had been. He remembered the look on his grandfather’s face when he had run out of stories to quell his thirsty imagination. The harsh reality of the inescapable concrete jungle rustled the boy that day, and before Jack knew it, he was at the site of the Arrival, the only route in and out of the city.


His feet were so accustomed to the way there that he could not prevent it. It was eerily besmirched; the streetlights of no use, and a few of Subterranea’s residents had even attempted to scale it to the top. None of them had ever come back from their endeavor.


Inez had speculated that it was haunted. Tori said that the way was blocked by means of some mysterious being, and that if you outwitted it, you could pass. Inez was part of a radical rebel battalion now and was forbidden to have any contact with civilians unless they were a part of the group. Tori had married another one of Jack’s friends, Mika, and he had fallen out of contact with them. Jack smiled. He would discern for himself the truth of the Arrival. Only touch could lead him; sight, smell, and hearing only served to terrify him further. Taste, he did not want to know. Stuck in limbo, he bit his lip, uncertain of the way back but apprehensive of the road ahead.


His hazel eyes widened in the darkness, a shimmer of light at the end of his line of sight. Memories tantalizing his mind, Jack eagerly journeyed on, his pace quickening until he was panting with hysteria. Faster. Faster. His psyche pushed him, body approaching exhaustion. His pale hand thrust out to grab another rung. There was none. Around the portal was a pure halo of light. Jack Morian got a tight hold on the lever and pushed upwards. What he beheld made him cry endlessly for decades after.



The sky was a beautiful midnight blue, and everywhere he looked, moonlight smiled upon the grassy plains.



They had lied.