Season 01 - Episode 20

‘don’t be scared’

Ty is late. Since the eviction he has been picking up extra shifts. This means he has more job tickets than ever before. Even worse, the tunnels of the box transit system feel smaller than ever before too.

In the past, he raced along the coarse belts in a kind of crouching run. Now, his broadening shoulders and lengthening limbs mean he has to crawl. This is not the main thing making him late however.

“Is it much further?” says a whiny voice behind him.

This is what's making him late.

“It is a bit further yet, yes,” Ty says wearily.

Gra is a new boy, the same age as Ty but plump and soft skinned. Most of the children working the tunnels have done so since they were small. By Ty's age they know the job inside out. Gra has started late and has a lot to learn.

“I can't believe this is what's behind all the hatches,” says Gra, breathing heavily.

Ty says nothing. He crawls on grim faced, towards their next job.

“Did I tell you we used to have three separate catering hatches?” asks Gra.

“Mm hm,” says Ty.

“We had two rooms,” Gra continues, filling the small space with his words. “We had a living area like most people do but our washspace and sleeping area were in a whole other room. Very few people have two rooms you know.”

“Mmm,” says Ty.

“Then the EnFo's came and made us move,” says Gra, his volume and mood both dropping. “Now we live in a corridor room! The neighbours have to walk through our room to get to the main corridor. It's horrible! Mother says it's only temporary but I hate it!”

“Sounds bad,” says Ty.

“It is!” whimpers Gra.

Just then, the belt beneath them jerks to life. Gra squeals.

“What's happening?” he cries.

“Don't be scared,” says Ty. “It just means there are boxes coming. At least the belt's going our way. We'll get to the next job sooner now.”

Ty continues to crawl, relieved at the sudden stroke of luck. After a minute or so however, he realises Gra is no longer behind him.

“What are you doing?” he calls back over his shoulder.

“If the belt's going the right way, we should just ride it,” says Gra, who has shifted to sit cross legged on the belt.

“No,” says Ty, turning to face Gra. “We're already late.”

“But my hands are sore!” whines Gra, looking down at his blistered palms and pouting.

“Look,” Ty tries again. “We have to...”

Gra is gone.

The tunnel is gone.

In their place is a downward torrent of violence.

Masonry and machinery and people and furniture, all rushing down past the new mouth of the tunnel, on and on. Ty is consumed by a deafening sound. He claps his hands over his ears and stares wide eyed at the impossible carnage.

It goes on forever until it doesn't. Now the mouth of the tunnel is an empty black space. The sounds of tumbling, screaming, crashing destruction are fading downwards, echoes racing up from below.

As if in a dream, Ty crawls to the edge and looks out. As far as he can see up and down, there is nothing but empty space. A column of void walled by torn open rooms and corridors broken in half.

Ragged raw edges hang loose. People inside stare out and scream. Others hang from the edges and fall. Ty can't comprehend what he is seeing, it is too big. One small thought occurs to him instead.

He doesn't know how to get home.

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