My alarm clock went off, playing a terrible, low-quality version of reggae, the noise was so awful. It made me want to throw the damn thing into the nearest geothermal vent. Right beside my assistant, Megan, who was already awake and giving me a death stare.
"Seriously, Sam? Reggae? At 6 AM? On the day we're supposed to inspect the new energy grid?" she groaned, pulling the heavy wool blanket more snugly around herself.
"Hey," I mumbled, rubbing the sleep from my eyes. "It's supposed to be relaxing. Besides, gotta keep things light, right? It's not like we're living in a freaking paradise or anything."
Paradise was a long-lost dream, buried under a mountain of ice and the proud of those who thought they could "fix" climate change.
TheFreeze, they called it. A desperate attempt at geoengineering gone horribly wrong. Result? A new Ice Age. Now, the only places livable were these geothermal pockets, bubbles of warmth connected to the Earth's molten core.
Our pocket was known as "Rimebound," a city built inside a massive, hollowed-out volcano. It was a marvel of engineering, a testament to human resilience. Buildings clung to the inner walls, connected by a network of bridges and elevators powered by the very heat that kept us alive. Steam hissed from every corner, a constant reminder of the delicate balance we maintained.
Outside, the frozen wasteland stretched for miles, a giant, icy burial ground.
I put on my warm thermal suit. It felt heavy but good, like it was keeping me safe from the cold that was getting in. Megan was already eating a protein bar – she's always practical.
"Let's just get this over with," she said, mumbling. "The sooner we confirm the grid's stable, the sooner we can justify that extra ration of synthetic beef."
We worked for "The Authority," the governing body that controlled Rimebound.
They controlled everything, really – the energy, the food, the information. They were supposed to be the guardians of our survival, but something had been bugging me lately. Unexplained power outages. Restricted access to certain geothermal vents. I couldn't shake the feeling that something was off.
The grid inspection was supposed to be routine. But as we went down into the Rimebound complex, the air changed, it became heavy with heat and moisture, and the steady hiss of steam was replaced by a powerful energy that seemed to vibrate through the floor.
The new grid, a massive network of pipes and turbines designed to harness the deeper geothermal reserves, hummed with barely contained power.
Megan ran diagnostics, her expertise was evident in the speed and precision with which she used the console. "Everything checks out, Sam. Energy production is higher than projected."
"Too high," I said, gesturing to the energy levels going up and down on a screen. "Look at that spike. It's like they're stealing off energy somewhere."
"Stealing? Who would…" Megan stopped, her eyes growing big. "Don't tell me you're thinking…The Authority?"
The thought sent a chill down my spine, colder than the icy winds outside. "It's the only explanation, Megan. They're hoarding the energy."
We continued our inspection, going further into the area, tracking the energy loss like detectives on a scent.
The further we went, the more uneasy we felt. We saw workers who looked exhausted and unhealthy, working incredibly hard in the intense heat. They seemed like they were forced to be there, with no happiness left, just a tired acceptance of their situation.
Then, we found it. A hidden chamber, shielded by reinforced steel and guarded by armed Authority soldiers. Within, under a strange and captivating light, a luxurious greenhouse thrived. It overflowed with vibrant, real plants - a stark contrast to the artificial food that sustained the rest of the population.
"Unbelievable," Megan spoke very quietly, but you could hear the disgust in her voice. "While we're rationing recycled protein, they're growing… strawberries?"
But it wasn't just the greenhouse. Behind it, a network of power lines snaked away, disappearing into a concealed tunnel. Lines that were drawing a disproportionate amount of energy, enough to power a small city. A city that wasn't Rimebound.
"Where do you think that leads?" I asked, my heart beating like a drum in my ears.
"There's only one way to find out," Megan said, a fierce look in her eyes that hinted at something risky.
We managed to slip past the guards during a shift change, the adrenaline coursing through our veins masking the heat. The tunnel was dark and narrow, the air smelled strongly of metal. After what felt like an eternity, we finally found ourselves in a massive underground cave.
And there it was.
A second city.
A hidden city, bathed in artificial sunlight, a paradise of lush greenery and fancy buildings. People strolled leisurely, dressed in fine clothes, enjoying fresh food and clean air. They looked healthy, happy, oblivious to the struggles of those above.
This was what they were hoarding the energy for. A secret haven for the elite, while the rest of us were stuck living a hard life in the smoky tunnels of Rimebound. This was the "stability" The Authority preached about. A lie, built on the backs of the suffering.
As we watched, a familiar figure appeared from one of the grand buildings. Councilman Bourne, one of the highest-ranking members of The Authority. He was laughing, his face flushed with privilege and contentment, a glass of what looked suspiciously like real wine in his hand.
I felt a growing rage, a burning fire that threatened to consume me. We had to expose them. We had to tell everyone.
But how?
Megan gave me a little push and pointed. Her expression was serious. "Look."
She pointed towards a group of workers carrying crates. And on the crates, stamped in bold letters, was a familiar symbol: The Rimebound Energy Grid logo. Inside, we saw not food, not supplies, but deactivated cryogenic pods.
"They're… they're planning to leave," Words caught in Megan's throat; her voice trembled as she tried to speak. "They're going to abandon us all, freeze us in those pods, and escape the planet when the conditions are right. With the energy we're generating."
It was all messed up; it made my head hurt trying to understand. They never cared about surviving. They only cared about escaping. And they were willing to let the rest of us freeze to death to so they could get away.
That's when I saw it. A small, almost hidden panel, labeled: "Grid Overload Protocol." Next to it, a red button.
I paused, my hand just above the button. If I pushed it, both cities would lose all power and go completely dark. This would stop the enemy from escaping so easily. It would buy us time – Time to expose their lies. Time to start a rebellion.
But it would also sentence everyone in Rimebound, including Megan, to a slow, agonizing death. The geothermal vents were essential for survival. Without power, the city would quickly become an icy tomb.
I looked at Megan, her face written with fear, then at the rich city below, and back again. Every fiber of my being screamed for revenge, for justice. But was it worth sacrificing everyone? Was it worth becoming the very monster I despised?
"What do we do, Sam?" Megan spoke in a whisper, so quiet it was hard to hear.
I looked at the button, then back at Megan. My fingers tightening and loosening as I considered what to do.
The choice was mine. The fate of Rimebound, and perhaps humanity itself, depended on it.
And I still don't know if I made the right one.