"Yeah. There is a kind of rebellion going on inside the walled cities like Harbour, or there was before it was discovered. The people outside The Walls just wanted the population within them to have a choice, to know they could come outside and enjoy the world again. And we'd like access to some of their technology too. But the people in power within the cities don't want anyone to know they can leave. They like their lifestyle and it can only be maintained by standing on the shoulders of everyone beneath them." He turned back to me.
“But the people in the city aren't unhappy. The Guardians look after us and everyone is healthy and has enough food. Maybe they don't know about the contamination or they just want to keep everyone safe inside the city," I said. I still wasn't entirely convinced that the president and the rest of the Guardians in power could be so corrupt.
“Do you really believe that? You said yourself that they don't allow most people into the top levels at all."
“Well, I know that some living areas are undesirable and the higher you live the nicer they get, but if you contribute enough you can advance."
“Only within the parameters they allow."
I frowned. It was true there were special elevators for the top levels that the rest of us weren't given access to. That certain residential buildings had very restricted access even to walk the corridors and the people who lived there weren't exactly sociable either, but then I hadn't ever had much interest in the way the city ran. I couldn't be sure whether they were controlling information or giving preferential treatment to the privileged few.
“After my parents died I really just spent my time studying and hanging out with Taylor. I guess I wasn't paying much attention," I said finally.
A strange look flashed across Coal's face.
“Did you ever know anything about your parents?" I asked him.
“No, there aren't that many family units around here. Alicia is more than enough for me." He looked at me for a minute before continuing. "Do you mind me asking what happened?"
I frowned unsure how to explain it, the seconds dragged on.
"I shouldn't have asked you, I'm sorry." He reached over the seat between us as if to touch my hand but drew back and placed his hand down next to mine instead.
“It's not that, I just don't know how to explain it. It was all a bit of a mystery really and it hurts to drag through the past, so I try not to think about it too often.
They were scientists and they worked together in a lab. They were working on things that were deemed classified so I never got to know exactly what happened to them. It was some sort of accident." I shrugged. "It hit me pretty hard at the time. I kind of disappeared from the world and most of my friends gave up on me, especially when I was demoted to level forty." I knew it sounded mechanical as the words left my mouth but if I let myself feel even the slightest bit of emotion then I knew I would break down entirely. That was a box I kept firmly locked deep down inside my heart and opening it, even after all of these years, was still too hard to bear.
"But not Taylor," Coal said quietly.
"No. He came every day and brought me meals and would just talk and talk and talk until eventually I started listening. Our parents were good friends and we grew up together. I guess he just felt bad enough for me that he decided to wait for as long as it took for me to find my way back to him." I noticed I was chewing on my lip and quickly stopped.
“It sounds like more than pity," Coal said quietly.
I picked a piece of lint from my pants and watched as it drifted to the floor. I didn't like to think of it as pity either.
The truck slowed and Coal unclipped his seatbelt as he glanced out of the window. "We're here," he said, seemingly glad to end the conversation.
The car rolled to a stop and Coal got out without glancing back at me.
At some point during the journey Laurie had dozed off and Alicia kindly blasted the horn to wake her up. Her cheek was pressed against the window and she smacked her head against the glass as she jolted awake.
I tried to cover up my laughter but Alicia didn't. Laurie made a swing for her but she was already half way out of the door and springing out of reach.
“These people are insane," Laurie growled, rubbing her head.
“I think they just have more fun than we're used to." I smiled as I pushed my own door open.
The jump down from the truck was higher than I remembered and I stumbled as I hit the tarmac. Before I could land on my face, I felt a strong arm catch hold of me.
“Thanks." I grinned up at Coal as he released me. He nodded in response and turned to grab a bottle of water from the truck bed.
Laurie came around the truck to join us, grumbling about getting revenge with a look in her eye that promised she would.
“Welcome to Franklin." Alicia waved a hand at the strange city ahead of us.
We’d parked in an area full of other vehicles. I stared around at the various shapes, sizes and colours of the cars and wondered how different they would be to travel in. Most of them were plugged in and charging. Alicia made her way to a small hut as a thickset man exited it and moved towards her.
They got into a debate about the price and eventually Alicia returned to the truck. She retrieved a crate of cabbages and two bottles of whiskey which she placed in the hut as the man plugged our truck into the power to charge it up.