A Hole in Time

The Dome - Chapter 4 - The Energy Grid

When I open my eyes, I feel a sense of relief, mixed with uneasiness. I had an amazing night's sleep, but there is something nagging at me. I can see nothing in the pitch black. The sun has not risen yet, or should I say, the Hierarchy has not let the projection rise yet. My eyes adjust to the darkness and I notice something that disturbs me. There is a c***k in the ceiling. I do not think I have ever noticed it before. I can hear a strange noise Outside, so I creep to the window to find out what could be happening. 

I peer out, and see people out on the street, clearing away what looks like snow. There is someone talking and I can hear him. It strikes me as strange. If you are doing something that you do not want everyone to hear, why talk so loudly? Then the answer dawns on me. Because everyone else is still locked in sleep and I am the only one awake. From my place at the window, I can see that Liam is still asleep, upside down in bed like me. I focus on the people Outside, determined to hear as much of their conversation as I can. 

"Sir, there was another leak in the shield last night. Snow from the Outside fell in two places. Here in Healers and at a depot near Unionists." I can hear the person who is getting this report start to pace. "Yes, I know the energy grid is failing. I just do not know why. The power plant is still providing more than enough energy, the transmitters are running at full capacity, and everything is in top shape. It is almost as if something is sucking the power out of the grid once It is passed the energy meter." I find myself wondering if my doubts about the Dome are justified. "Sir, the Dome is the only protection against the Outside. What will happen if it fails?" I can hear the man sigh. "Duncan, if the energy shield fails, everyone in here will die. From exposure to radiation, radical temperatures, or even by the Dome falling down. I do believe that the main problem is to figure out how or why the energy is not reaching the grid. I have this strange feeling that someone is leeching the power out for some reason. I would very much like to know what they are doing."

I can hear them walking away, but I stay as still as I can. Someone is leeching the power out of the shield? Why would they do that? And if they are, why does not the rest of the Hierarchy know, if not all of us? What are they doing in secret? I stand at my window, shocked speechless, until the sun starts to rise. I make myself move and get dressed. My family will be waking up soon and I cannot let them know that I did not sleep normally. I dress, yet again, in my drab gray clothes. I find myself wishing that I could dress in the colour of grass. The lovely luscious grass from the field. I know that people, before the Dome, used to wear all different kinds of colours. Pinks, reds, and greens. All different colours that you can see in nature. 

I greet my family like normal, but I ache to throw my arms around them. No-one shows anyone affection here in the Dome. Married couples are not even allowed to kiss anymore. They used to be, but not now. The Hierarchy decreed, when the third generation of kids had diseases, that there should be no physical contact between a man and a woman, a man and his children, or a woman and her children past the age of two. No physical contact at all. That is why all pregnancies are implanted by Healers. A couple must go to the Hierarchy, on the 12 month anniversary of their marriage ceremony, and request to have a baby. Requests take three months to go through. The man and woman go to the Healers centre and the Healers take the needed samples from both. They fertilise the egg and implant into the woman. I believe they also implant a microchip at the same time. Exactly 9 months later,on Birth day, the woman reports to the same Healers centre where women like my mother perform surgery and remove the baby. Prior to this, the women went through extreme pain to give birth to her baby and some times, mother and baby could die. This was called labour. The Hierarchy stepped in to prevent needless deaths.

I never let my thoughts loose like this, but if my theory is correct, the Hierarchy cannot access my thoughts. If they could, there would have been someone at the front door before breakfast to fix my bed again. Even that thought is strange. How did they know that my bed was broken if I have never connected to it? Strange thoughts like this carry me through breakfast, saying goodbye to my parents and walking to school. John calls me a few time before I actually respond. "Grace, you are very distracted this morning. Are you okay?" 

I nod and look at my brother. "I am fine, John. How are you this morning?" John laughs. "I am fine, Grace. My life is perfect, my family are healthy, my sister is fine, and my betrothed is just divine." I follow John's line of sight and see Scarlett. She looks lovely. I have always wondered how Scarlett can wear the exact same clothes as the rest of us but look so beautiful. She is simply radiant. I can see why John always has a smile on his face when he is around her. 

I feel the same way when I see Liam. I can feel the weight on my shoulders slip off when Liam smiles at me. He and Scarlett stop on the side of the street and wait for us to catch up. We walk together as couples, Hierarchy regulated distance apart, and I know that this is not natural. I know the Hierarchy has these rules to protect us, but why do they think they can order us around? The Hierarchy have supposed to be taking care of us, but if they cannot even keep the energy shield working properly, how can they tell us how to live?