The Continuum by Wendy Nikel

Author:Wendy Nikel [Nikel, Wendy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: World Weaver Press
Published: 2018-01-23T07:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER FIFTEEN:

April 13, 2112

I jab at every tiny button and dial on my PVD, trying to find the map I’d downloaded at the library. It takes me an embarrassingly long time to pull it up, but when I do, I mentally applaud myself for conquering this strange, future technology.

On the holographic map in the corner of my glasses, I locate the housing community on the outskirts of the city, where the urban area ends and the agricultural fields begin. My brisk pace brings me in view of these buildings within a few minutes. Each building is around fifteen stories high; with the reflective glass paneling over its entire surface, I can’t tell for sure.

Even as the time approaches 9pm, people mingle on the grassy areas between the buildings, arriving home from work, greeting neighbors, and simply living. In my travels, one of the things I enjoy most is seeing the everyday lives of normal, ordinary people; it helps me remember what I used to be like, before I met Dr. Wells and my life became entirely un-ordinary.

Obviously this part of the community was carefully planned, much like the commercial areas’ color coordination. Each building, though constructed identically—at least as far as I can tell—seems to have its own personality and identity. The further I wander into the development, the more apparent this becomes.

The apartments in the first row remind me of frat houses. The young men and women who gather on the lawn and recline on the picnic tables are noisy, excitable, and don’t seem to care that it’s nighttime. The glass surfaces of the bottom floors are smeared with window paint displaying names and symbols. Some I recognize as international sports teams’ logos, but others are unfamiliar—perhaps too new.

Passing the next row feels like stepping into a completely new neighborhood, a new world. It’s almost as if the buildings themselves pulled one too many all-nighters, finally got real jobs, and grew up. The buildings and lawns are impeccable—neat, tidy, and clean, without a smudge on the glass or a scrap of paper in the yard. A few couples snuggle on benches under trees whose leaves are too silky and flawless to be real. A group of 20-somethings play a card game around a patio table. I keep my head low and avoid eye contact, and they don’t even seem to notice me pass.

Down the next row, the sounds of the first block’s revelers already seem distant and indistinct. These buildings are quiet, though they show signs of active daytime life. Play structures, riding toys, and wagons are scattered in the green spaces. One corner even houses a pool with a slide, but it seems bedtime has already reached these apartments.

The fourth row is quieter still, though there are a few people hovering outside the buildings, chatting in low voices. Here, the windows are dark, as if the residents are either out or asleep. The lawns lack children’s toys, but there are plenty of tennis courts, swimming pools, and even a driving range.

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