Falling Sky by James Patrick Riser

here to whisk you away. We’re not done talking.” Ellis opened the door and took several brisk steps out and Michael Wasley entered.
    â€œI guess they got you,” he said with wide grin.
    â€œWhy are you smiling? Who are they exactly? The people who made the Somnium?”
    The professor continued to smile as he slowly pulled the chair out and sat. “Well, I guess we’re going to have to continue your lessons in here for now, huh?”
    â€œWhat?” Ian stood up and slammed his hands on the table. “You got me into all of this!” He leaned over and looked past Wasley, at the door. “Tell him. Tell Ellis that I don’t want to destroy society or whatever they think I’m up to.”
    â€œDante is going to bring us the reading material. They had to confiscate my back pack at the front desk.”
    Ian sat down and rested his chin on his chest, “Do you know how long I’m going to be here?”
    â€œNo idea.” Wasley leaned back and crossed his arms. “But you shouldn’t be here long. I just want to make sure that you’re caught up on your studies. Is that alright with you?”
    â€œYeah.” Ian sighed. “I don’t have anything else to do.”
    The door opened and Dante entered with a thick, hardcover book. He let go and it loudly fell to the desk. “I believe this is the book that you requested. I think you left a book mark on page 200.”
    Ian looked at Dante with a raised eyebrow, wondering why he was looking through the book.
    â€œThank you,” Wasley replied as he slid the book to his side of the table. “I’ll let you know when we’re finished.”
    Dante nodded and turned toward the door. Ian noticed he held the door open with his foot the entire time. After Dante left Wasley smiled, removed his glasses and placed them in his shirt’s breast pocket.
    â€œShall we turn to page 200? I believe that’s the chapter on the expansion of existing mines for the underground cities.” He opened the book and flipped through the pages.
    Ian turned his gaze to Wasley, “Is the surface safe to occupy?”
    â€œI believe so, but don’t know if they’ve been keeping tabs on it.” He stopped turning the pages laid his hand flat on the book. “But it sounds like something that should be monitored, doesn’t it?”
    Ian nodded. “Maybe we’ll know one day. I don’t want to destroy the city like Ellis said.”
    â€œI know you don’t, Ian.” Wasley smiled and used his free hand to squeeze Ian’s shoulder, “but perhaps the city isn’t the place for you. It’s working out for a great many people, just like the surface world worked for many before them, however, nothing lasts forever.”
    â€œWhat do you mean?”
    â€œWe’ll talk about it later.” The professor lifted his hand from the book and revealed a key card on the page.
    Ian’s eyes widened. “How did you get that?”
    â€œWe’re not the only ones who see the cracks in the sky. Now let’s go.”
    * * * *
    To Ian’s relief, no one roamed the dull gray halls of the complex. He followed closely behind his teacher, who kept a steady pace as they headed toward the elevator. In every corner of the ceiling a security camera followed their progress.
    â€œWe’re on camera,” Ian whispered to Wasley’s back.
    â€œI know, but it’ll take some time before they figure out what’s happening. Ellis is in a meeting at the moment.” They reached the elevator’s shining double doors and Wasley pressed the call button.
    â€œHow do you know that?”
    â€œI have a friend who works here.” He looked down at Ian as the doors quietly slid open. “I mean we have a friend.”
    They both stepped into the elevator and Wasley inserted the key card into a thin slot located under the numbered floor buttons. The small