The Oblation

Black. Dirty. Everything around me is black and I feel dirty. The walls are made of mud. Caked around me and then sealed. When the lights go out I can’t tell if it’s darker when I close my eyes or not. I live underground like an ant. Our city is built out into a colony spanning east to west. Which way is east again? I can’t tell. My parents chose to die and my brother is a worker. He mines for Ora. More Ora means more food. The mineral is put into a chute and transported to the surface. A place we never set foot. That’s where the light burns our eyes that love the darkness. Above us, there is a dome that covers the entire city. That’s where the happy people live. And this? This is where the dead people live.

•••

“Hey, Leora, how’s the produce this month?” I heard a familiar voice as I was poking around my garden. Who is that? Ciaran? There is never enough food for my brother and I. Even though he works more than he sleeps. So I plant things. Happy little vegetables that grow without sun.

“How did this get down here?” I grumbled, “a weed? Really?” A quick glance up and I saw it was Eadin - an old friend of mine, “the garden’s fine. The same as last month, and every month.”

Eadin crouched down to his knees, “need any help?”

He was dirty from mining all day. Who knows the last time he washed? Yet somehow he smelled good. Inviting and warm, but also manly. Like someone I wanted to hold. I smiled at his attempt to help. He already looked exhausted from the day’s work. “No, I think I’m alright.”

I picked up a muddy vegetable and offered it to him. He resisted with a shrug, “you need it more.”

We grew up together. We would play with worms and run down the halls of the colony. When he was big enough to work in the mines, I cried my eyes swollen for weeks. We would no longer play together. It had been years since we talked. A friendly smile or nod on our way to work was all we had. When he was a kid his hair was golden blonde. Like what I would imagine the sun looks like. Now it was dark. Is that dirt? I can’t tell.

“Are you going to the Oblation this year?”

I didn’t answer. I didn’t even want to think about it. The Oblation was a day of death. People from the underground gathered to the main room. Packed in like filthy rats. From the chute a container clinking with tiny capsules would ascend from the heavens. It was the gift of dying. Every year the Surfacers gave the Underlyers a chance to go from rags to riches. Drink the serum. If you die, you die. If you live, you ascend. The catch? Almost everyone who drank it died. The last person to drink it and live was my grandfather. He was brought to the surface and we never saw him again. For his act of honor he was allowed to send food back. Any family who had someone on the surface lived like royalty. Royalty in a dirt-walled palace of despair.

“Do you think your brother will do it?” His words stung, like the mean millipedes that liked to creep through my garden.

Ciaran. My brother. With every swing of his pickaxe, his heart deteriorated more. His lungs were filled with dirt. Sometimes I could hear the sand rattle when he breathed at night. Or maybe that was my imagination? People underground die faster than they regenerate. Their bodies hang in the corridors until the Surfacers haul them up to be burned. My grandfather stopped sending us supplies a few years ago. We figured he had passed from old age. If my grandfather survived the serum, maybe my brother would too?

I felt angry. Angry at this miserable life underground. Angry at Eadin for bringing up Ciaran. That’s not his place to ask! Who does he think he is?

“Go away,” I muttered.

“I was thinking of doing it,” he continued, “either way I’d end up somewhere better, right?”

In my frustration I began to shear my plants faster, “did you not hear me?”

He seemed hurt, “no, I just-“

“Damn it!” One of my more promising stalks fell in halves to the ground.

My heart was pounding harder than the worker’s pickaxes attacked the earth, “leave me alone.”

“Listen, Leora, I’m sorry” Eadin stuttered, “I thought we could talk more.” He paused, contemplating whether to press on, “I’ve always liked you…”

I turned my back to him, “see you at the Oblation.”

•••

“’Til death do we live!”

My eyes opened as I heard the chants along the corridor. Every person underground grabbed something to bang against the wall. Anything in arm’s reach. Pickaxes, shovels, pots, pans. The entire underground was shaking. Today was the Oblation. Everyone on the surface to the core of the planet would know.

Outside of our home Ciaran and I began shuffling to the main room. We were the only calm in a sea of frenzied excitement. How can they be so excited to die? To watch others die? They would watch and cheer on their favorite contestant. With what money they had, bets were made. People down here looked forward to it. A day off from work. A holiday. A community event. It was mandatory to watch, but I would always shut my eyes.

The main room was a monstrous hollowed dome. There were more levels than you could see down. If you fell from the railing, you would surely die. Something I’ve witnessed more times than I would have liked. Everyone crowded together to see the monitors and the chute. Those who were interested in taking part of the Oblation were serenaded to the center. The level we lived on gave us a front row view. We were so close we could smell the serum. We could also smell the death.

With a hum the monitors reluctantly flickered on. They played the same upbeat commercial every year.

I only caught glimpses. I was too distracted thinking about my brother. Could he really drink it this year?

“Join us on the surface,” exclaimed a pompous wealthy woman with jewels suffocating her neck, “it’s paradise!”

Scenes of free-flowing water and people basking in the sun lit up the screen. Everyone was happy. Laughing. Families spent time together. They actually have free time? No one was dirty or tired. Videos of lavish living quarters never failed to make the audience ooh and ahh. They showed us heaven while we were living in hell. No wonder people would die to get there.

A woman appeared on the screen, “Hello, hello! I’m glad to see each and every one of you!”

This woman looked like sunshine. Everything about her was bright. Her perfectly straight teeth were blindingly white. The sun had lovingly kissed her glowing bronze skin. Golden locks like beams of light framed her smiling face. She burned my eyes but I couldn’t help but stare.

“You all know the rules.” She paused, “you must drink an entire bottle of extract and survive to claim your reward. No cheating!”

Rules. Rewards. Cheating. This is just a game.

“Now, let’s get started, shall we?” She chirped.

•••

The chute began to tremble. A faint whirring sound filled the air. It was time. All of us watched as the capsule was lowered down to the main level. A few volunteers from the surface stood by. Wrapped in contamination suits, they were the ones that would make sure you drank all of the contents. They also would get rid of all the bodies.

One of the volunteers took the box from the chute and placed it on a table. He removed the top to unveil the small crystal vials. They tinkled against each other. A sound so innocent for what was about to unfold.

A dozen people began to line up. Men, woman, and a few children. If it weren’t for their sizes the grimy, dirty creatures would look identical. The crystal blue concoction called people to drink it. Drink me! I’m the way out, the way up. We watched as people lifted the vials to their lips. Drink me! I can help you.

“’Til death do we live!” One by one they tilted their heads and let the poison slide down their throats. One by one they dropped like flies. The volunteers dragged their bodies into a pile. They were rubbish dead or alive.

•••

As we all watched the commotion I felt someone next to me begin to move away. It was my brother.

“Ciaran, where are you going?” My voice was pleading him to stay. I guess Eadin had been right all along.

My brother looked at me, stoic and emotionless, “I’m a burden.”

Inside, I felt frantic. How do you convince someone to stay? To not die? “But, you’re not!” Is all I could muster.

“I don’t want to spend my days rotting. Eating food from you while you’re already starving. You have a chance.” His voice cracked, “I don’t.”

I moved to try and block him, “a chance? I don’t want to be alone!”

Eadin pushed me back, “it’s his choice Leora. It’s his choice.” Where did he come from? Was he next to me the whole time?

“No, Ciaran,” my face turned hot, “please don’t leave me here to die alone.”

He began to make his way to the center when I cried out, “I can’t survive without you!” Immediately guilt flooded my heart for saying that. Yes, I loved him, but more importantly I couldn’t survive on my own. I needed him. I depended on him. Women weren’t allowed to work in the mines. Underground vegetables would not last long. I wouldn’t last long either. His death meant my death. Mine would be long, painful and drawn out. His would be quick.

Panicked, I looked around. The line of people wanting to drink the serum was getting shorter. Soon the Oblation would be over. The vials packed up and sent back to the surface. I could try and stop Ciaran by distracting him somehow. No, that wouldn’t work. One look at him reminded me that although sick, he was still much stronger.

A million things ran through my mind. I couldn’t believe it. Is this how my life ends? There were only two choices. I could wither away in the halls of the colony. Alone. Or I could go with my brother and be together. Wherever we end up. Dead or alive. This is the decision I’m left with?

We emerged from the crowds. The chute looming over us. The clamoring crystal vials caught my eye. Drink me! Be with your brother. You’ll be together forever. They were so dazzling up close. The crystal vials caught invisible light. Any little movement refracted beams of light that illuminated in every direction. It set the room aglow. The turquoise concoction glimmered and swirled. The closer I got, the more I was enchanted by their spell. Drink me! One foot in front of the other. I’ll keep you safe. Until I felt myself watched by a thousand eyes.

Ciaran turned to me. We had made it to the table and it was our turn. He picked up a vial and handed it to me. He summoned a meek smile and under his breath muttered, “see you on the other side.”

I felt the words spill from my mouth, “Ciaran, if you live, I live; and if you die, I die.”

He acknowledged my words with a nod and then roared, “’til death do we live!” Then he looked to the heavens, put the drink to his lips and poured.

I looked back at Eadin. I looked forward to Ciaran. Then I did the same.