Chapter 5: Welcome to Soleil Underground
1602 Words
Soleil, 4:35AM
Her hair that reaches her shoulder swayed as she bowed down to pat Cosmo who's intently watching her re-emerge from the bathroom. Her dog's tail wiggle and snuggle closer to her palms and feel its soft fur brushing on her hands.
A hitting sound abrupt and Amity ran towards the kitchen to turn off the stove. She immediately gets her favorite mug with a heart design and makes a coffee and picks up the bread before placing it with the bacon and egg served on her small round table.
It was indeed a peaceful morning, the dark scenic view outside has never been this quiet. There was no hustle bustle and the whole neighborhood was still sleeping, it's a nice ambiance and Amity's positive to start her day cheerfully.
Yesterday had been hectic and she was more stressed treating teenagers getting in a lot of troubles and the numbers of elderly piling up. Amity's thankful she doesn't need to meet the children because it wasn't a good day at all.
"Cosmo, here." She called her dog who immediately ran towards her and started eating right away. "Eat a lot. I'm leaving you to Esther again, I'm home late." she said and continued patting its small round head.
Since she promised to help in the clinic full time for a week, she really can't watch after Cosmo. It is not also allowed to bring her with her in the clinic.
"I need to eat,"
It was a delicious breakfast with her favorite mood. The feeling of solely being alone without feeling sad nor anxious but you just enjoy your own company. It was relaxing and Amity's been dreaming of living with her own in a simple abode.
"I wonder if it's bright enough in the city," she thinks out loud, staring outside and sees the endless darkness of Soleil.
Cosmo barks at her but Amity considers it as her response and so she smiles sweetly at her.
"You're right, Soleil is prettier than the city." Amity laughs and finishes her simple breakfast before readying for another work in the clinic.
Past six in the morning, Amity's waiting for her friend to arrive. She needs to get in the clinic at seven to organize the left out works last night and help them ready the rooms for an emergency.
Not long after Penelope arrived, she parked her pink bicycle just below the small staircase on Amity's front door and smiled at her friend.
"Good morning, sorry. Esther went somewhere so I volunteered to look after Cosmo." she waves at a small pup sitting. "Hi buddy,"
"This early? To where?"
Penelope shrugged. "Don't know, she didn't elaborate but I guess it's urgent because she's rushing."
Confused but Amity didn't seek more of her friend's escapade and handed Cosmo to Penelope who gently held her. It was a good thing she likes Penelope just like how she's calm around her sister, Esther.
"Are you working full time again?"
Amity nodded before answering. "Yeah, yesterday was pretty intense. Maybe I'll go to nursery tomorrow for a chill."
"It's still work, what do you mean chilling."
She laughed, hanging the beige tote bag on her shoulder. "It is for me. Watching little kids playing is fun."
Penelope scoffed at her, weirdly with how Amity finds it amusing to watch. "Last time I came, two of your students were pulling each other's hair."
"That was little kids misunderstan—"
"They're five years old!"
"Nope, I'm ending this argument. I need to go now." she kissed Cosmo on top of her head. "Like usual, I'll get home very late. You can sleep here, I did the grocery the other day so you can cook your food. See you later, baby." she played with Cosmo's paws and nodded.
"M'kay. Do you want me to prepare you a late dinner or you'll eat out later?"
Amity shakes her head but is thankful for the offer. Home cooked meals were the best. "No need, I'll just grab a quick dinner and I'll be tired enough to not eat when I get home."
"Stop tiring yourself." Penelope stared at her and glared.
"You look like my wife scolding me—and I don't want any of that so I'm leaving. Bye!"
She rushed outside the gate and waved once more before dashing off the street.
"Hey careful it's dark!"
Amity stops running and catch her breath when it's too far from her home. She strained a laugh at how energetic she is today, her body feels more stronger and her mind was more enthusiastic about everything. Plainly weird but it feels nice.
Now she gets time to watch her way and it's a little bright than the first hours. Amity wonders what and how the city looks like at morning, was the sun too bright at them? Does it ever get dark at their place or it's a full time lighting and they never experienced even a short time of darkness.
She was born and raised in Soleil. It instantly became her home and safe haven, the life underground was simple. They get resources from their fellow citizens, they do have markets, malls, parks and fun places to visit when exploring. Amity had never thought of looking at Solace, not even once but as she grew older, the more curious she became why Soleil and Solace needed to separate.
Solace was more advanced than them in all ways. She heard and read they create robots and update their whole system every year. But down in Soleil, they even have a hard time to feel the glimpse of the sunlight. Throughout the day, it's dark.
"Goodmorning nurse Eva," Amity greeted the head nurse when she found her just opening the clinic in time.
"Morning to you too, Ami. You're early, as always." Eva laughs and her sweet helper's giggles. "Don't you have to work in the nursery today?"
"I was planning to go there tomorrow, is it okay?"
"Of course! You've been a great help here.. just don't let anyone know you're not officially in the train under me. I don't want a cop." They both laughed hysterically as they went inside.
Just like how Amity expected, there were another group of teenagers brought to their clinic with bruises and minor injuries. There were cops guarding them while being treated, she heard they'll soon escort them back to their residence after putting their names on a list and their violation.
At a young age they already tainted their clean records.
"You guys should stop getting in more trouble or I won't be using anesthesia next time and just straight up do the process." She heard nurse Eva whisper enough for the kids to hear.
She was cleaning one of the kid's knuckles.
"Does it hurt?" Amity asked softly while putting antiseptic and watching the little boy's reaction to check.
"It stings."
"It does." she smiled. "Just bear it for a while."
They heard someone yelp on the other side as they all looked at nurse Eva putting a b*****e on the kid's arm. "Done."
Amity finished treating the rest and sent them home but with cops escorting them. What were those kids doing anyway early, what kind of game is it fun to do in the dark and they're in trouble a lot.
"The amount of delinquents nowadays." Eva murmured on the table and threw the used materials carefully and cleaned her hands.
"Wonder why it's happening more often now,"
"It's really hard to raise a son, believe me. I saw it myself,"
Remembering something, Amity closed the clinic's door and faced her excitedly. "In speaking of kids—when are you planning to be your wedding nurse Eva?"
The woman looks at her in quite shock before smiling. Eva crossed her arms to her chest and started to think. "My fiancè wants a grand wedding but I prefer an intimate wedding with only closest friends invited."
Amity points at herself. "What about me? Am I invited?"
"Of course you sweetie, you are."
"But hey, just a suggestion. You guys can still have a grand wedding but with limited guests. It's in the preparations, not in the number of sponsors."
They fell in another round of laughter as they both continued sharing opinions and suggestions. It went like that inside the clinic until a patient was rushed into their room.
"She's bleeding a lot."
Eva rushed to them and checked her immediately, Amity was on the side and attentively waiting for orders to help. In matters like this, she never dares to put her hands on someone without having proper knowledge about medicine so she's relying on Eva for guidance.
"We can't move the glass and most importantly remove it, she's already bleeding a lot."
Amity nodded quickly.
"Let's bring her inside. Amity," she obliged immediately and pushed the bed inside and listened carefully to what Eva would say.
"Sir, you're not allowed inside. Just wait here,"
Amity went out of the room to get her hands clean and bring the medications needed inside when another woman entered the clinic, she kept calling a name. She must be the girl's mother.
"We should just bring her to the city! She can't be treated here enough.."
She heard the woman say.
"You know we can't and it's—"
"They're more advanced than this small little old town! If something happen to my daughter I'm blaming you!"
Amity couldn't hear anymore yelling as soon as she closed the door but definitely not the first time she heard someone choosing the city over Soleil.
- Writer
