I Am Mustafin

Miller-or in the worl

the inferior, a

ou don't get just how little they think of you unt

e. The harsh fluorescent lights beat down on me, making me feel exposed, vulnerable. Five pairs of

uxury reserved for the elite. My throat is dry, my tongue sticking to the roof of my mouth as I try to

beings were bombed, destroyed, leaving unseen forces that forbid us from ever stepping

g but serene for those

ysical attributes. The pure-bloods became the superior and the forbidden children, conceived by

, and Mustafin: the five R

mere human being...just like the rest of us. But here, on my knees, I am less than

ering nails in my coffin. "Gentlemen, we've reached a decision. Subject Alaki Bea X

per

ach repetition a fresh blow t

I get

er the events that led to this moment

m Mus

musty scent of damp earth filling my nostrils. Cool air sends a s

weed-covered walls. Ahead, I can see my friends, Antonio

, my voice steady despit

a slight tremor in her voice

dds, his broad shoulders tense. "There's

ky voice interrupts from behind. "Well, whoever it was, they're gone now."

eadership-a sound voice in the

worried smile a reminder of the worry l

to be okay?" M

oft, steady. He offers her a reassuring pat on the sh

gettin

where he throws his arm around her. "Alrighty," he ushers her d

the weed covered walls and a well composed Jeremy. I have to give him cred

girlfriend, for

ting for later today,"

" I

ng this up with me-I'm not p

, crossing his arms just beneath his chest.

you

in exasperation, shaking m

y hair and navy blue t-shirt. "You already carry yourself like

e-go out of my way to do more than I have to, but that is because I want to. Agreeing t

.no, t

rgument. With that, I turn to look down the dead end of the tunnel, stu

I linger on the spot a while longer, just briefly turning my head to eye the ten-foo

it reall

These tunnels, our refuge, run twenty miles long, connecting to each sector above g

t's a happy place, where we offer what we can and help where we're

doorless entrance, my knuckles rapping against the hard clay. After a moment, I

the rare few that were born and raised above ground and was later sentenced to d

enter the well-kept home, moving

the red-haired man who glances back at me. While he tends to a now bed-bound Briannah, I notice Jerem

worried in the slightest, I know better th

staining the white towel Caleb holds to her

," he tells her as he carefully positions her head back on the pillow. With this, he q

Caleb?" Jeremy asks, his

s hard features. "The good news is that she is going to be okay,"

per, "she is going to need medicine. What has been causing her h

turn to look at each other, knowing that the

shoots Jeremy and I one last look before he wal

e walls to get a breath of fresh air or hunt for food other than the vegetables an

tention to go into town, much less for a purchase at a crowded store. Jobs like that are typical

is willing to put their life on the line for someone

my decides with

guing, "No,

e a meeting to attend," I mutter before he can protest, and as

se, he doesn't seem to want to. Instead his voice trails of

eathe out, pulling out

But beyond that, if anyone were in a situation where they were caught,

my next stop: Old Morris' pl

stand, my eyes briefly scanning the nearly em

had been sitting, approaching the wooden counter. His large

st seems as if he never changes-inside and out. The same old gray hair covers his chin and

medicine for Bri

is

rgest producer of gems across all Sectors. He's one of the few who were born and raised above ground, like Doctor Caleb. The only difference is that Morris

I say softly. "Caleb says

s nods. "Those can

the large box beneath the counter. He draws a couple of Jade bills a

in a little extra in

t's not go

the strap across my torso, th

s my pleasur

f the market. But before I'm to

anyone to g

standing next to a dark-skinned teenage boy. His head clean-shaven, he could eas

e's a good kid and hasn't been out in y

udy him, his composure, his clothing. Between the combat boots, the

e's not

" I say.