(sorry it's so long lmao)
(TW for swearing and homophobia🤠)
The year is 2998. The human race has migrated underground, forming a planet known as Neo-Earth. Each Neo-Country has many, many bases. No one in the bases know why they’re underground, minus a few people. A few decades later, in the year 3023, after the human race has adapted to the underground circumstances, teenagers start to rebel against the rules.
Chapter 1
Dionysius
261Please respect copyright.PENANAFvcDPTzNL3
261Please respect copyright.PENANAEgabxBRdEB
While everyone else was going to parties and living it up for their spring break, Dionysius Hawthorne was at home working on a school project he couldn’t understand.
261Please respect copyright.PENANAuYfg0DiFR5
“Who even cares about the war of 2950?” He groaned, slumping onto the couch as he gave up. “It’s just some turf war, and as usual, 5555 wins. What’s the big deal?”
261Please respect copyright.PENANAWOhIVWo0qO
Sophomore year so far had already been a disaster for Dionysius. His grades were getting worse and worse, and nothing seemed to be working. And when his teacher gave the class a project to be finished by the end of the break, everyone had finished it early except for him. Now he was stuck in his apartment, working on a stupid essay on a stupid war for a stupid project.
261Please respect copyright.PENANAkt1LJALW49
“Harley,” He groaned. “How the hell did you manage to do this?”
261Please respect copyright.PENANAF6HyXxnQlb
His best friend smiled that mischievous grin that Dionysius had memorized at that point. They had met 2 years ago, when Dionysius was 13 and Harley was 15. Ever since that day, they’ve done everything together. He knew everything about Harley, like how he stopped cutting his hair since last summer, giving him messy brown hair that hung to the top of his neck, and how he was completely covered in freckles. Like how he had a tic in his eye that would make him wink every now and then, and how he had never seen him without a chain necklace on.
261Please respect copyright.PENANAfN5HaJIVuM
Harley spoke. “Like hell I remember. And I’m pretty sure I didn’t get a good grade when I got it back.”
261Please respect copyright.PENANA7U2cXchuOI
“So helpful,” Dionysius muttered. “Glad to have you as my tutor.”
261Please respect copyright.PENANAm3GcLUo0R6
“Believe me, Dio, the feeling is mutual.”
261Please respect copyright.PENANAyeT4vhLuoD
They looked at each other in silence before bursting into laughter. Dionysius couldn’t help but notice how he had always snorted when he laughed. It was something he was often self-conscious about. But Harley never judged him for it, so he let himself laugh.
261Please respect copyright.PENANAEPgNnHIgMX
261Please respect copyright.PENANAfPMbGZYIa7
261Please respect copyright.PENANAKDyIOtjhnz
A few hours later, Dionysius felt tired enough to fall asleep right then and there. He leaned his head on Harley’s shoulder, seconds away from passing out. Harley smiled lightly, and for a moment, there was a beautiful silence in the apartment.
261Please respect copyright.PENANANimGKc1HVk
Then there was a pounding on the door.
261Please respect copyright.PENANAcUIWiAGaZM
Dionysius bolted awake, yelping in surprise. “Who’s there?“ He called.
261Please respect copyright.PENANAjgodWagvI1
“It’s Millie!” The voice responded. “Open up! It’s urgent!”
261Please respect copyright.PENANAWNBmvIGO52
Not even a moment later, Harley was already opening the door to reveal Millie, Harley’s fiancée. She had medium length black hair and pale blue eyes, and she was wearing a white t-shirt and jeans. She took both of their hands and ran out of the apartment and toward the town square.
261Please respect copyright.PENANAffKRNdTlfy
261Please respect copyright.PENANAjUb4NVJ70Q
Chapter 2
Harley
261Please respect copyright.PENANAgBxoWp5Ytb
261Please respect copyright.PENANAfJJ6LkIQIt
By the time they were in the square, Harley Venus already knew what was happening.
261Please respect copyright.PENANAGVMsnEQKDL
He was used to it by now. Everyone gathering in a huge crowd, an empty space in the center. The anxious silence that flooded the square.
261Please respect copyright.PENANAbLxWT22PYX
Someone was getting Exiled.
261Please respect copyright.PENANAOqisANKdAh
It's standard punishment in Neo-American base 5555. Sent aboveground and supposedly left to die. It happened so often, Harley would be surprised if it didn't happen for a week.
261Please respect copyright.PENANAgJF1K58HuK
Millie led them to the crowd, pushing to the very front where they could see. But at the sight of the soon-to-be Exile, Harley's blood ran cold.
261Please respect copyright.PENANAJsqhXZ9Lba
The man couldn't have been older than 26. His choppy blond hair was pale and greasy. He wore nothing but a white tank top and shorts. His face was clouded with insanity, and he was running around in a rampage, clearly having gone mad.
261Please respect copyright.PENANAcZosXcZqzA
But Harley knew him. He knew him well.
261Please respect copyright.PENANAV90zyFcQ3v
"Is that..?" He couldn't bear to finish that sentence. Millie took his hand. "Yeah. It is. I'm sorry."
261Please respect copyright.PENANAeYoZtLzWLI
"What? Harley, was he your friend or something?" Dio asked, oblivious.
261Please respect copyright.PENANALxkh8gJgG4
Before Harley could respond, the man turned to face him and looked him dead in the eye before charging straight at him.
261Please respect copyright.PENANA6rDfTH396S
Chapter 3
Dionysius
261Please respect copyright.PENANATNa2bRzYOT
261Please respect copyright.PENANAAwcrmK5k0b
He didn't even know what was happening by the time the man grabbed Harley and yanked him into the empty square.
261Please respect copyright.PENANA2aFHSkclPn
Millie cried out Harley's name in a panic. She tried running toward him, but he was held back by others in the crowd. "Stop it!" She shouted, on the verge of tears. "Leave him alone!"
261Please respect copyright.PENANA7Zvg4yxzEj
The panic in the crowd started when he pulled out a knife.
261Please respect copyright.PENANAbofTJGpeEN
“Stop!” Millie sobbed, trying to fight through the border of people. “Please, stop it!”
261Please respect copyright.PENANA57UPrfpcVm
Harley and the man stumbled into the square. Without a second thought, Harley wrenched away from him, only for the man to grab him again and yank him towards him, pressing the knife against his throat. Millie’s scream echoed throughout the square.
261Please respect copyright.PENANAs5R8EfOpUI
The man pressed his mouth against Harley’s ear, his lips moving. Dionysius didn’t know what he was saying, but whatever it was caused Harley to stop fighting and go silent, his eyes filled with tears.
261Please respect copyright.PENANADnWHl2rpHk
The man looked back to the crowd. “Exile me and he gets it!” He spat, pressing the knife against Harley’s throat, forcing a whimper. “I’ll do it! By God, I’ll do it!”
261Please respect copyright.PENANAl7fBKEW66c
Dionysius looked at Millie, seeing the tears in her eyes. He didn’t know who the man was, nor why Harley and Millie seemed to know him. But that didn’t matter. He had to save his friend.
261Please respect copyright.PENANAHGvjcrjiQD
He took a deep breath before running into the empty square.
261Please respect copyright.PENANAoSGmsukRf0
“Wait!” He called out. “Wait, please!”
261Please respect copyright.PENANA9eguzs7y4x
“Dio!” Harley fussed. “What the hell are you-“ The man pressed the knife a bit more, causing Harley to go silent. Dio’s heart raced at the sight of a thin strand of crimson traveled down his throat. “Let him go!”
261Please respect copyright.PENANAnpCVZI9VEd
“Who’s this, eh?” The man said into Harley’s ear, ignoring Dionysius. “Another toy of yours, just like that Millie girl?”
261Please respect copyright.PENANAInYXKWD83F
Dionysius didn’t know what he was talking about, but Harley sure seemed to. “Sir,” He said in a small voice that he had never heard before. “Sir, I—“
261Please respect copyright.PENANA4axpqtGxew
Before Harley could finish his sentence, he was interrupted by shouts coming from the crowd, making their way to them.
261Please respect copyright.PENANAvN3wohgB5q
The police.
261Please respect copyright.PENANATC9VcQCHkw
Hating himself for it, Dionysius turned on his heels and ran.
261Please respect copyright.PENANAUqJgDLueaH
261Please respect copyright.PENANAuh0Sv2eDv0
Chapter 4
Tristan
261Please respect copyright.PENANAB3YHdCYmYT
261Please respect copyright.PENANAMidwqvazR9
It’s not every day that you get to catch your boyfriend in your arms as he’s running away from the police storming the town square.
261Please respect copyright.PENANAspgLy2we69
So that’s exactly what happened to Tristan Newman.
261Please respect copyright.PENANA5ODgsxsPpW
He had heard some screams coming from the town square, but he didn’t care. He was used to it. And besides, he stopped going to Exilings years ago. At the moment, he was walking around town, and had just arrived at one of many food stands around the base.
261Please respect copyright.PENANArHsiXQC6B7
But when he heard the shouts of police officers, he started to get worried. He took out his phone and texted Dionysius.
261Please respect copyright.PENANAf7SvSHz18g
Is everything ok at the exiling?? Where tf r u??
261Please respect copyright.PENANAbIWMdX9Jfq
Dio i heard the police, pls what just happened??
261Please respect copyright.PENANAh2l9mr9AXt
After a few minutes without a response, he sighed shakily and put his phone back in his pocket. He probably left his phone at his apartment, that idiot, he reassured himself.
261Please respect copyright.PENANAMax9qYRUiX
Almost as if on cue, he heard someone calling his name. “Tris! Tris, there you are!”
261Please respect copyright.PENANAdYrmWSmyUz
He turned to see the person he knew all too well. The running boy had brown hair and eyes, freckles splattered on his nose. He was also running at him at full speed, and looked like he would trip over any second.
261Please respect copyright.PENANAGUQ21wulge
He managed to open his arms just in time before Dionysius tripped on a rock and went flying into him. He slammed into Tristan, his arms locking around his shoulders seconds before falling to the ground as if they were exchanging a messy embrace.
261Please respect copyright.PENANAEI8ggkE82U
Tristan pulled him up, laughing. “There you are, Dio. I was worried.” He stood him up to eye level, and his expression melted when he saw his face.
261Please respect copyright.PENANAI6bIAfFhcP
Dionysius’s face was contorted with fear. Tears shone in his round, dark eyes. “Tris…” He managed. “Square—Harley—he—police—“
261Please respect copyright.PENANAroy0e8arSr
He knew a panic attack when he saw one. He let go of the embrace, holding Dio’s hands. “Hey, hey, it’s okay, Dio. Just breathe, okay? Breathe with me.” He proceeded to take long deep breaths, Dionysius slowly doing the same. After a while, the attack had stopped, and he could talk.
261Please respect copyright.PENANAwD19oxdtEr
“This guy who was getting Exiled, he…he put a knife to Harley’s throat…” He said, clutching onto Tristan’s hands like a vice. “I tried to help him, but the police arrived before I could…Tris, I’m scared…What if he dies…?”
261Please respect copyright.PENANAYNxlZuHJkT
“He’s not gonna die, Dio.” Tristan let go of one of Dio’s hands and tucked a strand of his hair behind his ear. “He’ll be fine. I’m sure the police will make sure he isn’t hurt. They’ll probably do a private Exile now, since he’s dangerous and all, right?”
261Please respect copyright.PENANAFlBaLmxRhN
Dionysius nodded. “Yeah…okay, I guess he’s safe.” He took a deep breath. “Thanks, Tris. I needed that.”
261Please respect copyright.PENANANNMCEjROq0
“Hey, no problem.” He smiled. “Should we go to your apartment and wait for Harley, or…?”
261Please respect copyright.PENANARuamWGSRQt
“Yeah. Just…can you stay with me? I don’t wanna have to wait alone.”
261Please respect copyright.PENANAjgz0t6RWxs
“Of course.”
261Please respect copyright.PENANAKXtpOgbb8E
261Please respect copyright.PENANA6GaYNSBcwL
Chapter 5
Dionysius
261Please respect copyright.PENANApqSITDc6Vd
261Please respect copyright.PENANA8KbiHeYpb8
Dionysius sat on the couch, frantically texting Harley.
261Please respect copyright.PENANA550Oc63CWN
hey, you good?
261Please respect copyright.PENANAwkeo1Unek7
Harley please respond like im actually scared rn
261Please respect copyright.PENANAGtQ5Lt1Jvp
Who was that guy anyway?? Why’d he do that??
261Please respect copyright.PENANAs2ut9CYbWM
After a few minutes and still no response, he sighed and put his phone down. Tristan was sitting next to him, and Dionysius couldn’t help but admire him. The fiery red hair that curled in every direction, his upturned nose, the way his frameless glasses sat on his freckle-soaked face, his green eyes, and his colorful getup. Within seconds, he saw the boy that he had met in 6th grade, doodling masterpieces in the margins of his schoolwork. The boy he wrote about in his journal, obsessing over every one of his features. The boy that built a clubhouse with him in the summer after 8th grade, and, weeks later, the boy that he had confessed to in it.
261Please respect copyright.PENANAC3KPM4p6GR
Tristan must have noticed him staring, because next thing he knew, he was looking right back, smiling brightly. “Hey.”
261Please respect copyright.PENANAXhh28mdDYE
“Hey,” He said back, grinning.
261Please respect copyright.PENANAKE7jJXVwmW
“Whatcha thinking about?”
261Please respect copyright.PENANABZ0kv3DUkl
“Nothing.”
261Please respect copyright.PENANAb74MglwwBf
“Can’t be thinking about nothing, that’s impossible.”
261Please respect copyright.PENANAREDcHoRpqj
“Eh, at least I tried.”
261Please respect copyright.PENANAVDabHYAqRX
Tristan laughed before taking his hand. “So, what were you really thinking about?”
261Please respect copyright.PENANAtKVSlM49qk
“You.”
261Please respect copyright.PENANAXprvZ1Dehf
“Oh? Do tell.”
261Please respect copyright.PENANA1zN7KEnu4p
“Just every time you’ve drawn stupid cartoons of me and showed them to the class.”
261Please respect copyright.PENANAwFQVav5eId
“What can I say? I’m an artist.”
261Please respect copyright.PENANARNjx1CWUlw
“That’s your excuse for everything.” They were getting closer now. Dio’s eyes flashed to Tristan’s lips before instantly looking away. He could feel his face turning red.
261Please respect copyright.PENANAJ1dcu5sALr
Tristan must have noticed, because his grim seemed to widen. “Looks like there’s more you’re thinking about than me humiliating you in sixth grade.”
261Please respect copyright.PENANA1kMoGVXKr3
“Is that an invitation?”
261Please respect copyright.PENANAh06vwWgHuI
“Be my guest.”
261Please respect copyright.PENANAU0kowNUxTB
So he kissed him. And for a precious moment, it felt like they were the only two people on the planet.
261Please respect copyright.PENANAvRBw0B9qcX
That precious moment was interrupted when the apartment door opened, and Harley stepped in.
261Please respect copyright.PENANAw5yy5nXCj4
261Please respect copyright.PENANAobOHlF8Jaw
Chapter 6
Harley
261Please respect copyright.PENANAbfbD9WCaqP
261Please respect copyright.PENANAgrUX5XQliA
“Wow, guys, thanks for the greeting.” He smirked as he shut the door. “Consider my heart warmed.”
261Please respect copyright.PENANAaSxhUFG8qR
“Harley!” Tristan blurted out, pulling away instantly, his face beet red. “I was just, uh—“
261Please respect copyright.PENANAKYaeHmqefs
“No, no, it’s fine.” He laughed. “Just took me by surprise, is all.”
261Please respect copyright.PENANAptfBEzQ7YZ
“Do you ever knock?!” Dionysius sputtered, his face equally red as he turned to face Harley.
261Please respect copyright.PENANABqAjbwgHYg
“For your information, Dio-ny-sius,” Harley teased, emphasizing each syllable of his name. “I didn’t know you two lovebirds were home.”
261Please respect copyright.PENANAfDsKru51pe
“Oh, we’re the lovebirds?” Dionysius retorted. “The amount of times I’ve seen you and Millie suck absolute face makes me wonder if we’re the ones you should be worrying about.”
261Please respect copyright.PENANAE5bTSkrlCc
Harley could feel his face heating up. “Uh, well, um—“
261Please respect copyright.PENANAteXnyF0XiC
“Leave him alone, Dio.” Tristan smiled as he placed a hand on his boyfriend’s shoulder. He looked at Harley. “We were waiting for you to get back, and we got a bit…sidetracked. I should go.”
261Please respect copyright.PENANAn8h4I8i28a
Without another word, Tristan left.
261Please respect copyright.PENANAe2klPlvoqp
After a moment, Harley noticed Dionysius looking at him with concern. He probably looked tired. He sure felt it. “I should probably go to bed—“
261Please respect copyright.PENANAhXr2L6Tjje
“Who was that guy? How do you and Millie know him?”
261Please respect copyright.PENANALyeWAoSDbi
“It’s really a long, complicated story, Dio, and I’m really tired—“
261Please respect copyright.PENANA2rXYrdkEYF
“Harley, please, I’m worried.”
261Please respect copyright.PENANAZYQ4p5PuRO
“Don’t have to be. It’s in the past now, and I really hate talking about it.” He shoved himself past Dionysius, walking toward his bedroom. “Now let me sleep.”
261Please respect copyright.PENANAQyzpJcrqND
Dionysius seemed to hesitate for a moment before signing and walking toward his own bedroom. “Fine. I’m not just gonna forget it happened, though.”
261Please respect copyright.PENANAetjb3QqO6U
“Fine by me.”
261Please respect copyright.PENANAsMVc9jl9SJ
They went in their separate rooms and slept.
261Please respect copyright.PENANA0WhWdrlrQ9
261Please respect copyright.PENANACJTUwyUNK9
Chapter 7
Estelle
261Please respect copyright.PENANAWCOscwzRqd
Two weeks later
261Please respect copyright.PENANAQjbqRf4g30
I should be at home, Estelle Mercy thought to herself. Curled up in a blanket and listening to music. Not at Dio’s apartment, proofreading an essay because Harley’s not here to do it for him.
261Please respect copyright.PENANA1XSlBoXvj8
“Can you even spell?” She sighed with exasperation. “I’m pretty sure sophisticated doesn’t have an f in it.”
261Please respect copyright.PENANAaSphAoRhKS
“Well I’m sor-RY that Harley’s too busy making out with Millie to help me with the stupid thing!”
261Please respect copyright.PENANAKZ2xtxmpPC
She scoffed. “As if you and Tris don’t do that every day.”
261Please respect copyright.PENANAfKEf0bYvf9
“Come ON, Estelle.” Dionysius smirked. “Don’t go acting so pure. We all know the only reason you haven’t kissed Cynthia by now is your braces.”
261Please respect copyright.PENANAqNJoLOxvUk
She frowned, hating the way the metal in her mouth felt when she did it. "It's still not fair to me that you don't need braces."
261Please respect copyright.PENANAJPutr0HEe9
Dionysius grinned. "What can I say? I'm just effortlessly perfect."
261Please respect copyright.PENANAahwEmDexTl
"More like effortlessly bad at spelling." She mumbled as she continued reading the essay. "Dio, I can't even tell what this word is!"
261Please respect copyright.PENANA1eEbhkmDVJ
Dionysius leaned over, peeking over her shoulder. He pointed at the jumble of nonsense letters. "Duh. It says Neo-American. Do you need glasses as well as braces, Estelle?"
261Please respect copyright.PENANA00mrKFezEY
"I can see just fine, Dio. It's your horrid handwriting and spelling that's throwing me off."
261Please respect copyright.PENANAiA3WoKKNvI
"Oh, come on, Ellie. Cut me some slack."
261Please respect copyright.PENANA2ZLKIM8L9q
Estelle sighed. "Can't believe I have to marry you in 3 years."
261Please respect copyright.PENANAgbQ16MyP4O
"The feeling is mutual, girlie."
261Please respect copyright.PENANAgr4oUsolhO
"Don't call me that." She glared at him.
261Please respect copyright.PENANAeA50qT18Nz
"Just saying." He shrugged. “Don’t know what we’re gonna do. Same with Tristan and Cynthia. They’re gonna get married too, y’know.”
261Please respect copyright.PENANAUhZSCsnFOc
“That’s a long time from now.” She said, but in reality, she was just as worried as Dionysius. She wouldn’t be able to even see Cynthia for…God, just how long?
261Please respect copyright.PENANAujGbiIeQ1M
“On the topic of current relationships,” Dionysius grinned as he rested his head on Estelle’s shoulder. “How’s everything going with you and Cynthie?”
261Please respect copyright.PENANA9UsH7jL5es
“Same old, same old.” She replied. “She’s been telling me a lot about that feminism stuff. Even took me to a few protests. Makes you think a lot about society.”
261Please respect copyright.PENANAIjzn95EniK
“That’s her version of a date?”
261Please respect copyright.PENANAvaJugLZhWt
“You say that as if you didn’t confess to Tristan in a shed.”
261Please respect copyright.PENANAJPNueiPGyv
“None of you guys appreciate the clubhouse. Me and Tristan built it ourselves!”
261Please respect copyright.PENANABPfJWVcyKc
“Gives the term ‘made with love’ a new meaning.”
261Please respect copyright.PENANAS7dLnWtu4B
“Hey—“
261Please respect copyright.PENANAqaihxB6kMW
“I’m kidding, I’m kidding.” She laughed before checking the time on her phone. “Dammit. It’s late. Dad—“
261Please respect copyright.PENANANp702bxe0u
“Yeah, yeah, go.” Dionysius sat up, removing his head from her shoulder. “See ya.”
261Please respect copyright.PENANAB5RrCaaWZV
She smiled at him before leaving the apartment.
(Authors note: this is a wip for something that I'm working on. It doesn't matter if I win, I just really want to know peoples unbiased opinions on it since the only people who have read it are my friends😭)
ns216.73.216.143da2