(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
206Please respect copyright.PENANAoPGmpq0bQv
206Please respect copyright.PENANAjy10GuK9yp
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.
206Please respect copyright.PENANA39DeZXGtk9
“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?”
206Please respect copyright.PENANA2gmrLwXSGT
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.
206Please respect copyright.PENANAzCrkJeAM6n
“Harley,” He groaned. “How the hell did you manage to do this?”
206Please respect copyright.PENANAMAXxrX6JMP
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.
206Please respect copyright.PENANArnioAhL4zH
Harley spoke. “Like hell I remember. And I’m pretty sure I didn’t get a good grade when I got it back.”
206Please respect copyright.PENANAfSDWJ5VC4M
“So helpful,” Dionysius muttered. “Glad to have you as my tutor.”
206Please respect copyright.PENANA1BmfRhGwXJ
“Believe me, Dio, the feeling is mutual.”
206Please respect copyright.PENANAhDcFX60A6r
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.
206Please respect copyright.PENANAFm9p6DfsHP
206Please respect copyright.PENANADqeZtEHDPC
206Please respect copyright.PENANAEtuq4x7Zt9
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.
206Please respect copyright.PENANAETJs7hWEWY
Then there was a pounding on the door.
206Please respect copyright.PENANAiOmv6oJMne
Dionysius bolted awake, yelping in surprise. “Who’s there?“ He called.
206Please respect copyright.PENANAq1GqpSWW48
“It’s Millie!” The voice responded. “Open up! It’s urgent!”
206Please respect copyright.PENANA9iSBwwHlTo
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.
206Please respect copyright.PENANAChRRvVm7sw
206Please respect copyright.PENANAKbjv6lAi9l
Chapter 2
Harley
206Please respect copyright.PENANACw3t2kJKsF
206Please respect copyright.PENANAu2YqPulCkB
By the time they were in the square, Harley Venus already knew what was happening.
206Please respect copyright.PENANAJ5MuE2Cit7
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.
206Please respect copyright.PENANAJFGcLhRRIX
Someone was getting Exiled.
206Please respect copyright.PENANAeQ7oQvxy6p
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.
206Please respect copyright.PENANAD4RNKzWzSX
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.
206Please respect copyright.PENANAQXzx5UQFeG
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.
206Please respect copyright.PENANAws6ag7OHer
But Harley knew him. He knew him well.
206Please respect copyright.PENANAFF067DmwvJ
"Is that..?" He couldn't bear to finish that sentence. Millie took his hand. "Yeah. It is. I'm sorry."
206Please respect copyright.PENANA58fBo6abC2
"What? Harley, was he your friend or something?" Dio asked, oblivious.
206Please respect copyright.PENANA2iYjPYY9Vh
Before Harley could respond, the man turned to face him and looked him dead in the eye before charging straight at him.
206Please respect copyright.PENANAXOMSaxza8d
Chapter 3
Dionysius
206Please respect copyright.PENANAuDQSSswucy
206Please respect copyright.PENANAuQv1sNvyow
He didn't even know what was happening by the time the man grabbed Harley and yanked him into the empty square.
206Please respect copyright.PENANAFVUIJEHlQ9
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!"
206Please respect copyright.PENANAOaAALloQWM
The panic in the crowd started when he pulled out a knife.
206Please respect copyright.PENANAzv7Fmf80A6
“Stop!” Millie sobbed, trying to fight through the border of people. “Please, stop it!”
206Please respect copyright.PENANAbUbUhbc2js
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.
206Please respect copyright.PENANA6nGwUaGJ6b
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.
206Please respect copyright.PENANAkk5lg6zSiz
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!”
206Please respect copyright.PENANAIkinLt7GTt
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.
206Please respect copyright.PENANAmCrqefuuwO
He took a deep breath before running into the empty square.
206Please respect copyright.PENANADureJG4bND
“Wait!” He called out. “Wait, please!”
206Please respect copyright.PENANAtmAJX5i819
“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!”
206Please respect copyright.PENANAXZCpyhGgdi
“Who’s this, eh?” The man said into Harley’s ear, ignoring Dionysius. “Another toy of yours, just like that Millie girl?”
206Please respect copyright.PENANAFBlZ39p6vG
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—“
206Please respect copyright.PENANAO5IleSs74h
Before Harley could finish his sentence, he was interrupted by shouts coming from the crowd, making their way to them.
206Please respect copyright.PENANAz0CxrRgFEI
The police.
206Please respect copyright.PENANAOQJhn5s6OU
Hating himself for it, Dionysius turned on his heels and ran.
206Please respect copyright.PENANAbLiyA9ON9p
206Please respect copyright.PENANAq83oZc5u5L
Chapter 4
Tristan
206Please respect copyright.PENANAfGQTWtc8nW
206Please respect copyright.PENANAkwmBsRnffw
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.
206Please respect copyright.PENANAtVIKaeenCc
So that’s exactly what happened to Tristan Newman.
206Please respect copyright.PENANAWoJQd1V6mW
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.
206Please respect copyright.PENANANlOWCnp8V0
But when he heard the shouts of police officers, he started to get worried. He took out his phone and texted Dionysius.
206Please respect copyright.PENANAyRaAAOce2l
Is everything ok at the exiling?? Where tf r u??
206Please respect copyright.PENANARnNRP1M0IL
Dio i heard the police, pls what just happened??
206Please respect copyright.PENANAkmmHI1p0Pn
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.
206Please respect copyright.PENANAN8RrCBrLDH
Almost as if on cue, he heard someone calling his name. “Tris! Tris, there you are!”
206Please respect copyright.PENANA2pgtugUqol
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.
206Please respect copyright.PENANAOvUiRaIvPR
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.
206Please respect copyright.PENANAsSksVY2SBG
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.
206Please respect copyright.PENANAbNtisk4S9e
Dionysius’s face was contorted with fear. Tears shone in his round, dark eyes. “Tris…” He managed. “Square—Harley—he—police—“
206Please respect copyright.PENANAm5v58ElTog
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.
206Please respect copyright.PENANAih8oQRrwea
“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…?”
206Please respect copyright.PENANAQEpWutuDDk
“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?”
206Please respect copyright.PENANAhV1URFlAtr
Dionysius nodded. “Yeah…okay, I guess he’s safe.” He took a deep breath. “Thanks, Tris. I needed that.”
206Please respect copyright.PENANAUnMTIRtwM6
“Hey, no problem.” He smiled. “Should we go to your apartment and wait for Harley, or…?”
206Please respect copyright.PENANAbXIMxRzMpo
“Yeah. Just…can you stay with me? I don’t wanna have to wait alone.”
206Please respect copyright.PENANAr2aTNgdNjH
“Of course.”
206Please respect copyright.PENANArPZjlEBEGh
206Please respect copyright.PENANAQsZb6oxPoG
Chapter 5
Dionysius
206Please respect copyright.PENANAFEqNf561vR
206Please respect copyright.PENANAwpb8HLfMEU
Dionysius sat on the couch, frantically texting Harley.
206Please respect copyright.PENANAL7ibDciydw
hey, you good?
206Please respect copyright.PENANAVNiUwYm3lK
Harley please respond like im actually scared rn
206Please respect copyright.PENANAPA3LdAkAP5
Who was that guy anyway?? Why’d he do that??
206Please respect copyright.PENANAkv8cUBr7PB
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.
206Please respect copyright.PENANAVKGMfZIrNG
Tristan must have noticed him staring, because next thing he knew, he was looking right back, smiling brightly. “Hey.”
206Please respect copyright.PENANA0zRlxVmjMG
“Hey,” He said back, grinning.
206Please respect copyright.PENANAMUpeTLFme5
“Whatcha thinking about?”
206Please respect copyright.PENANAddWDB0Hpah
“Nothing.”
206Please respect copyright.PENANAGVzhjnK75J
“Can’t be thinking about nothing, that’s impossible.”
206Please respect copyright.PENANAtxZxIN8Gbt
“Eh, at least I tried.”
206Please respect copyright.PENANALs5LbcgKSx
Tristan laughed before taking his hand. “So, what were you really thinking about?”
206Please respect copyright.PENANApHWPZOtMSD
“You.”
206Please respect copyright.PENANAJ0BZQ4ulZk
“Oh? Do tell.”
206Please respect copyright.PENANAYE6QGlIqKM
“Just every time you’ve drawn stupid cartoons of me and showed them to the class.”
206Please respect copyright.PENANA0RYGTKEqfA
“What can I say? I’m an artist.”
206Please respect copyright.PENANAZvKOOjaKMW
“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.
206Please respect copyright.PENANA9y5HjkGzRz
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.”
206Please respect copyright.PENANA5pqg32Y93h
“Is that an invitation?”
206Please respect copyright.PENANABGCQffV42z
“Be my guest.”
206Please respect copyright.PENANAIIuDy77wXI
So he kissed him. And for a precious moment, it felt like they were the only two people on the planet.
206Please respect copyright.PENANAB5Mr266Tnc
That precious moment was interrupted when the apartment door opened, and Harley stepped in.
206Please respect copyright.PENANAvYzOdhAkuB
206Please respect copyright.PENANAKfISEsYvbk
Chapter 6
Harley
206Please respect copyright.PENANAJuoAJgUgtJ
206Please respect copyright.PENANAQjkPJDtT4N
“Wow, guys, thanks for the greeting.” He smirked as he shut the door. “Consider my heart warmed.”
206Please respect copyright.PENANArcY7S8AEKw
“Harley!” Tristan blurted out, pulling away instantly, his face beet red. “I was just, uh—“
206Please respect copyright.PENANA0uUJfgRpvn
“No, no, it’s fine.” He laughed. “Just took me by surprise, is all.”
206Please respect copyright.PENANAQgzTssZKD6
“Do you ever knock?!” Dionysius sputtered, his face equally red as he turned to face Harley.
206Please respect copyright.PENANApvks9HEy5R
“For your information, Dio-ny-sius,” Harley teased, emphasizing each syllable of his name. “I didn’t know you two lovebirds were home.”
206Please respect copyright.PENANAIiHKsAKj7B
“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.”
206Please respect copyright.PENANAHjEV6DMIhP
Harley could feel his face heating up. “Uh, well, um—“
206Please respect copyright.PENANAHxWDUJuhR1
“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.”
206Please respect copyright.PENANAC53D27SThh
Without another word, Tristan left.
206Please respect copyright.PENANAj4yeKZJ4rv
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—“
206Please respect copyright.PENANAk8wSs5X4Ye
“Who was that guy? How do you and Millie know him?”
206Please respect copyright.PENANAkQ99t2EnKF
“It’s really a long, complicated story, Dio, and I’m really tired—“
206Please respect copyright.PENANALiCzu3XtvC
“Harley, please, I’m worried.”
206Please respect copyright.PENANAOwBNJ8X4fV
“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.”
206Please respect copyright.PENANAtvfc5aBFXY
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.”
206Please respect copyright.PENANA3RC4p4H2HQ
“Fine by me.”
206Please respect copyright.PENANAJaMJg4tjf0
They went in their separate rooms and slept.
206Please respect copyright.PENANA3ckonEztSH
206Please respect copyright.PENANAhcKkwjdvVH
Chapter 7
Estelle
206Please respect copyright.PENANAdyiQKILSpf
Two weeks later
206Please respect copyright.PENANASGdBa37fRU
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.
206Please respect copyright.PENANAd6SiyLKOIW
“Can you even spell?” She sighed with exasperation. “I’m pretty sure sophisticated doesn’t have an f in it.”
206Please respect copyright.PENANAfFao8d3P21
“Well I’m sor-RY that Harley’s too busy making out with Millie to help me with the stupid thing!”
206Please respect copyright.PENANAewPoYR4nJO
She scoffed. “As if you and Tris don’t do that every day.”
206Please respect copyright.PENANATFwKd38DTY
“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.”
206Please respect copyright.PENANAc9uazUjj5J
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."
206Please respect copyright.PENANAUMsht2KE2U
Dionysius grinned. "What can I say? I'm just effortlessly perfect."
206Please respect copyright.PENANAGcjSEQXkrb
"More like effortlessly bad at spelling." She mumbled as she continued reading the essay. "Dio, I can't even tell what this word is!"
206Please respect copyright.PENANAx5D7bS6YRV
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?"
206Please respect copyright.PENANANLNYN7AcRP
"I can see just fine, Dio. It's your horrid handwriting and spelling that's throwing me off."
206Please respect copyright.PENANAhwUscl7Vf3
"Oh, come on, Ellie. Cut me some slack."
206Please respect copyright.PENANAIBYsYqwg6E
Estelle sighed. "Can't believe I have to marry you in 3 years."
206Please respect copyright.PENANAaRzwNDeqbn
"The feeling is mutual, girlie."
206Please respect copyright.PENANAXFNp4PO8S2
"Don't call me that." She glared at him.
206Please respect copyright.PENANAQOA8sn1HX1
"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.”
206Please respect copyright.PENANAsiAJyRbPg4
“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?
206Please respect copyright.PENANA1VbdEahFpv
“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?”
206Please respect copyright.PENANAnC2i4FEfY4
“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.”
206Please respect copyright.PENANALNNZ4flx1k
“That’s her version of a date?”
206Please respect copyright.PENANAetKkNBrCE8
“You say that as if you didn’t confess to Tristan in a shed.”
206Please respect copyright.PENANA9qdlau5cVo
“None of you guys appreciate the clubhouse. Me and Tristan built it ourselves!”
206Please respect copyright.PENANAi2ACsDosC5
“Gives the term ‘made with love’ a new meaning.”
206Please respect copyright.PENANA68RKeL7jmV
“Hey—“
206Please respect copyright.PENANAqQ7wPMXwDk
“I’m kidding, I’m kidding.” She laughed before checking the time on her phone. “Dammit. It’s late. Dad—“
206Please respect copyright.PENANAubY3wPM8TX
“Yeah, yeah, go.” Dionysius sat up, removing his head from her shoulder. “See ya.”
206Please respect copyright.PENANA5PK4E5vZZw
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😭)
ns18.226.181.36da2