02. Secret path to the new world

Is it an illusion? Maybe her wish for the clean air was so big that she is seeing things. But no matter how many times she blinked or closed eyes, the picture in front of her eyes didn't change even a bit.

"What is going on?" She started walking the natural path and suddenly saw the sea.

Wait for what? Birds flew over the blue-green water and small waves hit the white sand. Suddenly out water jumped a few big fishes, wait that are dolphins! She started shaking is this real. Or is she having hallucinations because of the need for air?

Air... She turned her head and realized the green trees that gave shadows to the green grassland. The leaves moved around and she could literally hear the wind blowing through them and making the most comfortable sound she ever heard in her life.

A small butterfly past in front of her and stopped on the beautiful flower on the stone wall next to her arm. The stones...

She turned around and saw even more ridiculous sight. From the other side stood mountains of garbage just like before.

Suddenly a voice could be heard. "Time of transition set. Seven days and starting now."

Suddenly in corner of her eyes, she could see the timer. As the seconds were lost she started moving. She lived in the world of science. If those people found a way to transfer people straight to the new world, why wait?

"Connect home." She waited a few moments while she was running. Suddenly a heavy voice answered from the other side. "Sandra, did something happen?"

"Yes. Mom, something good is happening. It seems they opened free travel to the new world. It is a secret path as I don't see other people around. Mom this is our only chance. I will go and spent all my points to get old-style gear. We need it all. How long would it take for you to come here?" She could hear her breath quickening.

"Where are you?" Her question was understandable as she never explained.

"Nearby the place where brother died. They knew about my position. Maybe it's their way of paying us back for what happened." They never actually explained what happened.

"There is a riot on streets and flying personnel is protesting about their reduce of the free air. With the girls, we will need to take the trains. They have the best protection. I will pack your grandfather's camping gear. I think I have somewhere guide for survival in the wild. We will bring as many books as we can carry." They knew about secret paths that government opened from time to time to bring people away.

"How long with the train? Try to pack just basic things and come." It was not important. Nearby is a second-hand store that sells cheaply all kind of rubbish for a few seconds of air time.

"I just checked the train schedule. If we catch the next train we can be there in six days." If nothing how's wrong.

''Mom, just take grandfather's bag and couple books, few toys and run. Literally. Six days is still a tight time frame. The timer is on six days and 23 hours now. You know we can't use in the new world any technologies so use as much air as you can to just come fast here. I will try to find a flying taxi to bring you all here. Please all wear protection clothes. The radiation is enormous here." After the run to the other side of the tunnel, she could see that the radiation levels are high again.

She checked the path a few times before calling her home.

"We are already packing. The girls are putting their protective gear on. I will call you when we get on the train." Sandra could hear the excitement in her voice.

She was excited as well. Who else should she call? Every path is open for everyone, but the main rule is not to bring fire weapons and no technologies.

But the strange thing is nature. Actually, in the new world, there are indeed lush trees and nature, but the sea? What is actually going on?

She had no time to think about it and called her assistant. "Where are you?" Was the first thing she asked him. Her annoyed voice made him get cold.

"I.." Music could be heard behind him and he held his head. "Sandra, I was so nervous so I

... Just this one last time..."

Sandra hung up. The drugs he used were so expensive that her teeth ached. He did it before and promised never to use it again. After his mother called and begged for him she forgave him. But this time she will not.

Of course, she got a call right away from his mother. "Sandra, he is lately under pressure, could you.." But Sandra cut her off.

"I definitely can't. I called him for an important matter but he was not even thinking about you. Sorry, miss Lennox. But this time I am literally pissed off. I will not fire him, just transfer him to another coworker. Maybe it is better for him. I work in dangerous reports. If he keeps running around me he might get killed early or later. "

There was silence on the other side and sigh cane out. "As long he gets a job I am thankful. I am truly sorry."

Sandra didn't have time to waste in people that didn't plan to fight for their survival. She called the station and asked them to transfer him to the other worker.

Her assistant was actually quite a capable man so it was not very hard to find him a new working place. Too bad he gets scared really fast.

She took her recording equipment and started a new recording, stunning her viewers. "Hello everyone. I actually planned to talk to you tomorrow, but something amazing just happened. You know all about secret tunnels to the new world. As you all supported me for so many years, I will take this chance to show you my gratitude. Here in mid of this waste, a secret path was open. I will put the timer open on my channel and you all can come and go with me. I am still waiting for my family that is stuck on the other side of the continent. If you can, help them to come here." She turned the camera to the entrance.

"Please remember that you can't use any technologies anyway there, so take anything you think you could be able to use in the new world." As the picture deepened to the end of the tunnel they could see the green leaves and few birds flying by.

"I will keep the picture on that spot and timer with it. Please come here as soon as possible. When the timer is off, it will be too late for regrets." She set the camera and timer on and set the voice recorder on slow music so they wouldn't feel to stressed.

Now, let's go shopping...