Hidden

  Table of Contents

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Hidden

  A Dystopian Retelling of Rapunzel

  © 2017 Laura Greenwood

  All rights reserved. This book or parts thereof may not be reproduced in any form, stored in any retrieval system, or transmitted in any form by any means – electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording or otherwise – without prior written permission of the published, except as provided by United States of America copyright law. For permission requests, write to the publisher at “Attention: Permissions Coordinator,” at the email address; lauragreenwood@authorlauragreenwood.co.uk.

  Visit Laura Greenwood’s website at:

  www.authorlauragreenwood.co.uk

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  Cover Design by Lima Bean Designs

  Hidden is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, businesses, companies, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  For anyone involved in the making of Disney’s Tangled. Without your hard work and talents, I wouldn’t be where I am today. That film got me through the bad times.

  Chapter 1

  PLEASE NOTE: THIS IS A DRAFT EDITION OF HIDDEN, IF YOU HAVE RECEIVED IT IN ERROR, PLEASE EMAIL lauragreenwood@authorlauragreenwood.co.uk AND I CAN SEND YOU THE CORRECT FILE. I’M VERY SORRY FOR ANY INCONVENIENCE.

  “Access denied. Zel Matthews is not permitted to breathe outside.”

  I sighed. It was the same answer the stupid machine gave me every time, but for some reason, that wasn't stopping from trying. Daily. There's something exciting about the outside world when you’ve never actually been allowed to go there, and Mother had never let me. I was one of the unlucky ones who’d be poisoned.

  Or was I lucky? Mother also said that most of the poisoned ones were so poor that they couldn't afford fancy sealed apartments like we had. Instead they died within moments of being born and inhaling the air.

  Then again, was I really lucky? My whole life was this apartment. Always had been, and if my Mother had anything to do with it, always would be.

  Least I had Asher. During the daytime anyway. I’m not all that sure what he did at night, but he was never online. I missed him when he wasn't around to talk, but I didn't want to seem needy.

  Asher: Hey, Zel, you about? The words flashed green over my eyes. It’d taken a lot of begging for Mother to let me get a chip, she’d been surprisingly against it. But I’d insisted. I wasn't comfortable using the mainframe to talk to Asher, worried that she'd snoop on our conversations. I mean, she’s a talented enough hacker to be able to look without my permission, but I was able to forget that most of the time.

  Yes. I thought the word and watched as it flashed over my eye, replacing his, and the disappearing down the connection between us. That was the other advantage of having a chip, I didn't actually have to type.Left alone again? he asked.

  Aren’t I always? It’s daytime. I sensed his laughter down the connection between us. I’m not sure if that’s normal or not, but I’d always been able to feel his emotions. Well mostly his amusement, and mostly if I said something ridiculous, which was all the time basically.

  Try anything new today?

  Not so far, I replied, thinking back over my day. I often tinkered with one thing or another, normally because I was bored. Mother didn’t exactly leave me with a lot to do when she left for the day, and since I’d technically graduated from school three years ago, there was nothing I had to fill my days with. I’d tried to convince her to let me get a job, there was plenty I could do without leaving the apartment, but she’d said no.

  It was actually how I’d met Asher. Though maybe met wasn’t quite the right word. We’d technically never met in person. Obviously. I lived in an apartment and wasn’t allowed to actually see people. Which was stupid really. Having visitors wouldn't make any difference to anything, or at least, I didn't think it would. Maybe I was wrong, but it wasn't like they'd bring the air inside with them, that just wasn't how it worked.

  To that end, I was still constantly surprised that no one had come up with a way of curing those of us that couldn't breath outside. I mean they could implant a chip into our brains and have messages flash across our eyes, yet they couldn't solve a little problem like breathing. outside. Maybe I should work on it myself. No one else could be trusted with it apparently.

  Zel, you okay? Asher's message flashed across my eyes.

  Sorry, was just thinking.

  About? He seemed interested, but then again, I'd been talking to him for long enough, there was no reason that he wouldn't be.

  Breathing.

  If you need to think about it, then I'm a little worried. I could hear his laughter down the connection.

  Not like that, I scolded. The whole, some people not being able to breathe.

  Ah. That.

  Hmm. That was interesting, it almost seemed like he wasn't that convinced, whether by me thinking about it, or the idea itself, I wasn't sure.

  You don't think it's a good idea? I asked, curiosity getting the better of me. I wasn't sure I even really wanted to know his answer.

  It's not a bad one, but do you even know why people can't breathe outside?

  Ah. He had a point there. I had no clue. But then of course I didn't, I'd been trapped and unable to learn for the past few years. At least there'd been school before that, now not so much.

  You don't seem so sure. I pouted. Though there was probably no way for him to know that. Or maybe there was. Maybe it was an action like his laughter, and he could sense it down the line.

  I think there are probably better things to spend your time on. What about the research you were doing into that plant you found?

  It hit a dead end, I said, knowing he'd be able to sense that it was all I wanted to say on the matter. Like most things I was able to start, it had hit a dead end when I'd run out of places to research or tools or something. I was so damn limited.

  Oh, doesn't sound good.

  No.

  He went silent. Probably put off by my apparent moodiness. Even though I couldn't explain it, I was kind of annoying myself with it too. Guess it's what happens when you end up devoid of vitamin D. Another thing I would have thought they'd be able to solve by now. A few ear back the sun's rays had begun to get too radiated for people to stand for longer than twenty minutes at a time or so. Basically, not long enough. People had started to get ill, and what had the government done about it? Bugger all.

  Well, not quite true. They'd advised people to not go outside as much. No solution to the fact people were deficient of a vital vitamin though, that would be too much of a step towards caring.

  I silenced the chat option of my chip. I wasn't really mad at Asher or anything, but I wanted peace to think about my idea. I wanted to go outside. I wanted to feel the over active sun on my skin, and know what so much space felt like. And I couldn't yet. Or couldn't without dying. And if no one else was going to help me, then I'd have to do it myself.

  I made the short trip back to my room, twenty paces exactly. I knew, because I'd counted them numerous times while bored and with nothing else to distract me. Basically, when I was between projects. I pulled down one of my thick black files, like they used to have years ago, and which I'd still used for my school work. Flipping through it, I looked for the diagrams I'd found the other day. Not for school work I might add, I got rid of that long ago so I could use the files to store my proper work in without raising suspicion in my mother.

  Finding them, I spread them out across my desk, trying not to get my hop
es up, but failing miserably. I studied the plans closely, the words Scuba Mask scribbled across the top in an untidy scrawl. No one writes like that anymore. Or at least, only if they're the upper upper upper class. As in, they have nothing to do with their days but indulge in old hobbies like calligraphy. I hadn't even realised people did that until Asher told me. He hadn't been very talkative today, it must be said, but sometimes it was difficult to shut him up. When that happened, he'd spend hours telling me the ins and outs of life outside. Not that I was complaining. Not in the slightest. I loved that he did that. It gave me an insight into a life I wanted, but could never have.

  Actually, come to think about it, sometimes it was as if he was a completely different person while we were talking. But then, I guess I could be too. I'd shut down our conversation earlier because I wasn't in the mood for his caginess. I hated it when he got like that, when it was almost as if he was hiding something.

  Shaking my head, I cleared my thoughts of Asher and focused back on the plans in front of me. It seemed simple enough, and I imagined that I'd be able to salvage most of the parts I needed from the scrap heap at the bottom of the apartment. About two years ago, I'd successfully bribed one of the workers to bring it up while I was sleeping and hide it in one of the cupboards Mother never went in. All I had to do, was let him have any left over copper. Apparently it was particularly valuable in the outside world, but it tended to be useless to be.

  I pulled studied the instructions again, making a mental note of the equipment and pieces that I needed. I didn't really need to do it mentally. I could use my chip if I so wished, but I liked to give myself the mental exercises instead. It made it feel like I was actually getting somewhere. And with the way our government seemed to go, there was a chance the world could completely go to pot within the next week, and if so then I'd need all of my wits about me.

  I tinkered for what felt like hours. Realistically, it probably was hours, I tended to get a bit lost in what I was doing. Unfortunately, I'd probably done as much as I actually could without specific parts that I seemed to lack.

  'Lo, Zel, Asher said. I thought about ignoring him, but it'd probably been long enough since earlier anyway. Plus, it was getting late, and he'd no doubt need to be getting off soon to do whatever the hell he did at night.

  Hi. Short but sweet, a little like me really. Bah. Who was I kidding? I was short, sure, but sweet, probably not. It was hard to know without being around people I guessed. Maybe I was really a total bitch who everyone would hate. In which case, it'd definitely be better if I didn't meet anyone.

  You okay? You seem low.

  Oh, so we were ignoring our earlier conversation then. Great, just what I needed. Fine, I answered after a moment.

  Please tell me what's bothering you? he asked and I sighed, pushing a hand over my face and through my long dark hair. I didn't want to bring up his weirdness, that could end up with me losing my only friend, but I clearly needed to think of something.

  I hit a dead end with my project. I was hesitant to tell him, especially after he'd been so dismissive over me solving the breathing problem earlier, but then, he'd helped me through some other difficult project problems too. So maybe it was still worth it.

  Tell me about it. He sounded genuinely curious. Good. Seemed I was getting interested, intelligent Asher tonight, and not the weird unhelpful one.

  It's the breathing problem, I started. I've found plans for an old scuba mask, and I plan to adapt them. I've had to shrink it down and work out which bits are actually useful, but I think I'm there. It'll fit just over the nose...I trailed off, thinking hard and forgetting to transmit the message over my chip.

  But, he prompted.

  But, I'm missing a few parts.

  Which ones? he asked, and I instantly rattled off the names of three parts that I hadn't been able to create or salvage from the junk I had. Though I had gained a lot of copper today, that should keep Ramal happy for a while. I sensed a whistle coming down the line as he processed what i was saying. Those are some pricey parts, Zel.

  They are? I asked. I genuinely had no idea. It wasn't like I could wander down to the exchange centre and order some aluminium tubing and a fancy motor thing. Though maybe I could make the motor if I found plans for it online. That was the way I got around most of the parts I needed but didn't have. It'd take time though, and time wasn't something I necessarily had. Okay, that was a lie. I had plenty of time, too much time in fact. But wasting it didn't get me outside any quicker.

  Yes, one of those spring things you want can cost upwards of a thousand credits, he replied. Well, shit. There went my plans of making what I wanted. There was no way I could spend that many credits without Mother noticing. I couldn’t even spent one credit without her noticing.

  Guess I should just quit while I’m ahead. I sounded morose even to myself, though maybe there was a chance he didn’t actually notice. I mean, we were talking down a chip, so basically, a computer, and it should be impossible for him to pick up on emotions through that, right?

  I’m sorry, Zel.

  Ah damn, he actually sounded sorry. He probably had picked up on my feelings then. Stupid computers not hiding everything. What was the point of automating everything if everyone could still read emotions. It was just pointless.

  It’s fine, one of those things. I gave a weak smile, though there was no way for him to possibly know that. He definitely wouldn’t be able to see my face. Not unless he had access to the cameras I knew were in the apartment, but had long ago managed to disable in my room. Just one of the advantages of being a bit of a mechanical whizz I guess.

  It’s not...he started, but the message never finished. I sighed. It was getting late, he probably had to go do whatever it was that kept him busy at night. Images of another woman flashed through my head and I shuddered. Damn, I hope that wasn’t what he got up to. Even if he didn’t know what I looked like, I kind of wanted him to stay mine. Not a weird thought at all there.

  Bye, Asher. It was probably useless sending him anything, he’d already gone.

  Bye, Zel, flashed across my screen, taking me aback. Okay, hadn’t expected him to respond. The message faded, leaving me completely alone. But for how long was the question. I pulled the clock up on my chip. Shit. Not long at all then, unless Mother was uncharacteristically late. Normally she arrived home at six pm on the dot, probably to check I was still here knowing her. I’m not sure where she thought I’d go. Or if there was any particular reason why she felt the need to check I was still here, but it was the way things were I guess.

  I shuffled my plans together, and stuck them back in the folder, hiding it in plain sight on the shelf above me. She’d never find it there. Or at least, I hoped not.

  Chapter 2

  I woke up feeling groggy, again. This was sort of becoming a regular occurrence, and I hated it. For some reason, whenever I got up in the morning I ended up feeling like I'd been hit by a bus. Whatever that actually meant. It's a weird expression, left over from the old days I think, though I have no idea on what a bus was. Not true actually, I'd searched the system for what a bus was, and all that had shown up was a big metal box with some seats in and round things attached to each corner. They didn't look very safe if you asked me, but then, it wouldn't matter anyway if I couldn't leave the apartment. My chances of death by bus were low to say the least.

  Which did nothing to explain why I felt like I'd been hit by one. But I was left feeling achy, and with legs that felt like lead when I walked. It wasn't cause I was unfit either, I ran every morning despite the pain. On a treadmill admittedly, and not anywhere fun like outside, but it still counted, right? Nor was it lack of vitamins. After discovering that I was lacking in some of them, particularly vitamin D, I managed to use a bit of computer wizardry to reallocate some of Mother's funds. That, and building myself a dispenser, meant I could get all the vitamins I needed in one helpful little tablet.

  I'd still rather go outside.

  It wasn't unti
l I was wiping the sweat from my eyes after my run that I turned my chip on. I liked the silence as my feet hit the ground, the rhythmic thudding was kind of soothing, I liked to disappear into my own little world while running. Pah. I lived in my own little world really. But it was nice to pretend that I was normal.

  Morning, Zel.

  Wow, I think this is the earliest I'd ever gotten a message from Asher before. Most of the time, I just figured that he was still asleep. I mean, I had no idea how long he was up at night before, so it seemed likely he hadn't slept much.

  Zel? he repeated after a few moments. I can see you're online. It sounded like he was teasing. I hoped so, I didn't want him to go away, that'd mean I'd lose the only person who was like a friend to me.

  Sorry, am here.

  Have you thought more about your parts problem?

  Well that was odd. He almost never jumped straight into the serious stuff. He was the kind of man that always made pleasantries first, with pleases and thank yous and how-do-you-dos. A traditional English gentleman, like the stuff Lords in a lot of the historical books that seemed to exist. How anyone liked them was beyond me, but each to their own. Just make sure it was something packed with action for me. Whether that was kick-ass fight kind of action, or kick back in the sheets kinds of action, I didn't really mind.

  I'm just going to have to scrap the project, I said with a sigh, already hating that I'd have to give up.

  Are you sure? It sounded like he was laughing. He better not be laughing, or someone was going to end up with a weird virus on his chip that flashed up old images of shokushu goukan every time he thought the word the, or something else ridiculous like that. I could arrange that, and he knew it. Or at least I hoped he did.

  Yes, I'm sure. I can't successfully move that amount of funding away from Mother's accounts without her noticing. It's difficult enough getting the little I do away from her. I didn't add on to that how guilty I felt about it either. I mean on a technicality, it was stealing, even if part of it was money given to us because I couldn't breathe the air. Disability money as such. It always made me feel so insignificant when I remembered that. Like I was worth throwing money at to keep quiet and out of the way, but it wasn't worth taking that money and researching ways that I could go outside. I don't know, it just seemed odd.