"You don't know that." Helen giggled. "Shewaslooking for Milton."
My cheeks turned hot and I looked at my high heels. I'd spent so much money on them for today. Almost six months' worth of CAFE bucks would be down the drain if I went to the above world in them. On the other hand, if I was caught back in my room by someone not in on the secret, I'd be forced to stay. I couldn't miss my own party.
"I don't have to change. I'll just wash my dress when we get back. No one will know."
With that, we took the stairs to the bunker doors. Pearl flicked on the harsh overhead lights, and we flinched as itstung our eyes. I shivered. No matter how often I came up here, I hated this rust-colored, dirt-smelling, water-dripping room.
The Daddys-In-Training, or DITs, who had attended my formal birthday party were already pulling on their PARA Suits.
Protect against radiation above.
That was the big difference between us and the Daddies. Young Ladies could go up with no protection and be fine. No radiation poisoning, no disgusting rashes, no side effects at all. That's what made us so important.
"You ready?" Norman reached for his gas mask and looked to his fellow DITs. They all slid their masks on and nodded. Norman then turned to us. "Milton and Cal are already above. They've made sure our perimeter is safe, and we are free to enjoy ourselves. Do I have to go through protocol?"
He looked so proud to be the one running us through the rules of going to the above world. The DITs had been training just as long as we had, but they still had three more years to go before officially being assigned to their own Young Lady.
"Yes, Daddy," we said in unison. He scowled at our sarcasm but stood up straight and rattled off the dos and don'ts of going above.
"Do stay within fifteen feet of a Daddy at any given time. Do keep in communication constantly with your Daddy. Our PARA suits are specially made so that you can hear us clearly. Don't touch a creepie. Always be on the lookout for crawlies, and do exactly as your Daddy tells you when you are out of the bunker. Our job is to keep you safe and to bring you back to the bunker. We will do whatever it takes to make that happen. Understand?"
"Yes, Daddy," we said. Norman shoved his mask on and pushed buttons on the wall, opening the vault. As the panel lit up and the door began to squeal in protest of it opening, myheart raced. I couldn't wait to find Milton. If we were able to find a house with a sealed basement, perhaps he could take his mask off for just a bit and we could finally kiss.
The DITs lined up, and when the door opened fully, we walked beside them, taking the ladder up. The above air gradually began to fill my lungs. While it was poison to most, we were immune, and the cold sharpness it held was nice. The air in the bunker was always warm.
We reached the surface and saw a large yellow school bus. Like from the movies. I gasped as Milton honked from the horn from the driver's side.
"All aboard? Who wants to go to Risky Rush Amusement Park?"
Risky Rush Amusement Park? I looked to my friends, who were grinning ear to ear. Everyone hurried to the bus and got on. I had just made it up the stairs when I stopped short.
Cal.
"Why are you here?" I demanded, reading his name tag. Callahan Gorland. My worst enemy. He was sitting directly behind Milton.
"I thought the same thing." He glared at the back of Milton's chair and kicked it.
"I needed a hand to make sure everything was safe, doll." Milton winked at me through his mask. "Couldn't have the birthday girl's special day be ruined by a couple of creepies or crawlies."
I reluctantly sat on the other side of the aisle, still close to Milton. Once we were all inside, he closed the door, turned the radio on, and started off.
"You can stop staring, birthday girl. I don't give two shits about you," he said when I kept glaring at him. I turned away, giving him the middle finger. Despite being trained differently, all of us had been brought up in the same bunker and knew each other too well. And I knew I hated Callahan.
We drove on into the night, finally coming upon an old, abandoned theme park. Risky Rush Amusement Park, read the rusty, decrepit sign that had been welded onto another sign.
"Is it safe?" I asked.
Everybody laughed.
"Nothing in the above world is safe," Pearl said, "but it sure as hell is fun."
Milton parked, and we got off the bus, running inside the park.
Woah.
"Just wait.” Milton placed his arm around me when I stood there, frozen. "Cal, will you do the honors?"
"You're going to get us killed," Cal muttered and stormed off. A moment later, there was a loud click and the entire park whirred to life. Carnival music and yellow lights invaded my brain. The carousal moved and a roller coaster dove down its track.
