**Chapter Two**
Efiok finally reached the ground floor after what felt like forever. Ayo panted behind him, her hands on her knees. The holo-feed displayed in the ceiling chattered in the background.
*...sixty-seven percent chance of a neural cascade in...*
His fingers relaxed around the drum as he looked straight ahead, toward the public taps. People were already trudging down the stairwell on the other side of the floor. A few lines were slowly forming at the taps.
"Ayo c'mon. We're here early." He briefly glanced at the holo-feed in the ceiling before he strode toward the taps with Ayo plodding along.
He joined the shortest queue. The residents around him shifted nervously, sneaking peeks at the holo-feed. He glanced back at Ayo who had her eyes glued to the holo-feed. "
"Effie, do you think there'd really be a cascade today?" She asked out loud.
"Sixty-seven is a lot so it's likely. I hope it's below level 3." He looked around as he waited in line, exchanging silent nods with fellow residents. He turned the drum over with a frown, checking the sealed spot underneath again.
*Good morning proud residents of the Outer-ring. It's finally time for the annual Harvest, The lottery opens tomorrow for the new cycle. This is an opportunity to serve humanity and help fight back the Blight...*
Efiok felt his chest tighten as a man dressed in immaculate white coveralls with a red inferno patched on the chest appeared on the holo-feed. Everyone stopped their muttering and paid full attention to the man. He noticed Ayo's fingers tighten around her drum.
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*...covers all of us. Applications for the current cycle close at zero zero hundred sharp. Remember, The Dome Breathes Because You Do.*
Chimes went off in the silence of the floor as Slabs lit up. Efiok brought his to his face with a frown;
*Harvest Closes In 17:59:53*
*Apply Now!*
*The Harvest Needs Its Best*
The words were flashing gold and a button was just below with the word "VOLUNTEER". The floor exploded into a frenzy as neighbors chattered amongst themselves. Efiok watched as the holo-feed shifted to the countdown timer.
"I'm doing it Elaine, right now", "Finn please, we've been through this," he picked up on some voices nearby. On the other queue, a woman with chocolate brown hair stood with her arms wrapped protectively around a baby.
*It's started again.* Efiok looked back at Ayo, her fists still clenched at her sides.
"Elaine..." A man with short blond hair stood next to her, looking straight into her eyes.
"No. We've been through this a hundred times and my answer is still no. Please." She shook her head with tears welling up in her eyes.
"I've thought this out. I've lived my entire life next to the Blight, I don't want that for Jane. I don't want her living here, always looking over her shoulder. I want her to experience what clean water tastes like or how fresh oxygen feels." He said to her gently, holding her gaze.
"You know you are getting picked and you won't be coming back, no one does. She would want you to stay, please." Tears were already streaming down her face. The man's jaw tightened slightly as he put his hands on her trembling shoulders.
Efiok looked back at Ayo. Her fists were unclenched now, her Slab in her hand, eyes fixed on the countdown timer.
Efiok looked around the floor, heads were bent together, someone wiped their tears. The pap vendor on the floor below his that he only knew as the Papman stared at his Slab with his jaw clenched, his fingers tightly wrapped around the device.
"How many do you think would volunteer this year?" He called out over his shoulder.
"Hmm? I don't know. Probably a lot." Looking back, Ayo was still staring, her eyes fixed to the countdown timer, brows furrowed.
"Hey, eyes in front." He whispered to her. She looked up from her Slab and locked eyes with him without saying a thing.
He rolled his knee as he put his back to her. The line slowly shuffled forward.
