JORDAN SMOOTHED DOWN HER LONG, black slacks as she approached the waiting vehicle. She’d only ever seen the transportation machine from the outside. Citizens were required to walk wherever they went to promote health and wellness. The vehicle was reserved for high-ranking officials like Director Patterson or to transport the city’s security team to and from the wall when there was a release.

Jordan tingled with excitement as she brushed a strand of dark hair behind her ear. The vehicle was long and black with blacked-out windows all around so those inside could see out, but those outside couldn’t see in.

The city’s inhabitants walked by on the sidewalk, most either stopping to admire the hovering machine, or turning their heads as they passed to wonder who was on the other side of the window.

Oh, maybe I should have asked to be assigned a new dress or suit. Should I have worn a dress? Am I too formal?

But it was too late. Jordan was approaching the dark vehicle that hummed as it hovered inches off the ground. She caught a reflection of herself in the glass. The dark suit she was wearing hugged her body without a single wrinkle or a piece of rogue lint to ruin her appearance. She’d worn the slightest bit of makeup and wrestled her hair straight.

Before she had a chance to second-guess herself for the hundredth time, the door to the vehicle opened and a smiling Director Patterson extended a hand. “Miss Shepherd, you look very nice. Please come in.”

Jordan shook the offered hand, stepping inside the vehicle’s dark interior, which was larger than it looked from the street. Black leather seats were on every side, with a small bar and food area set in the middle. Dim lights lining overhead offered the slightest glow. Jordan stooped as she entered the vehicle and took a seat, sinking into one of the comfortable couches.

“Jordan, it’s good to see you again,” Holly said with a smile.

Jordan was shocked not only to see the counselor there, but also to see a smile on her face. “Oh, counselor, so good to see you again, as well. I didn’t know you were coming, but I’m glad you’re here.”

Holly nodded with another smile as the director pushed a small button near his seat and spoke into the intercom. “We’re ready to go.”

There was no answer, but the vehicle slowly rose a few inches from the ground. Next, it moved forward, sending a feeling in the pit of Jordan’s stomach that told her she probably shouldn’t have eaten dinner so close to her departure time.

“Don’t worry,” the director said, “you’ll get used to it. As head of the physical education department, you’ll have the authority to use a vehicle whenever you deem fit. Perks of the job.”

Jordan smiled, although she wasn’t sure if she would want to ride in the moving piece of metal again. It was smooth, but to her having never been in a moving object before, it felt anything but safe.

The director and counselor chatted away, politely including Jordan in their conversation, although she expected they could have had the same conversation without her.

Jordan was having trouble listening to them talk as the city began to fall away behind them and the vehicle picked up speed. It was only a matter of minutes before tall buildings and green parks gave way to an open landscape bare of any life.

The city was built on a perfect square of ground, six miles by six miles. The housing units for all of the citizens were located directly in the center of the city, ensuring that whatever a citizen needed or wanted could be found within a three-mile walk.

Everything outside the city was plain and flat. Dark brown dirt extended in all directions on either side of the lonely road as far as the eye could see.

“Isn’t that right, Jordan? Jordan?”

“Oh, I’m so sorry. What was that?”

“Ahhh… I forget,” the director said. “It’s your first time outside the city limits, correct?”

Jordan nodded.

“I still remember my first trip,” Holly told her. “Don’t worry, they’ll become easier.”

“Drink?” the director asked.

“Please,” Holly said.

“Yes, thank you,” Jordan said. She watched as the director poured into drinking glasses a few varying shades of liquid from expensive-looking glass bottles.

The director handed one to each woman, and held his up for a toast. “To Jordan’s hard work paying off in the form of a promotion, and to the bright future that lies ahead of her and our city.”