Towards The Unknown

By Atallah Walid

In the shadowy city of Veridora, where survival hinges on a rare and precious commodity -
breathable air - Adam finds himself entangled in a mysterious rebellion against an oppressive regime.
Drawn by fate to a clandestine group, he discovers a world of secrets, danger, and forbidden love.
While Adam delves deeper into the rebels cause, he becomes entranced by the enigmatic Isabella,
the daughter of one of the rebellions leaders. Together, they navigate treacherous missions, but
lurking in the shadows are dark forces that threaten to tear the rebellion apart.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Atallah Walid
• Release date: Nov 16, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223159841

Atallah Walid

Teacher at the university of USTO Oran Algeria.

Book preview

TOWARDS THE UNKNOWN

ATALLAH WALID

Author's name: ATALLAH WALID

Book Title : TOWARDS THE UNKNOWN

ISBN:978-9931-246-68-8

Legal deposit 2023

Design & Edition : Green Wave Publishing House

All rights reserved © No part of this book may be copied, used, reproduced, whether in paper, electronic, or any other media, stored in information retrieval, or transmitted in any form, without written permission from the publisher. Excludes short quotes used to introduce the book.

Chapter  : The  City  of  Poisoned  Air

He stood at the edge of Etherea the capital of Veridora, staring out at the hazy horizon. The air was thick with pollution, making it difficult to see clearly. The buildings in the distance were obscured by a dense cloud of smog, and the sun was barely visible through the grayish-yellow sky.

Adam had lived in the city his entire life, but he never grew used to the noxious pollution that filled the air.

In this era, the atmosphere is severely polluted and unbreathable without the use of special masks or filtration systems.

The oxygen is put into small bottle tanks which is called bars that you can charge your mask with. There are also big tanks to have pure air inside homes or workplaces but these tanks are exclusively for the rich. However, this air is not simply provided for free - individuals must work to earn air credits which they can then exchange for their daily allotment of clean air. The bars are distributed through Air-shops.

For every work or service you perform you are paid in air credits instead of traditional currency, which they can then use to purchase food, water, and other necessities that are also in short supply. This system creates a hierarchy where the wealthy can afford to purchase more air credits, while the poor struggle to make ends meet.

The system creates a vicious cycle where individuals are trapped in a cycle of poverty and reliance on the wealthy for their basic needs. A network of ordinary people called The rebels seek to overthrow this corrupt system and create a new society where clean air is a basic human right, not a commodity to be bought and sold.

The city is full with national security guards who wear dark gray, red, black or blue uniforms made of a thick material that covers them from head to toe with the logo of the party in the left arm a red triangle .They wear helmets with built-in masks that cover their entire face.

The remaining population, on the other hand, wear a variety of clothes that they have salvaged or made themselves. They often wear masks that are less sophisticated than the guards but still do their job of protection against the polluted air.

Their appearance is ragged and mismatched, reflecting their hardscrabble existence. Despite the lack of resources, they remain determined to fight against the officials and bring about change.

Adam woke up to the familiar sound of his alarm, his senses gradually returning to consciousness. When he opened his eyes, he realized something was amiss his mask's indicator lights were off. Panic surged through him, he swiftly sat up in bed, the gravity of the situation hitting him like a ton of bricks. Without a functioning mask, his supply of life sustaining oxygen was depleted.

With a racing heart, Adam hastily got out of bed, his mind focused on a single objective to purchase air bars, he took out his phone and get into his air account but the screen shows 00 air credits.

He felt a sense of panic rise up in him, he saw the double 00. He quickly sat up and frantically looked around his small apartment, searching for the extra small oxygen tank he kept hidden in case of emergency.

He stumbled out of his bed, tripping over a pile of clothes on the floor, and rushed towards the small cabinet in the corner of the room. His heart was pounding in his chest, and he could feel the sweat starting to bead on his forehead while he searched through the cluttered shelves for the tank.

Finally, his fingers brushed against the cool metal of the oxygen tank, and he let out a sigh of relief. He quickly grabbed it. And connected it to the mask to charge it.

Now his only solution is to go to the factory where he worked and obtain his daily oxygen bars. He knew that every passing minute brought him closer to the dangers of suffocation.

Rushing through his small apartment, Adam grabbed his belongings and donned his tattered jacket. He burst out of his front door and into the bustling streets of the city, his eyes darting around for the approaching bus. He couldn't afford to waste any time.

He spotted the bus in the distance, he quickened his pace, weaving through the crowded sidewalk. The fear of running out of air loomed over him, adding urgency to each step. When he finally reached the bus stop, he let out a sigh of relief.

The work bus came; Adam fumbled for his air credit card, swiping it on the reader. The cold metal doors slid shut behind him, and he found a seat near the window. Glancing outside, he watched the familiar cityscape blur past him , the bus made its way through the bustling streets.

His mind raced with worries and what-ifs. What if he couldn't make it in time? What if the factory ran out of oxygen bars? The uncertainty gnawed at him, but he refused to let fear consume him.

Finally, the bus pulled up to his stop, and Adam disembarked swiftly. The sight of the factory its towering walls provided a sense of relief, a temporary sanctuary from the suffocating world outside.

He stepped inside, the cool air and the hum of machinery washed over him, offering a brief respite. He joined the queue, waiting for his turn to get his daily supply of oxygen bars. The minutes ticked by agonizingly slowly, but eventually, it was his turn.

Adam approached the counter, handing over his air credit card with a mix of anxiety and gratitude. The factory worker behind the counter scanned the card, a small nod of acknowledgment indicating a successful transaction. Adam then went to the small air shop inside the factory and purchase his precious oxygen bars, their weight a reassurance in his hands.

With his supply replenished, Adam stepped outside, taking deep breaths of the purified air. He couldn't help but feel a profound appreciation for the simple act of breathing, a reminder of the fragility of life in this dystopian world.

Filled with a renewed sense of purpose, Adam embarked on his daily journey to the factory, ready to face the challenges that lay ahead. The experience served like a stark reminder of the constant struggle for survival, fueling his determination to fight for a future where no one would have to live in fear of running out of air.

The factory produced plastic items, and Adam and his coworkers worked long hours.

While Adam worked, he couldn't help but think about the rebellion he had heard whispers of. He had no idea who they were or what they wanted, but he couldn't help feeling drawn to their cause. He knew that he couldn't continue living like this, working for scraps of

Reviews for Towards The Unknown

[heres1079 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

It is an amazing story that makes you think and makes you forget the daily routine. I really recommand it !!?