Chapter 1

The First Letter

It was an average day in Zone 1: the sun was shining, the air was full of smog, and everything seemed to be going just as normal as can be. The Elsens in the smoke mines were clinking away with their pick axes and the lights from their hard hats beamed through the darkness, their shirts drenched with their sweat. One Elsen loosened his tie and unbuttoned his shirt slightly so he could breath more easily. He wiped the sweat off his brow and felt that it might be time to go on a break.

"Hhhh... Hey, everyone, I think it's time to take a five minute break," said the physically fit Elsen.

All the others took a deep sigh of relief. They were glad to take a breather, although they were a little concerned that their guardian might see this as slacking off. One Elsen didn't seem too worried about being caught; after all, he was the one who suggested the break. He wouldn't have said anything if he wasn't sure that they wouldn't get caught. During the break, the confidant Elsen wanted to go outside for a smoke. As a miner, he knew how to leave the mines even if there was no light. Miners have an excellent sense of direction and it's hard for them to get lost. He found his way out of the mines and took out a small plastic stick the size of a cigarette. He placed it in his mouth and lit it. The burning plastic smelled terrible, but the Elsen seemed to enjoy it. It soothed him, calmed his nerves. As he was taking a deep puff of the burning plastic, he noticed his friend pacing back and forth in great distress.

"Hey there, Perry," he said waving lazily, "You ok? You look a little frazzled."

Perry was a fellow Elsen who worked in the mail room and usually wouldn't come out until his work was done, but it seemed that something unusual was going on. He was holding a letter in his hand in a tight grip. He was muttering to himself, but his voice was so low that no one would have been able to hear what he was saying. He didn't seem to notice the smoking Elsen standing there until he bumped in to him after making a quick turn in his pacing.

"Oh... Hhh... Oh! It's you, Percy. I'm sorry. I didn't see you there."

Percy didn't mind the run in, he was just concerned for his friend.

"Hhh. . I guess you didn't hear me ether, but it's fine. What's bothering you? You seemed troubled."

"Hhh..." Perry looked down to the letter. "Well... it seems that a letter came in, but it's not addressed to anyone." He looked back up to Percy his eyes filled with anxiety. "I don't know what to do with it. I can't just throw it away. Hhh... someone spent time writing it, but I don't want to bother Dedan with such a small matter ether."

Percy felt great sympathy for his friend, so an idea came to mind.

"Hhh... How about I take the letter off your hands? Just log it as being addressed to me so that way you won't have to throw it away and you don't have to bother Dedan."

Perry beamed with joy.

"Hhh... What a great idea! Thank you Percy."

Percy raised his hand in a way as to say "don't mention it" when he saw the time on his watch. Break time was over! He took the letter from Perry and went back to work in the mines.

When the day was over, he went home exhausted. He took off his helmet and tossed it down on the table. He sat on the kitchen chair and took out one of his plastic cigs. After lighting up, he remembered the letter. As he took it out, he knew that it wasn't really addressed to him, but he couldn't help but wonder what the letter could say. He opened it and found that it just said "Dear Reader" in the beginning. So it was just addressed to anyone. He kept on reading:

Dear Reader,

Hello there. I've been stuck at the mall in Zone 2 for quite some time now. It'd be nice to talk to someone. Or get instructions on how to leave. Thank you for reading my letter.

Lost Elsen,

Patrick.

Percy lived to work all his life and normally he would have thrown this letter away without even opening it, but for some reason he couldn't. His life was becoming too routine and the days were becoming one big blur. This was the first time in a long time that something different was happening and he didn't want to pass the chance for some change. After reading the letter he felt that it was only polite to answer. He wrote the lost Elsen back:

Dear Patrick,

I wish I could help you but I don't live in Zone 2 so writing you is the only thing I can do. I'm sorry I can't be any more help but I do wish to support you through this troubled time you're in. I'm glad to have gotten your letter. It has brought me some change in my life. Good change I mean. I hope you will write me again. Waiting for your response already feels thrilling.

Strong Elsen,

Percy.

A few days later, a response letter came. The two wrote each other back and forth on a regular basis. Both of them became more eager to hear from the other. The more they wrote, the more intimate the letters became and so did their feelings for each other.