She slipped out of the house through a window; the front door would be too visible at this time. In a place where elderly, ill, and disobedient people were killed off, she couldn’t be foolish and make rash decisions. Luckily, she knew how to get to Alex’s house from here through a back-route. It would be hidden by the shadows and takes her straight to his backyard. She started to run down the path, taking care not to make noise.

When she arrived, she quickly knocked on Alex’s window. He woke up instantly, startled to the unusual sounds. “Violet?” he hissed, seeing her through the window. “What are you doing here so late at night?”

“My mother got taken into the hospital. They have killed my parents already, I was next. But there is no time for grieving. We need to leave as soon as possible.”

“I’m so glad I prepared. Give me a second to get dressed, I’ll meet you in less than five minutes. I already have all my supplies under my bed in a bag.” Alex ran off to the bathroom with a change of clothes. He set a note down by the sink when he was done, saying goodbye. “Let’s go, we don’t have much time.”

Alex and Violet took off under the cover of night, heading towards the walls. The walls were tall, reaching up to a hundred feet in the sky. They were unclimbable, preventing any escapees from succeeding. The ceiling was made of tinted glass, completely trapping the citizens in the city. Air vents were found all over the walls, filtering the toxic atmosphere. The concrete walls trapped in heat, though, so the air vents helped regulate the temperatures as well. Weather wasn’t a thing in the city, although sometimes it would get humid.

They reached one of the lower vents. While it was still around 20 feet off the ground, Alex had brought a rope. He threw it up there, catching it on one of the spikes. The spikes prevented people from grabbing onto it, but they seemed to not consider people with ropes. After he got it stuck, he confirmed that it would stay.

“Head up there first, Violet. I’ll keep watch.” Alex held the rope in place for her. As she climbed up, she saw flashlights in their neighborhood a few blocks away. Time was running out quickly. Once she reached the top, she carefully grabbed some of the spikes with her shirt. She ripped them out of the wall, nearly losing her balance in the process. Once she finished, she unscrewed the grate and shoved the air filter out of the way. It was a narrow walkway, but since the teenagers were scrawny, they would fit.

“Come on, Alex. I have it open,” she called down. “The authorities are going to come this way soon, so hurry up!”

Alex hurried up the rope, climbing onto the narrow ledge soon after. He pulled up the rope and put it back into his bag just as a light shined on them. They were caught, it was time to act quickly. Both teenagers darted down the tunnel, ignoring the calls behind them.

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“Come right out this instant! You are under arrest for violating the laws set in place by the governor!” One of the cops called after them, alerting the rest of the searchers and some people awake in their homes. The people awake exited their houses to see the commotion, confused on the cause of it. All they saw were lights shined into an air vent and police calling into it. A few of the older citizens pitied the escapers, knowing death awaited them. Some were curious on the reasoning behind the escape, starting to question the laws as well.

In the vent, Violet and Alex had made it far enough to see light on another side. It was a full moon, so the lands were illuminated. Before they reached the end, they paused, taking a moment to catch their breath.

“It’s the moment of truth. Let’s see what’s on the other side.” Alex pushed open the opposite vent, shoving it to the ground outside. As he looked at the view, he gasped in shock at the sight before him. The clang of the vent grate could be heard, but Alex made no attempt to move.

“What’s wrong? Is it devastated? Are there actual trees?” Violet questioned, trying to look past him. “Is it not what you expected?”

“It’s... it’s just... you’ll have to see for yourself.” He dropped down, landing with a pained groan on the ground. He turned around to stare at the landscape in wonder.

Violet reached the opening and her eyes widened in surprise. There were trees stretching for miles, reaching up to the skies. Grass covered the ground, reaching up to the wall. There were animals scurrying in the bushes, foraging for food. Owls were soaring through the sky on the hunt for a meal. The sky was a rich indigo colour, dotted with stars. Constellations were scattered across the sky, giving the stars shapes. The moon was bright, shining through the forest. Thin cloud wisps were barely visible, leaving dark shadows on the ground. It was a beautiful sight, making their journey worth it.

“While I’d love to stay here and just enjoy this view some more, we have to get away from here so we aren’t found.” Alex broke the silence, offering his hand to Violet. “Let’s run, perhaps we’ll find another civilization out here.”

Together, they ran off into the night. It took them months, but eventually they found another city. Unlike their previous one, it was not walled, and it did not have as strict rules. People were very expressive, celebrating their cultures and freedom. Their once perfect city seemed broken to them now. They were free to explore and learn about the world around them. Violet became an explorer, seeking new lands. Alex dabbled in cartography before trying to create inventions. There was no crime in this city as the people were happy, having no reason to take from others. It took a long time for the teens to adjust from their strict rules, but eventually they came to co-exist with the other citizens. They became respected within the community for having escaped one of the Walled Cities.

Meanwhile, in the other city, the government was faced with unrest. People were protesting the laws and trying to escape. It took 34 years for the city to completely fall apart, and people broke free. Angered at the lies they had been told, the previous government was publicly executed and a new one was elected. The laws were changed, and the rebuilding started soon after. Nobody knew what had happened to Violet and Alex, but they were recognized as the founders of the movement, which was written in history as the Great Escape.