What Lies Beneath the Surface

They said it would never happen. They said people were just talking crazy. But they lied. It was all true, rising radiation levels in the atmosphere destroyed all life on the Earth's surface in a matter of weeks.

But not all hope was lost.

With the help of the artificial intelligence Ai, the leaders of the world developed a state-of-the-art bunker to ensure the survival of the human race.

Now, 252 years in the future, humanity lives on with Ai's guidance. They work the jobs they are assigned to work, marry the people they are assigned to marry, and procreate at times they are assigned to procreate, all for the sake of one day returning to the surface.

Jason has always done as Ai asks. He gets along great with his assigned partner Skye and is certain he will live a fulfilling life with her. But something weird has been happening recently. His body has started to change. Why does he want to hold hands? Or hug? Or kiss? What are these urges rising up in him?

One of three novels entered into the MAL x Honeyfeed Writing Contest 2022. Be sure to check out my other two submissions as well, "SynchroNyk" and "Of Friendship and Foam Cores".
(Cover art by Clowniac)