https://everythingspeakstome.com/files/original/79204f005c0b5d607624b712c6334a41.jpeg ea61251df1333e3e8ec4aa0e97504eda Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource After The Rise ... Description An account of the resource Using elevations and water level projected on EyesOnTheRise.com, these speculative fictions explore the world that was Miami after sea levels rise 6 or more feet. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Administrator Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Text Please post your written submission in this field. The images you would like to include should be posted as attachments below. The air was humid and it made the mask covering Maeve’s face stick more than usual but it didn’t bother her, she had bigger things to worry about. She only had a few minutes to make this work and Maeve’s hands were getting slippery from the sweat. She needed to be careful, she needed to be quick. Just a few pieces, Maeve thought. Just a few pieces should be able to hold the house and what better place than Grandeville’s house. Charles Grandville, the man behind “New Miami” ever since climate change forever changed the landscape due to the rise of sea levels. He had the grandest boat house in the neighborhood, half submerged and over the water, it was a combination fortified with poles, and adjustable screws but the secret was Mangroves. The long roots provide the fortified protection from hurricanes, strong winds, and currents that plague the waters these days. Wealthier than half of South Florida, Maeve knew he had enough Mangroves to spare but what she needed the most were the seeds. The standard market price for one Mangrove seed was easily 10,000 a piece nowadays. Her father told her of a time before when most Mangroves were used for simple school projects where his teacher would have them grow the seeds for a grade. Things were different now, far different. The seeds too. Charles Grandville was the mastermind of the GMM, Genetically Modified Mangroves. These Mangroves grew at ten times the speed and length it was soon comparable to almost being as large as the Californian Redwood trees. He dominated the patent and stopped any recreation by making them with seedless pods. The only mangroves left that still produced seeds were located at his floating estate. And Maeve was going to get them. Maeve’s family were never been so lucky. The only lucky ones were those who seem to already have a good standing before the sea took over. Families like Grandeville barely felt the effects. They had the best supplies, the best food, the best houses, and most importantly they had the best resources. But Maeve didn’t have time to think about all her hatred for those like Charles Grandville. No, she needed the seeds, those were top priority and Maeve needed them fast. She planned it out carefully for a week in advance, the clothes, the spot, and the spare boat she found in the floating pile of scrapyard. She moved quietly using only a single paddle as to not make noise. Approaching the wall of mangroves that surrounded the mansion she tied her boat as discreetly as possible she would have to make it by herself behind the mangroves and wore her best wetsuit that she needed. She slipped in seamlessly and adjusted her strapped bag taking out her mother’s pocket knife as she made her way over to the edge of the mangrove forest where she noted the sizable pods that she planned to discreetly cut off and slip through again. She needed to take the pods in an unassuming spot where it wouldn't be noticeable. Maeve carefully wove her way through the roots of the mangrove trees making sure to stay on the outer rings as to not be spotted. As Maeve edged closer and closer to the gap she felt that there was someone creeping up behind. Swiftly and skillfully she whirled around coming face to face with green eyes, both holding a knife to the other's throat. Maeve could tell the boy, Green Eyes, was about the same age, taller, and wore about a similar sneaky getup as her complete with the black mask. All you could hear was the other's heavy breathing and the water crashing against the roots of the mangroves. Green Eyes tilted his head slightly and his eyes crinkled upwards as if he was amused by her. “What’s your name?” Maeve stared back with no response only holding her knife steady against his neck. This made Green Eyes laugh a little. “Okay, fair response. If you can't answer that then let me ask you this, why are you breaking into my house?” Maeve squinted in confusion. My house? Who is this? There was never any mention of a son in any of the news articles. Why would they- Before she could finish her thought, Green Eyes moved swiftly, disarming her by ducking under her held-out arm, grabbing hold of it, and pushing the knife away from his face while still holding his own against her neck. Maeve’s eyes flashed in both surprise and anger. What the fu- “Don't yell, don't scream, don’t move.” Maeve started squirming again to get out of his grasp when she heard it. A faint click. Multiple in fact. Click…Click…Click A gray orb with a red blinking light floated towards them. Its clicks were slow as it seemed to survey the water but with no camera as Maeve could tell it was watching the movements underwater for trespassers. Next to them, an iguana moved, twitching his legs, his tail slightly splashing the water. But it was enough for the orb. Its clicking stopped, suddenly whirring itself around, its red light glowed brightly and emitted a laser that focused on the unassuming animal. Clickkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk. The iguana fell dead among the roots of the Mangrove trees, a slight singe of smoke emanating from its dead corpse. And the orb’s laser retreated back into itself, with only the red blinking light remaining blinking as it passed by serenely as if nothing happened just moments before. Holy shit Maeve thought, since when did Grandville have access to this type of technology? At this point, Green Eyes had let go of her and both assessed each other silently and cautiously. Maeve didn’t know what to think of the stranger. He had saved her life but why? But more importantly, who was he? Maeve ran through all the faces in the Grandeville corporation and the family tree, she never seen a teenage boy during the publicity runs but he did share those kelly green eyes that seem to run in the Grandeville lineage. Green eyes smirked taking her in more as he assessed her mask and her switchblade which he examined in quiet consideration. The mask she used was from her father's old days from the pandemic in the year 2020 but that seemed lost in time. Those problems seemed so trivial at the time compared to the entire loss of cities off the map. Miami Beach, a distant memory only ever seen through her father’s picture on old phones and SD cards. Maeve liked to go through them and see the livelier time before climate change unleashed her full ravage on the city. Her father told her all the stories about going to the beach on weekends with his friends, senior sunrises, picnics on the beach, and parties on the beach. Maeve lived vicariously through these old memories, pictures, and videos. On days when it was particularly hard to bear their dilapidated boathouses, she would hide in the storage closet and play videos using Olive as a heating blanket as she snored next to her. Seeing Green Eyes smirking annoyed her. That smug face seemingly laughing at her failed attempt in trying to get in and not having a single clue on how to do it right. She hated that look. “I’m Nick” Nick offered Meave her switchblade back and she quickly snatched it back, silently averting her gaze away, and tucking the blade in her thigh-high strap. She pushed past him marching her way back to her boat weaving through the roots. “Wait, hold on. You're not going to say thank you at least?” Maeve looked back at him once. “I think it’s best we don’t talk at all and forget this ever happened. It’s dangerous and I don’t know who you are.” “But you do, I introduced myself, my name is Nick." “Thank you Nick. But it's best we never see each other again. And I really don't thi-” “I know you were looking for the seeds. I saw your pouch” Maeve looked down at her side pouch that hung like a fanny pack. “I can help” Maeve jerked her head up in surprise, “You can.” “I have…connections.” Nick shrugged, tapping his fingers against his chin that was obscured by his mask. Meave squinted at him suspiciously, “And why would you help? What’s in it for you? Money? Revenge?” Nick’s eyes became more serious as they locked onto Maeve’s, he took a moment before he responded. She could almost see his green eyes intensify, sharpening as he began to speak again. “Both.” Maeve could sense he really meant that but she also needed assurance that he wouldn't turn around and call that orb over to kill her. “How can I trust you?” Nick looked down at first, then raised his head to meet her gaze, wordlessly zipping open his, flashing tanned skin to which Maeve averted her gaze. Nick clocked her bashful reaction and gave a slight smile as he pulled out a small newspaper clipping which turned into a bitter chuckle as he unfolded it and handing it to Maeve. Maeve took it locking eyes with Nick again, looking down she read the headline, “Maid Arrested For Attack Against Charles Grandeville” Nick smiled bitterly, “He covered it up well in the press news stories but that “Maid” was my mother and the “attack” was self-defense when he threw a tray at her when she asked for him to help pay child support. We lived in a shack at the time, but she made it work, I was 10. Anyways, after she got arrested she lost custody and I was forced to live with him, locked away in his estate, and had no contact with my mom whatsoever. But she didn’t stop going to court, fighting the case, and finally, my dad bribed a judge to declare her “legally unfit” as a member of society and had her sent to a psych ward.” “Oh my god,” Meave was horrified, “Is she still there?” Nick looked out toward the water solemnly, he opened his mouth, pausing a second before he spoke again. “She killed herself five years later, I had just turned 15.” “I am so-” “Sorry? Don’t worry, you didn’t kill her, but I am telling you because I need you to trust me. I’m serious about this, I want to take him down. I want to kill my dad.” Maeve took in his words watching him as she slowly nodded. Finally, she extended her hand to Nick. “I’m Maeve.” They spent the next few weeks coming up with plans to infiltrate the underground lab, only meeting in the dark for one hour as to not be seen by other security, perched on the large winding Mangrove roots, they hatched their plan. Nick secretly became accustomed to his father’s security personnel and went as far as making copies of the house plan. They decided they only needed one seed pod. One would be enough, it was to much of a risk to get more as his father took extreme care and would notice. The key would be timing and distraction. Since Nick was more familiar with the security system he was the one tasked with the distraction and triggering the alarms to not go off. It was Maeve’s duty to go in the lab and swipe a seed pod in the cryogenic cabinets so she had to become familiar with the floor plan fast. During their last meeting, just as both were getting ready to go, Nick stopped her before she left, lightly holding her wrist back as she turned to go. She looked back at him expectantly, tilting her head in confusion. “I just wanted to say…thank you for agreeing to do this. It’s a huge risk and I just wanted to say that if in any way you want to back out you can because tomorrow there’s no going back.” Maeve took in his words solemnly but gave a small reassuring smile back. “I knew what I was getting into in the beginning Nick, it’s okay. This is something that’s bigger than me and my interests.” Nick studied her for a moment. “You know you never told me why you wanted to do this.” There was a long pause before she spoke again jerking her chin up to meet his gaze. “I’m so angry Nick. My whole life I’ve been angry. And it all started with this man and I’m tired of him taking advantage of people. People like my parents who have no means or resources to fight back, people who are just tired. I’m going to be the one to take that power from him.” Nick’s face was unreadable but Maeve was surprised to see Nick lean his face close to hers as if he aiming to kiss her feeling surprised, or rather scared, she swerved her head at the last second with his head landing on her shoulder. Maeve grimaced, looking up to avoid seeing his reaction, she spoke first hoping to ease the awkwardness. “I-I’m sorry, I just got scared. I uh wasn’t really expecting you to…do that.” Nick’s head remained on her shoulder as he spoke up. “No, no it’s fine. I probably shouldn’t have done that in the moment, probably wasn’t the greatest timing either…” He gingerly picked his head up, moving back a few steps to give her space. Both now not knowing what to say. Maeve felt herself blushing and she was grateful for the dark. This is getting too personal now, because as much as I want to we can't, it’s not the right time. It’s too risky. Plus the son of the man you hate?! Yeah but Nick hates him too, he literally killed his mom! “You um should probably go, the sun’s almost up.” Maeve snapped out of her racing thoughts. “Yeah, yeah I should…I’ll see uh see you tomorrow for the plan,” Maeve waved giving a small smile. Nick gave her his own half-hearted smile raising his hand in a goodbye, turning away she saw his figure retreat to a small dark shadow among the roots. She sighed, this would be a problem for another day, right now she needed to get home and prepare what she needed to do. Going back to her usual spot she found that her boat was no longer there all there was the rope that was tied to the boat. Someone had cut it off. Maeve froze looking at the scene, she felt goosebumps running up her arm, everything in her telling her to run, something was not right here. Someone was here watching her waiting. She drew her knife and her flashlight. She called out. “Whose there? Come out. Now.” The voice that spoke out was older, male, and more refined, but had that distinct Southern twang she’s grown to absolutely despise. “You have quite the command, Ms. Maeve. Honestly, I’m impressed, in other circumstances I would’ve hired you, you got grit.” Maeve whirled around aiming her blade at none other than Charles Grandeville. He stood a few feet away. Dressed in slacks and a white lab coat he stood casually with his hands in his pockets as if being threatened was normal but in his case, it might have been. “What do you want?” Maeve spat out. “I want you to stop conspiring with my son, I know what he thinks of me but thats between him and I, not you. This farfetched scheme you planned will never work you know? It’ll only result in your arrest and with my connections darling I could have you in for a lifetime. I have eyes and ears everywhere you were never going to fool me.” He smiled when he said this continuing on. “Is this really how you want your life to turn out dear? And I’ve done my research on you and, you are a tough one. One of the few families who lasted along Old Cutler. I wonder what would happen if another one of those support beams fell, might capsize, and drown anyone stuck in there. It’d be a damn shame.” “Don’t you dare. If you even try it I will kill you.” “And your little mission to save the planet? That goes up into smoke too Bill Nye. I always win, remember that Maeve, you seem like a nice girl and I don’t want to hurt you but if I have the means, I will not hesitate.” Maeve’s nose flared as she breathed deep furious breaths her switchblade still aimed at him. “So what’s it going to be Maeve darling?” Maeve opened her mouth to answer but before she could she noticed a dark shadow pass behind him. Then she saw it again, quicker, but this time it was around Charles' neck, a knife in one hand, then one quick slash, and choked scream. Maeve gasped taking a step back she watched blood drip from Charles's neck as he slumped to his feet grasping his neck trying to speak. Above him stood Nick, bloody knife in hand panting as he looked down at his father writhing in pain till he slumped down motionless. He looked up finally and their eyes met but before any of them could speak the alarms in the distance blared. Nick looked back, quickly tucking the knife back in his pants he pulled Maeve up towards the roots in the corner of roots. “Come on you have to go, we 5 minutes before they get here!” “Nick what about you?! What’s going to happen to you?!” “I’ll be fine, I’ll manage. But you really need to get out of here before they find you.” He brought her to a clearing in the roots and she saw a sleek black jet ski tied in the water below. “Take this and go as fast as you can. Don’t look back just go.” Maeve was getting panicked now, “No, Nick I can’t leave you, we don’t know what they’re going to do to you. And you killed him because of me, I can’t let you -” Nick smiled gently grabbing her shoulders to stop her, calming her down. “Thank you for trying Maeve. I know it didn't work out how we imagined but listen to me when I say it’s not over. But I need you to be safe first. So go now.” Meave steadied her breathing again and nodded, “Okay.” “Here you’ll need this.” Handing her a pouch she found herself looking a small mangrove seed. She looked back at him in shock. “You-you got it how?” Nick chuckled, “I went back to talk to you again but I saw my fatherin the distance and I knew I it was my only chance to get it. Killing him came after seeing how he spoke to you.” “Nick…I cant believe it. I-” Maeve looked up at him in amazement and it was at this moment that Maeve really looked at Nick. She noticed his brown curls that occasionally hide his eyes and his striking kelly green eyes that seemed to somehow glow in the moonlight. She kissed him then, with full force. She held his face in one and the seed in the other and she felt his own warm hand hold hers. After a few moments, she pulled away first, both panting and their eyes locked in. “I should…” Maeve made her way down to the sleek jet ski. “Yeah,” Nick’s face broke out into a wide grin as he watched her get on and attach the pouch to her strapped bag. Maeve looked back at him one last time. “Till next time?” Nick chuckled, “Till next time.” Turning it on, Maeve shifted toward the open waters feeling splashes of saltwater hit her cheek. Looking back she saw that Nick disappeared from his spot and only the roots remained. Maeve smiled to herself and revved the jet ski, swiftly making her way back home and newfound hope for the future. Now looking out, she watched as the sun was just breaking over the water, a new dawn Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource The Seed Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Cing Huai Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 04/17/2023