https://everythingspeakstome.com/files/original/42fb008c80cb3b7c4e7df659188506d8.JPEG d47e39b33d2178f9bd04c04b3f5896e7 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. Just under the coast of Georgia, U.S.A, lies the small islands of New Miami. It’s rich but upsetting history shares an important story of how Earth is slowly geologically changing. It is 2123, and Skylar is attending her first day of senior year at New Miami Academy, a school that houses roughly 250 students who live on the islands and teaches grades K-12. She walks into her first class which is history and out of the corner of the room, her best friend since childhood throws her hands up with excitement and content and says “Skylar! Over here!” She quickly scurries to the open seat her friend had saved for her and says, “Willow, how the hell did you manage to be this early to class? That nearly never even happens… like ever.” Willow laughs and tells her that since it is their last year, she wants to get the most she can from it since getting accepted into Yale for law on a full ride scholarship and wants to start a new routine to be on time. As the two talk about the new school year and what to expect, their teacher arrives and organizes himself on his desk. “Good morning seniors! My name is Mr. Everest and I’ll be your history teacher for the year.” Everyone in the class seems to be content and laid back with their new teacher and they all start to take out their journals to write down what to expect in the upcoming lessons. Mr. Everest continues with his introduction, “This year, I have decided to add a bit more to the curriculum, BUT it’s not going to be too much to stress your little brains.” The class lets out a faint chuckle. Mr. Everest starts his first lecture by starting off with the history of New Miami and how it became the islands they are today. “So, about 100 years ago, New Miami was just called Miami. A sprawling city with its eccentric night life, unique homes of the rich and famous, lavish architecture and such, but most importantly the ultimate power the wealthy side had, which wasn’t as good as it sounds.” He goes on to discuss the many inequalities the city had for example the extreme housing issues, things catered to higher income families, and other environmental issues such as the constant floodings that happened almost every time there was rain or storm. “The reason why we are islands today is because back then, our scientist and other environmental leaders warned us about the effects of climate change and how the hotter the Earth had gotten, the more damage it creates, and as humans are, we didn’t listen, thus our oceans rose and slowly but surely started to flood Miami as a whole, including other coastal cities.” The whole class seemed to shift into an almost upsetting state. A student belts out, “If we would have listened, we could have had our home in tact fully!” Another says “Of course the rich were able to get up and go somewhere else while us locals have to stay and deal with the issues they caused; they are so lucky they’re able to afford a life somewhere else.” It’s true that almost the entire population of New Miami strain from families who have stayed over the 100 consecutive years but were unable to afford to move out due to the high cost of things then and even currently. Mr. Everest tracks the class back onto the lecture and continues. “Yes, even though it is unfair for us, this doesn’t take away the amazing history this once city used to have! It’s very interesting and eye opening and I think you guys would like to hear this next piece of forgotten South Floridian history”. He continues, “There is this guy, his name is James Deering, now I don’t know if you have heard of him before but he did play a big role back then and even a while before that too.” He briefly summarizes that during the construction of his last home, he had suddenly passed away, leaving all of his riches to his family. Mr. Everest then explains that since Deering was a very wealthy man, his family had decided to put most of his earnings into pure gold plates and had stored them in a secret room in one of his homes called Vizcaya. The only people that were able to access this room was strictly family members such as his wife and kids and no one else, and ever since, nobody knows if the gold was ever removed or not. Willow and Skylar look at each other and laugh. “Now if we find that, you think I can go to Yale with you?” Skylar says in a sarcastic but excited tone. “Yeah, I wish,” said Willow. As Mr. Everest wraps up his lecture, he tells the students to look more into the history of James Deering and if interested, to read more about the fascinating lost treasure him and his family seem to dismiss. The bell had rung and lunch time had just begun. While Skylar and Willow go to their spot where they eat lunch, facing the left side of the outdoor cafeteria tables, under a big Banyan tree, with its long leg like branches that hang every so graciously down to the grass, they see Jade and Korey, the two girls’ friends since Freshman year. They all greet and finally get to catch up with each other and talk about the long Summer, they had then organized themselves on the grass. “Yeah, my uncle actually came down from Virginia and just stayed with us over the break, mostly just sat along the shore bank the entire day, talked and drank ice lemonade,” said Jade. “That’s honestly so cute” Skylar replied. “And what about you, Korey?” Asked Willow. “I mean, nothing really just another average summer, spent most of the time bargaining with my parents on what school they want me to go to.” They all groan and say, “They’re still on your case about what school they want you in? What about Georgia State?” Jade exclaimed in an almost irritated tone. Korey then tells them that since that’s the most prestigious school they can somewhat afford, they already have scholarships lined up for him as well that he needs to complete before the end of the school year. “It’s like they always want this family to be just… above everyone else, like a one up to anything, and they’re so locked in on the idea of it. They almost flipped when I told them about Willow getting into Yale” “Ohhh so I’m the hot topic in the Walker family household huh!” Skylar nudges Willow and tells her to cut it out with a little giggle. Jade interrupts the conversation and breaks out with a concerned tone, “Guys, look at the TV behind you” They turn and see the weather reporter showing a graph of an incoming hurricane that is just 3 days away and is expected to be a direct hit to the islands, standing strong on a CAT 5. A couple of minutes past and almost everyone in and around the cafeteria are staring at one of the few TV’s in the campus and amongst the chatter, they start to slowly panic due to the last hurricane that nearly wiped the islands clean off the map. “Wish we still had phones that actually worked so I can tell my dad ASAP.” Said Skylar. “Literally, it sucks this crappy place can’t even have one cell phone tower because no other company wants to have assets here since were so “inhabitable”, like be so for real right now...” Korey exclaimed. “Thank god for good old satellite tv I guess…” He added “Yeah which is two wind gusts away from turning into a kite.” Said Jade. They all laughed. The principal of the school had then announced on a megaphone speaking out, “All students and faculty to the front of the west entrance please!” The four, including the rest of the school had gotten up, taking their lunches with them and started walking towards the west entrance. “Ok everyone, so due to the upcoming storm that looks not too happy, I will be dismissing you guys to go home and start preparing yourselves and your family. Remember to stay safe and vigilant, the school will become a shelter if needed.” The students all look at each other in concern for their well-being. An uneasy energy is surrounding every one, and as they all gather up their belongings, some hug their friends or teachers, others just get on their little boats to get home or walk to their homes nearby on the island. Willow, Jade, and Korey all get on Skylar’s boat since she always picks them up and drops them off to and from school. “I swear, as soon as this storm finishes, first thing I’m doing is going to each of your houses to check up on all of you, and if you guys need any help, I’m there.” They all hug each other and affirm that if any help is needed among the four, that will be their priority. As Skylar is dropping off Willow, the last passenger on her boat, she tells her that it’s all going to be ok and if they rode out one storm similar to this, they’ll be able to do it again. Skylar then arrives home and parks her boat next to her fathers. “I guess he’s home early” she thought to herself. One step into the door and Kenneth, her father, peeks around the kitchen wall and asks, “I’m guessing you know about that gnarly hurricane coming our way” she nods her head yes then ask him how he was let go early, and especially since he is head repair man for the boats in New Miami. “We did have to close shop early because of safety concerns, we heard it on our radio and instantly started planning on what to do. Me and the others have agreed to help anyone else that needed help since the main shop will be closed, all they simple had to do was show up to our island dock and we would get to work as quickly as possible” he spoke in a soft but exhausted tone. “Really gotta do what you gotta do huh dad?” He chuckles and hugs his daughter tight. “You’re spot on Sky” They then get to work to prep the house for the storm. It’s the day of impact and the sky is a dark heavy grey, almost like tar was spilled in the clouds. Thunder and strong winds started echoing past the walls and while the sky lit up with bolts of lightning, rain was hitting the roof like small pellets and everything was getting stronger by the minute. Fortunate for Skylar and Kenneth, they are some of the few in the islands to have reenforced, double layered concrete walls and base with an intact roof rather than singular layered concrete, so they knew they were going to be somewhat ok. “Kinda lucky I built this little rock box while I had the chance,” said Kenneth. “I mean yeah, don’t know how the shop managed to get spared concrete mix, but I’m not gonna question your ways” she responded. “All that it really is are pieces of decommissioned boats and cement mix, and boom, a stable home” he replied back in a smart but sarcastic tone. “I know my ways Sky” She shrugs and flings her arm like she’s swatting away a bug. Winds had started to pick up speed, Skylar could hear the rain becoming more aggressive, and the strong current/ starting to flood the islands. Only thing that was crossing Skylars mind was how her friends were doing, especially Willow. BOOM! One of their boats comes flying against their house. Skylar shrieks. “Now what was that…” “Dad, I think that was your boat that just busted through the wall” Kenneth goes running towards the side of the house, and to his amaze, his boat was in fact sitting inside is living room. “There goes miss faithful” he says under his breath. Skylar looks out at her boat through the opening in her house. She sees it flipped up on the dock. “I swear it better stay put.” A couple of hours past and everything seems a bit simmered down. What thought to be a never ending, constant storm with strong levels of wind and nonstop rain, small bits of sunlight seeped through the rough patches in the sky. Kenneth wakes up from his nap to find Skylar huddled up in the corner of the living room watching the outside through the hole in the wall. He asks her if she is all good and she nods. “I know how much you love your chocolate milk, so I decided to store some in the cooler if you want.” Her eyes lit up. Skylar looks back at her dad, “You know, that would sound so good right now!” Kenneth goes to the cooler that is nestled next to the wall by his bedroom door. He grabs two cartons of chocolate milk and brings it to Skylar for the both to drink. “What’s on your mind Sky, you’re constantly staring outside like someone’s going to walk though that hole at any second.” Skylar starts to tell him about how anxious she is for her friends and hopes that they’re all right. Kenneth comforts her, hugging her tight and soothing her by affirmation. He also mentions that the storm had most definitely changed course last second because it didn’t leave as much damage as the other hurricane had done. Skylar had dropped all the tense in her body. “Yeah, your kind of right about that if you really think.” She looks at him and smiles. “I know a thing or two don’t I.” She leans on his shoulder and starts to shut her eyes, slowly drifting into her tranquil sleep. It was the day after. The sun was bright in the sky, blue all around her. Kenneth and Skylar are both moving the wrecked boat out of their house by small pieces. As they’re removing the last piece, the bits of propeller, Skylar realizes that she hasn’t yet checked up on her friends, she asks her dad if she can take a quick trip to their homes just to check if they’re alright and her father allows her. She gets up on her boat that took a painful 30 minutes to flip back over and touch up a bit, and took off to Willows place first. The waters are calm, as if nothing had torn through it. Clear as glass, she starts to approach a sand bank with what looks to be a beached object nearby. Curious, she directs her boat to that unknown object and brings it near her boat. While inspecting, she notices a shimmer that reflects right out the box and into her eye. She wipes the surface of the box with her hand and reveals lettering. “Victor Safe and Lock Company… what is a safe even doing here?” She peeks more into the little hole where the shimmer had caught her attention. A gold like object swayed inside as it was tilted and Skylar struck her head up in the air from pure shock. Grabbing the crowbar she keeps in the side of the boat; she places it between two wedges and yanks open the safe. There was pure silence. As if everything around her was stunned too. Piles of gold plates just sitting inside the safe with a soggy envelope pushed in the back corner. Skylar grabs the envelope with shaky hands and tries to encrypt the words. “Property of J. Deering” she is starstruck. Holding the envelope while staring at the gold, she releases her excitement and starts to celebrate. Throwing her hands up and screaming with the most joyful expressions. She tries to pick up the safe but the weight is so extreme, she couldn’t even lift it out the sandbank. A quick thought goes through her brain to get Willow to see for herself and to help get some of the gold. Closing the safe and putting the envelope by her side, she whips her boat around and rides straight to Willows place. “Willow! Wwwwillow!!!” Out of breath on her door step, she opens her door. “Skylar what the hell are you doing?” Skylar replies, “I am so glad you’re ok, your house looks like it seen better days but I NEED you to come with me, you’re not going to believe this.” Willow tells her that she is still helping her mom clean their garden while her father works on the roof to cover it up while he tried to get a hold of a roof repairman. Skylar hands her the soggy envelope. “What is this…?” While she is fixed on what it is said in front of her, her eyes widen and she shoots her head up and locks eyes with Skylar. “I’ll tell my mom I’ll be back” She runs back to her boat and starts it up. Willow runs down the island bank with exhilaration and the two head off back to the sandbank. Zooming past the other islands, breaking the no wake zone rule to their box of fortune, they spot that unique piece of land that holds it all. Getting closer, they spot the land. There it is, the moderately intact safe in its sitting glory with unspeakable riches inside. Skylar gets on the sandbank and starts to take out the gold plates and hands them to Skylar. “There is just no way this is real” Willow says in disbelief. They load up about 30 of the 100 plates on the boat. Since the gold was so heavy itself, the boat was slowly starting to break in the water. Skylar decides to take Willow to her home to drop her portion of the gold off and have her assist with putting Skylar’s portion away as well. “You know, I think it would be fair to give Jade and Korey a bit of the gold don’t you think?” Willow agrees with Skylar since they both feel that it will benefit the two. “Ok yeah then let’s go get them! I’m telling you they’re not gonna expect this at all.” First person the girls pick up is Jade. Her portion of the island seemed to be relatively intact but with a couple damages to her home. “Hey Jade!!!” Skylar and Willow shout while approaching her doorstep. They hug each other and tell Jade to hop on the boat that there is a big surprise for her. Minutes later and they arrive at Korey’s place. Sitting outside in his front yard, he seems rather upset. “Hey Korey, what’s up man, what’s this look for” Shouts out Willow. “My parents are the reason for this look” The three look at each other in an ‘I knew it’ look. “Ok well come on, there’s something I want to show you and Jade, chop chop lets GOOO!” Korey gets up and sloshes his way to the boat. Once he is on, Skylar kicks the boat in gear and then go back to the safe. Skylar taps Jade on the shoulder and tells her to get Koreys attention also. “So, I know you guys see that box thing over there on the sandbank, right? I want y’all to open it.” With a huge grin, Skylar parks her boat near the box and had jade open the little door. Korey and Jade stare at the gold, almost as if they just witnessed a ghost. “Is… is this real?” said Jade. “As real as you’re seeing it” Replied Willow. They all start to get a small portion of the gold and spilt it between the two. “Ok so now since you guys have your good share of the gold, don’t you think this would help the community? Like, this is a really big deal.” Skylar loads in the portion of the gold between Jade and Korey and tell them that they’re heading back to their places to share with their family and indulge in their new riches. One day had gone by and all the 4 are discussing with what they’re going to do with their gold among themselves. Skylar is discussing with her dad that this gold is most definitely the lost fortune of James Deering and are planning to turn that gold into a new home on the island with new boats and such. Willow is planning on moving her family out to a big house by Yale so she wouldn’t feel too far from home. Jade is using her portion to pay off her college and her siblings also, she then plans to use the rest to keep their property in New Miami but get another property somewhere else more livable. Korey however… he wants to use his fortuity for school, but now that his parents know, they just want more. They want more of the gold to make a bigger home in the island, and own more islands to have it to themselves to make assets off of them. His parents demanded him to take them to where they found it. Korey folds under the intense pressure his parents are giving him and eventually ends up taking them to the safe with the gold in the middle of the nigh. The gold that was meant for the community was now taken by the Walker family. That next morning, Skylar, alongside with her father and Willow, are heading to get the rest of the gold, but once they arrive, they see the safe wide open with absolutely nothing. “WHAT?? HOW??” shrieks Skylar. She starts to fume and is livid to find out who took the remaining gold. While Kenneth and Willow sit in silence from disbelief, Skylar tells them that they’re heading to Jade then Korey’s place because she feels like they may know something. First, they arrive at Jades house. She breaks the news to her and she is stunned with disbelief. “That wasn’t even me, I thought you guys had it under control?” Jade said in an uneasy tone. They two start to talk on who possibly would’ve taken it. Willow jolts her head up, “Korey.” Skylar turns around, “That slick little boy.” She tells Jade to hop on the boat and they shoot straight towards Korey’s house. As they arrive, they notice about 5 boats parked on the dock of their island. They gear up and anchor the boat down and head onto the Walker’s property. A couple of steps in and they have a group of men who were at most 6 foot 9, body builder physique, with rifles holstered approach them and question on what they’re doing here. “We’re here to talk to… our friend… Korey?” said Skylar. One of the men speaks out and tells them that the family does not want any business since there is a “deal” going on inside. They all look at each other realizing that their gold was being used to make cash for that family. They all had decided to leave and form a plan to rightfully get the rest of their treasure back to give it to the community. Sitting by the docks of Skylar’s home, they 4 try to form a plan on how to get in and take back what they had stolen. Willow brings up to tell the whole community to band together and come in peacefully at first, but then charge in if denied. “Think about it Skylar. Almost 300 plus of us, and maybe 8 of them, we have the upper hand here.” She agrees with her statement. They all decide that in the next day, they would all disband and go out to the people they know to spread the word about the gold and how the Walker family has it and wants to keep it for themselves rather than helping the islands. The night after, Skylar and her father are waiting outside. It’s the night where everything is about to go down. Stashed in Kenneth’s bag is his gun and other tactical gear. He mentions to her that the only time he is ever going to use that gun is if Skylar is every in danger. While they conversed, they hear boat engines coming from the horizon. The two stand up and see a giant group of people heading to their island with what looks to be Jade and Willow directing them. They finally approach and the girls hug each other in content and start gathering everyone around to form a plan. Kenneth steps on top of his boat and speaks to the crowd “Hello everyone, me including my daughter and her friends are so grateful that you guys have decided to come join us to change the future of New Miami for now and forever. If any help is needed, remember to count on each other as we are neighbors of the islands.” He starts to then discuss the tactics to arrive at first in peace but if denied, to start using force. They all get geared up and start heading to the Walkers house. Sitting at the dock alone is Korey. Staring at the stars while hearing the water crash in the bank, he hears engine sputters of boats. He stands up and sees the huge group arriving on his island. Scared, he hides behind the bushes nearby the dock and watch the group pull in. He sees Skylar and the girls so he decided to confront them to apologize that he was manipulated into forfeiting the gold. They didn’t want to talk to him at first but when he explained more and more and actually admitted to helping them with this raid, they decided to let him in on it. While half the town is at this one house, the guards come up with guns drawn and demand for them to leave. They all stand their ground and refuse to go, that’s when one of the guards’ fires one round into the crowd striking Jade in the torso. Silence breaks while everyone stares in disbelief. Jade cries out and Willow drops on her knees holding Jade. The people then turn back at the guards, weapons already in hand and they charge in. Gun fire spilled out and it sounded almost like a war zone. The group of about 150 people manage to successfully break through the entrance and take all the guards down and start to find Mr. Walker. While Willow is assisting Jade on her boat, Skylar is inside with Korey finding the room where the gold is placed. Once they find it, there they are, the family all posted up in front of the door. “Korey, I raised you so much better than this, you know how much we need this” Mr. Walker said with eyes so large, staring right at him. “Don’t listen to them,” said Skylar. Later the group manages to find their way where the gold is hidden. Tension is in the air and nobody knows what the next move will be. While everyone starts to inch forward to the cornered family, Korey turns to Skylar and tells her that there is something that he needs to tell her, something very urgent. He then tells her that while everyone was being informed about the ambush, his family caught wind of it and decided to rig up the house with explosives because his father knew that with the amount of people coming, the gold was bound to be taken and he wanted nobody to have it if he couldn’t. Skylar is frozen, standing still staring at Korey, a few people from the back of the crowd starts to charge and push everyone forward to the family. “NO EVERYONE WA-“ Mr. Walker takes out his device and detonates the bomb in the matter of milliseconds. Everything turned into a bright white light. A giant explosive thud rang out from the house, bits of concrete and furniture flying absolutely everywhere becoming projectiles once they crashed down. Looking back up from the boat, Willow looks over and sees smoke and rubble from where once her friend and community stood in. She tears up, with Jade severely wounded but alive by her side. All around of what’s heard is Willows soft cries with the burning of what once was a house now turned into a crater. People who were not a part of the raid had heard the blast from miles away and decided to investigate just to see the total loss of everything around them. Locals with knowledge in aid came also to help out and treat any survivors. The air was filled with dust, smoke, and grim. Laying on the floor by Skylars boat laid the envelope with Deering’s initials on it. Flipped on a certain side were the previous times people tried to get the gold but failed, and on little letters, imprinted in charred gold flakes, was a seal of the families delicacy lost long ago, the Vizcaya’s Delicacy. 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 Vizcaya's Delicacy Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Jason A. Bendana Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 4/19/23