Pink Snailfish City

It has been ten years since we all made the choice to flee the flooded and burned-up world of climate chaos. Those that were lucky enough to survive used their technological know-how to build a floating existence called Phodeales in the Arctic Ocean. Here the energy is renewable and everywhere you look is a marvel of design. Yet everything remains aimless.

Kartah was appointed by the people to run this place. Some view her as a messiah of sorts. And others, well they see her as the destroyer of freedoms and choices. I’m not sure what to think of her just yet…all I know is that I can breathe, and for that I’m thankful.

In the city’s square you will find an underwater dome, our largest underwater habitat—you’ll notice both jellyfish and schools of pink snailfish here. Snailfish are the deepest of dwelling fish. They’re small, pink and completely scaleless. You can even see their livers.

I momentarily lost my mind in nostalgia that day. Earth once had aquariums. Years ago it was a place where brightly colored deep-water rockfish would be hovering near the crevices. But these days no more natural filtered light comes from above. Artificial light is now the only thing left, it’s the only thing to cut through the dark.

A fight broke out. Shortly after, the two teenagers dispersed, quickly leaving behind a trail of scourings.

Kartah suddenly approached me out of thin air. And in a monotone voice she said, “The ‘destroyers’ will be the ruination of this existence.”

Confused, I remained quiet.

She asserted, “Technology can only carry us so far because the people who left the world behind refuse to play well with others. How long do you think we have until Phodeales crumbles too?”

Kartah pointed to the dome. There, several bloated snailfish could be seen floating to the surface. They had been caught in some litter. She was right, the poison was indeed humankind. We’ve destroyed something once more. But what can I do as an individual if the collective cares not?