Second Sight

In a future where humanity has burrowed deep beneath the Appalachians, society survives on cramped levels of commerce, rock‑hunting, and the relentless grind of the underground economy. Duggan, a once‑proud engineer, has spent three years in darkness, confined by his wife's domineering control and mounting medical bills. When a mysterious rock‑hound hands him a chance‑costly ticket to a brief restoration of sight, he sees a way out.

He trades his last savings for a rented super‑mech—a towering, mentrol‑linked exoskeleton that can temporarily restore his vision. As the machine awakens, Duggan experiences the world in vivid color for the first time in years, feeling both exhilaration and a growing urgency to escape his oppressive life. The clock ticks, and each hour of vision brings him closer to a daring choice that could shatter the fragile balance of his existence.