The Bunker — Episode 3 - by Scarletpaine

The classroom door opened and Mr. Miller walked in. He stood by the desk and looked at all of us. Most times when he walks in, he talks about the world before, how toxic it has become, and then the present— things we need to do to be safe, and the possibility of our future. It always ends in the bunker and not the surface.Today was different.His expression hardened as he looked around the room like a predator."A student violated one of the most important laws protecting this bunker. I've taught you about these things and showed you what happens when you decide to open those gates. The surface is contaminated. The air could be toxic. And once you open those gates, you kill all of us."For the first time, I noticed a flaw in his speech.I raise a hand immediately."Yes?" His tone was sharp."You said the air 'could' be toxic. It means you're not even sure."He paused and looked around before returning his eyes to me."It is toxic." His words were firm now. "There are organisms that survived The Doom and adapted to conditions that would be dangerous to any ordinary human."I shake my head, not accepting his words."Until now, you were not even sure. Do we just believe it's dangerous because you told us and showed it to us?"A few students whispered and Mr. Miller's face hardened."Okay listen, Miss Adams. You weren't even born yet when The Doom happened, same as all of you. I know what it is and I've told you so many times. Why will you even doubt me? We have historical records —""Records before The Doom, you mean?" Said Murphy, one of us."Mr. Miller, how can you even be sure that things are still the same?" Asked Nora.Mr. Miller stared hard at me like I had started the mess, and I felt something snap inside of me."People have died trying to find out because you won't let them see it. You tell us so many scary things about the surface but none of us have actually seen it. We can't even imagine our future outside the bunker. Is the bunker our only option for surviving?"He went silent and that surprised me. I've never seen him have no words to say. I continued anyway. "Opening the exterior gates won't kill us. It's you and the authorities killing us because we die even before getting to the gates."The bell rang at the same time and I left the class without looking back.Maya caught up with me halfway down the corridor and scolded me."You've completely lost your mind, Bree. You challenged Mr. Miller and now he's going to report you.""I don't care," I tell her.She stopped walking and I turn to her."What?" I ask."You need to stop."Something about the way she said it irritated me. The others from Sector Three soon caught up with us."They've been lying to us, Maya. Didn't you see Mr. Miller earlier? He knew I was right and had no words.""You are the one becoming obsessed, Bree!" She raised her voice and I stare at her. "You are doing this because it's Ellis who got taken. It's because you like him. You wouldn't care if it was someone else. Even me."Maya looked hurt saying that, but I can tell she doesn't really know me. I would never do nothing if she were the one in Ellis' place. I'll do anything for them— for us."I can't stop," I tell her and walked away.

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