The Bunker — Episode 8 - by Scarletpaine

The rest of the day felt shitty. Slowly, I came to realize I have long since been abandoned. The others carried on without me, had the emotional support I needed the most—that too, without me. I think I trusted my friends too much—especially Maya. And I blamed myself too much for what happened during those six months. But what was I expecting in return anyway?A few of us had to work overtime due to an emergency. Someone reported there was a leak at the gates, said it must have caused the infection that killed the ones who got closer to it. It all started to make sense to me by then. I had always wondered why the guards would always mask up whenever they went to retrieve someone at the gates.Engineering was put to work and I was among. It was the first I’ve ever come so close to the gates. I couldn’t help but stare and wonder why people are so keen to see what’s on the other side. I was once curious too—not keen.Isn’t it ironic how I had totally given up on the outside and now, Maya is the one pushing for it?Why does she blame me now? The mask makes me uncomfortable, but the moment I decide to take it off, I’ll be a living dead.We put thin plate layers around the edges and put in more screws to seal off any external air. With each screw, it felt like I was being sealed in—forever. It’s a little strange how none of my colleagues seem to care about what this means for us. All they just wanted to do was to finish the work in time and get back to their rooms.“Good work everyone,” Malcolm praised the group as we started to head back.I pulled off the mask and inhaled the bunker air. My hair was damp already and sticking to my face. I pushed them back and hurried to catch up with my boss.“Malcolm, can you spare me a second?”“Just make it fast,” he said without slowing down.“Has something like this ever happened? I mean, where you have to seal off the gates to prevent air seeping through from the outside?” I ask, now walking side-by-side with him.“No, nothing like that. We’ve always been very careful not to be near it, except of course, in situations where someone tries to meet the death waiting for them at the other side.”“Right,” I said. “Do you know who reported it?”“Someone from the upper level.”The ones referred to as upper level are those that have access to internal affairs like the data and personal information about every citizen in the bunker.“Do you have a name?” I asked just as he was about to take the corner to his dorm section.Malcolm stopped and turned to look at me. “Bree,” he called. “If you are about to kick someone’s ass for making you work overtime, then I’ll suggest you just suck it up and go to bed.”“I’m not kicking anyone’s ass,” I tell him. “I just…have something to ask. It’s personal and important to me.”I can tell that Malcolm thinks I’m only going to seek trouble, so I had to convince him I had other intentions.“I lost someone dear to me, you know, and I haven’t had peace in a long time. I just need to know what really happened that day. Maybe I can finally find the peace I know I deserve. It’s been haunting and really exhausting. So if you can just help me out here.”I know I sounded solemn and too convincing, and it must have worked because the next second, Malcolm started comforting me with words.“It’s hard to deal with the loss of a dear one. I understand you, Bree,” he gave me a light pat on the shoulder and nodded gently. I released a sigh, as if letting out some of the heavy load that has been weighing inside of me.“I think they said his name is Alec or something.”I look up at him with those emotional eyes. “Thank you Malcolm. I really appreciate,” I thanked him as if I had staked everything on the line for that answer.“Sure. Now go back and rest. We have to check the air conditionings first thing in the morning. Don’t be late,” he said as he now turned the corridor.I watched him leave and the façade I had put on slowly disappeared. Who knew that was all it would take to get a name from him?I left my room very early the next morning. I had informed one of the guards beforehand that I needed to leave early. I just had to do a thumbprint and fill in some information stating my reasons. It was protocol.I walked by the internal affairs corridor and watched as the early risers greeted each other with a cup of coffee in one hand. They hardly spared me a glance. They all appeared busy, as if they are the one shouldering all the responsibilities of the bunker.I liked it that way. To be invincible and not have anyone—“Breanna?”I almost froze. I looked up and saw a lady standing a few feet away from me. She must have been on her way and stopped when she saw me.“It’s really you,” she said and started walking back to stand in front of me. She has all that smile on and looked at me as though she were familiar with me. I barely even recognize her.“Hi…” I was trying so hard to remember who she is and where I had seen her before when she suddenly bailed me out.“Mai,” she said, still smiling. “I guess you don’t remember me anymore. It’s been six months now. We met at the interrogation room once, remember? I came to collect your prints to update your new status.”“Oh, as fresh prisoner 219?” I said humorlessly. “I remember now.” I remember I never really paid any close attention to any of it back then.She didn’t look offended by my words. She said instead, “I have heard a lot about you.”“I guess I really am popular now.”She smiled. “Anyway, it’s good to see you are doing well.” She moved her eyes down the corridor and then back at me. “Do you have some kind of work here?”I suddenly remembered the reason I came here in the first place.“Uhm…” I blinked and tried to sound polite and not someone who is easily irritated, “…I am looking for Alec, but I got lost and can’t find my way to him.”“Oh, Alec Brighton.” she said. “He should be in the general room. It must be urgent if you came all the way here.”“Yes,” I told her.She glanced at her watch and looked back at me. “Lucky for you, I have some few minutes to spare. Follow me.”

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