The Bunker — Episode 9 - by Scarletpaine

I followed Mai while keeping a small distance between us. She kept talking to me and looking back as if to be sure I was listening. She seems to be naturally nice.We got to the general room and she stopped in front of the door before turning to me.“I’m sorry Breanna, but you can’t go in. It’s restricted to—”“I get it,” I said and nod before she could finish. She set her lips into a thin line and then said, “I’m going to call him for you.”“Thank you, Mai.”She brought out her ID and pressed it to the scan machine. It granted her access and the door opened. She walked in and I caught a glimpse of the inside before the door would close. Just like I had imagined, there were screens and computers and several personnel inside. All busy.Mai came out a few seconds later and told me, “He’ll be out shortly.” She glanced at her watch again and said, “I’m sorry Breanna, but I have to get to my office right now.”I think I felt grateful at that moment. “You can just call me Bree. Thank you Mai.”I offered a little smile and she returned it with a wide one. “I guess I’ll be seeing you again next time,” she said and started to hurry back.I let out a sigh once she’s gone and I hear the door open at the same time. I turn my eyes to it and saw the one I believe must be Alec, stepping out. He looked at me with a blank expression and I felt he must not have any regard for me. I’m a prisoner anyway.But he can’t be older than I am. In my eyes, we are both equal.“Breanna Adams?” he called.“Alec Brighton?” I returned likewise.He breathed out a short air through his lips and turned his feet to start walking. I followed him.Neither of us said anything until halfway where he turned his neck a little and said, “So, you were looking for me. Why?”I went straight to the point. “You reported about a leak yesterday.”“Yes. And?”I scoffed. “Why would someone from internal affairs report a leak? You don’t even have any business with the gates. So what were you doing there to have noticed that there was a leak?”He kept walking as we talked.“Is that what you came to ask me?”“Yes.”He took a few seconds before speaking again. “It was quality control.”I blinked fast. “Qual—what do you mean?”“It means I wasn’t there to have noticed if there was a leak or not. I just reported it based on my theory.”“Hold on—” I walked very fast and blocked his path, making him stop. I pull my brows into a frown and asked, “You made engineering work overtime merely based on your assumption?”“Yes,” he said in an honest way that felt brutal. I turn my head to the side and looked at the wall as I blew air from my mouth. This must be a personal vendetta against the people from Sector Three. I thought we were done with the hate six months ago.I look back at him and said, “Is everything smooth for you just because you are from internal affairs? You think you can just order us around based on your ‘theory’? If you have something against me, then just take it out on me alone and leave the others out of it. You have no idea how painfully exhausting it was just to fix those gates up.”“You think my theory is groundless?” he asked and pulled his brows, slightly annoyed. “Everyone who has ever gone near the gates in hope of escaping end up dead in a few days and the bunker has to be contained because of fear of an infection spreading. No one ever thought that the reason could be that there is a leak somewhere which is being ignored. No one else has to die before we find a solution to this repeating cycle. The cause of death has always been the same reason.”That made me pause and think. Alec could be right. But whenever I think about my last conversation with Ellis, something always convinces me that something is not right somewhere.“I have to say Bree, that I am somewhat disappointed in you.”I pulled myself back and was a little confused as to why he would say that to me. He continued, “What happened to the girl that stood up against Mr. Miller and made that bold statement?” He went ahead to quote it: “‘It’s you and the authorities killing us because we die even before getting to the gates.’”I stared back at him with slightly parted lips. How can he still remember some words I said out of anger?“It was my favorite,” he said. “You’ve really changed a lot, Bree.”And then he went ahead to say the words that would hurt me even further.“You pulled apart Sector Three.”

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