estimated that if we were not able to get to the surface within a few weeks we would run out of food and water. I was already prepared to die, but I did not want to die like that. Thinking about all the people brought down there just to die of hunger and thirst brought another question to my mind.
“ Why the charade…?” Clara yelled out to Richard. “You called me up and told me a story. Then you picked me up and took me to Naxum. Why? Why didn’t you just tell me the truth?”
“ Because I know what can happen when someone with family attachments find out they are in danger.” Richard said turning toward Clara. “I did not begin my plan with the best intentions. Originally, this bunker was to be only for myself and my wife. When I told her the truth she wanted to try and save her family. I told her she would never make it to them and that we had to go. She cursed me and ran off to them. I knew she would never make it, but I couldn’t go with her.
It was then I decided to save who I could and gather the list of families. As you can see, not everyone listened to me. I had to wait until everyone was deployed or it would never work. I knew I would be separating families, but there was no other way. You were the last one and I went to Naxum hoping to gather more people, but by then the crowd was in a frenzy. We were out of time and now we are what’s left.”
There was much more that I wanted to know but I did not have the heart to continue asking. Over the next few hours I spoke with the families that were there, twenty six people in all. We talked about our spouses and how we hoped they were okay. We tried to comfort each other and when that failed cried in each other’s arms. I prayed that you had someone to support you. I knew about your friend Jonathan at Naxum. Thinking about him, I was jealous, his wife worked at Naxum as well so they were together.
Hours had passed and it was so quiet. Richard and the young soldier took the elevator up to the surface. The families came together hoping that it would be safe to leave. They were gone less than ten minutes. They returned to give us the news. The entrance door would not open and they believed something on the other side had blocked the exit. Everyone started shouting questions, many of them were crying, ready to give up.
In the midst of our panic the entire room began to shake. It felt like a bomb had exploded above us. Everyone was in a panic. Richard and the young solider were trying to calm us down. The shaking continued, we thought it would never stop. Richard had everyone duck behind a group of metal crates near the steel door. The young soldier was walking over to the elevator when there was an explosion. It was only then that I learned the soldier’s name.
Barry, Richard screamed his name out and ran over to him. He was lying underneath one of the elevator doors that had been blasted from the shaft. I could see the elevator shaft had collapsed. There was metal and rock spread out in front the elevator. Some of the families got up to help dig Barry out. He was seriously injured. We knew there was no escape now. That room was to become our grave.
I understood what was happening. We were both sharing our memories of our time after the meteor fell, simultaneously. I could see and feel everything she did and vice versa. Though I did not speak a word she understood everything about what happened to me. As I watched Clara and the others dig Barry out I could not help but think about my own trials in digging our way out of Naxum.
My thoughts about my own past came to an end. Everything around me faded into darkness. For a moment I believed that was it, but I could still feel a pain deep inside and it was not mine. As the darkness began to fade I could see Clara and Richard huddled over Barry. Behind them in a corner were several bodies wrapped in cloth. The intensity of emotions coming from Clara was stronger than ever. I knew we had reached the point she
“ Why the charade…?” Clara yelled out to Richard. “You called me up and told me a story. Then you picked me up and took me to Naxum. Why? Why didn’t you just tell me the truth?”
“ Because I know what can happen when someone with family attachments find out they are in danger.” Richard said turning toward Clara. “I did not begin my plan with the best intentions. Originally, this bunker was to be only for myself and my wife. When I told her the truth she wanted to try and save her family. I told her she would never make it to them and that we had to go. She cursed me and ran off to them. I knew she would never make it, but I couldn’t go with her.
It was then I decided to save who I could and gather the list of families. As you can see, not everyone listened to me. I had to wait until everyone was deployed or it would never work. I knew I would be separating families, but there was no other way. You were the last one and I went to Naxum hoping to gather more people, but by then the crowd was in a frenzy. We were out of time and now we are what’s left.”
There was much more that I wanted to know but I did not have the heart to continue asking. Over the next few hours I spoke with the families that were there, twenty six people in all. We talked about our spouses and how we hoped they were okay. We tried to comfort each other and when that failed cried in each other’s arms. I prayed that you had someone to support you. I knew about your friend Jonathan at Naxum. Thinking about him, I was jealous, his wife worked at Naxum as well so they were together.
Hours had passed and it was so quiet. Richard and the young soldier took the elevator up to the surface. The families came together hoping that it would be safe to leave. They were gone less than ten minutes. They returned to give us the news. The entrance door would not open and they believed something on the other side had blocked the exit. Everyone started shouting questions, many of them were crying, ready to give up.
In the midst of our panic the entire room began to shake. It felt like a bomb had exploded above us. Everyone was in a panic. Richard and the young solider were trying to calm us down. The shaking continued, we thought it would never stop. Richard had everyone duck behind a group of metal crates near the steel door. The young soldier was walking over to the elevator when there was an explosion. It was only then that I learned the soldier’s name.
Barry, Richard screamed his name out and ran over to him. He was lying underneath one of the elevator doors that had been blasted from the shaft. I could see the elevator shaft had collapsed. There was metal and rock spread out in front the elevator. Some of the families got up to help dig Barry out. He was seriously injured. We knew there was no escape now. That room was to become our grave.
I understood what was happening. We were both sharing our memories of our time after the meteor fell, simultaneously. I could see and feel everything she did and vice versa. Though I did not speak a word she understood everything about what happened to me. As I watched Clara and the others dig Barry out I could not help but think about my own trials in digging our way out of Naxum.
My thoughts about my own past came to an end. Everything around me faded into darkness. For a moment I believed that was it, but I could still feel a pain deep inside and it was not mine. As the darkness began to fade I could see Clara and Richard huddled over Barry. Behind them in a corner were several bodies wrapped in cloth. The intensity of emotions coming from Clara was stronger than ever. I knew we had reached the point she
Similar Books
