The last couple residing in our hive were my grandparents, Bill and Lorraine Park. They were in their late seventies, but still full of life. My grandfather was an electronics engineer, and could fix anything mechanical or electrical that went wrong in the hive.
My grandmother was an amazing cook and seamstress. My father built a special sewing room for her. He filled it with hundreds of yards of various materials and threads, to make clothes for the members of the hive, especially those of us who were still growing. She also volunteered in the kitchen almost every day, and our meals tasted much better from her efforts.
My other grandparents, on my mom’s side, lived in Texas and were supposed to be safe in another hive. We hoped they made it safely, but there was no way of knowing for sure. My father tried to make contact, but a few of the hives weren’t set up for outside communication.
Each member of our hive had family members they are worried about, wondering if they made it into a hive. We would find out one day…and that day was quickly drawing closer and closer.
Chapter 2
UNDERGROUND HIVE
THIRTEEN YEARS LATER
Our hopes remained high, knowing one day we would be able to return to the topside. And now, in one short week, we would possibly step out and see what remained of our devastated planet. Thirteen years was a very long time to be underground, and as the days grew closer to the end of our captivity, everyone became more and more restless.
The hive was humming with anticipation, and everyone jabbered as they gathered inside the conference room. I made my way to the back and took a seat. Finn, Charlie, and Lily came in and took their seats next to me. We were the youngest members, and the back of the conference room was our domain.
My cousin Lily sat on my right. She was gorgeous for a fourteen year old, but she was also very quiet and shy. Her pale porcelain skin, long dark hair, and dark features made her look almost like a vampire - or how I thought some books perceive them. Her almond-shaped eyes were a deep blue, almost violet, and were framed with the longest lashes.
Charlie, already fifteen, was a total book nerd. He had a baby face, with light-brown wavy hair, and dark-brown Asian eyes, just like his mother, Mei. He didn’t care for any type of physical activity, and wasn’t good at engaging in hand-to-hand or weapons. Books were his weapon; however, Charlie did know all about the mechanics of weaponry. He could fix a jam, or take a gun apart and put it back together faster than any of us. He also knew the name of each intricate piece and how it worked.
Then, there was my best friend, Finn. We’d been inseparable since we entered the hive, but within the last few years, his appearance drastically changed. And that’s all I’m ready to say about that.
***
My father walked into the room, and took the podium at the front.
It had been a long time since I’d seen so many smiles on the faces of the residents. Our hive, even though it was decent and mostly comfortable, felt like a prison, especially over these last few years. Knowing we were so close to leaving the silo, and being free, made me a little more anxious. And it made the hive feel a bit more claustrophobic.
Even my mother had a smile on her face, which made me smile.
“Okay everyone. I’ve received some very critical and important information about our release from my contact, so let’s get started,” my father announced.
The room fell silent as everyone took their seats, awaiting the news my father gained from one of the two main government bunkers.
***
My father, Stephen Park, was the leader of our hive. He had firsthand news about the topside, from his weekly communications with his best friend, and scientist, Dr. Peter Harvey. Dr. Harvey’s bunker was hidden within the Black Hills of South Dakota, and was the largest underground facility in the U.S.
He and my father communicated through Morse code which was the best and easiest means of communication, given that the grid had been completely obliterated. The Morse code machines ran on low energy which was ideal.
The government bunkers were fully operational, complete with their own power sources and everything they needed to run a small city. They relayed messages to other bunkers across the globe, by also using Morse code. My father would get updates every month or so, and would gather the residents together with the news.
These past months were filled with messages of hope. Hope that we might be able to return to the topside. It had been a little over thirteen years since the solar flare hit, and then the total destruction. Actually, it was thirteen years, four months, and three days to be exact.
I had been counting down the days. We all had.
While my father had been deciphering the newest code received from Dr. Harvey this morning, I noticed a deep furrow in his brow. I knew my father well and could read most of his facial expressions. The expression he wore told me he was deeply concerned about something. When he glanced up and noticed me, he gave me a hollow smile, and asked if I could get him a glass of water. Right then I knew there was something wrong.
My mother tried to comfort me, but she was just as concerned as I was. Our living quarters were filled with anxiousness, watching my father try and decode the messages coming in. Complete silence was needed as they came through.
The only fear I had was wondering if they were going to move our release date. My mom attempted to fill me with hope, but it I knew hope was hanging by a thread. The hope of returning to the topside, and rebuilding our planet was the dream which kept us getting up each morning. We knew they had to run tests to see if the air and soil were safe for us, we just needed the results.
My father’s face was focused at the podium, and I was just as anxious as everyone else to hear what he had to say.
He raised his hand and the room went silent.
Everyone loved and respected my father. He was like Noah, who built the Ark when there were no rain clouds in the sky. The reward for his obedience was his life, and the lives of his family.
“Thanks for coming everyone. Sorry for the alarm. Well, as you already know, we should be able to return to the topside in a few short weeks.”
Cheers erupted all across the room. My father waited until they settled down, and the room quieted again.
“Well, I’ve just received word from my source, Dr. Harvey, that a week ago they sent a team of scientists and soldiers to the topside to collect air and soil samples in specific areas. All the other government bunkers across the globe did the same, testing which areas would be inhabitable.”
“Last night, according to Dr. Harvey, only three men from the ten sent out, returned to their hive. One scientist and two soldiers. They reported they were attacked by some kind of creature, and witnessed seven of their members brutally massacred. The creatures appeared human, but were crazed, rabid, and very aggressive. Apparently there were hundreds of them, and they barely made it back alive.”
The room erupted with questions. My mother sat in the front row and I noticed all the color had washed from her already paled face. She turned back to me, and I noticed a look of horror in her eyes. I shook my head, equally as shocked.
“Hold on! Hold on! Let me take one question at a time,” my father said.
“Tom?” He pointed at Mr. Hatch.
“How could there be any survivors on the topside? There is no way anything could have survived the radiation,” Mr. Hatch asked.
“I don’t know, Tom,” my father answered. “But one of the three survivors came back with bite marks on his arm and back. He was admitted to their infirmary. They said he is showing signs of dementia. He is undergoing a battery of tests as we speak.”
“Bitten?” The word was repeated from everyone around the room.
“Yes. Unfortunately, I don’t have much information to give you. I am just as baffled as they are. Hopefully they can find out what attacked them.”
The room erupted again with more questions.
“Please…one at a time! One at a time!” My father shouted,
barely being heard above the booming voices. The room finally calmed after a few minutes.
“Do you think its aliens?” my grandmother asked.
“I highly doubt its alien’s mom, but right now, anything could be presumable,” my father answered.
Dr. Banks jumped in, “If there is life on the topside…then doesn’t that mean the environment is safe, or do you think those creatures were humans, sent out as guinea pigs? It baffles me because radiation sickness doesn’t make you rabid, mad, or aggressive. It can create confusion, but it mainly causes the body to weaken and degenerate. In most cases, cancer develops, and the victim dies from complications.”
“Well, I’m no expert, and like I said, I’m just going on whatever information Dr. Harvey sent to me. He assured me once they have the test results he will contact me, but that won’t be for a few more days,” my father replied.
“Did the other groups that were sent out get attacked too?” My grandmother questioned.
“That is another question I am unable to answer at the moment. Dr. Harvey hadn’t received any information from the other bunkers at the time he contacted me. I’m sure when I hear from him in a few days we will have more answers. I promise you, as soon as I hear anything, I will let you all know.”
“Mr. Park, do you think it will still be safe for us to return to the topside with those things attacking people out there?” Finn’s mom asked.
“I cannot say right now, Anya, but I will remain hopeful. We don’t know if it’s just an isolated case, or if it is widespread. There is really no way of knowing unless we return to the topside and find out ourselves. Dr. Harvey should have the results of all the samples to everyone within three days. Until then, let’s all stay positive.”
“Well, we’ve waited for thirteen years, I think we can manage waiting three more days,” Uncle Frank said out loud.
The rest of the room agreed.
“Thanks for being so patient. I promise to keep you updated,” my dad concluded, ending meeting.
The room started to clear. Finn turned and glanced at me with a playful grin.
“What?” I asked, narrowing my eyes.
“Just wondering how we can kill time for three more days.”
“Well, do you have any amazing ideas floating around in that head of yours?” I laughed.
“Well, maybe not ‘amazing’, but I know how much you like a good competition,” he said, with a smirk.
Finn was just two years older than me. He was over six-feet tall, muscular, and extremely strong. He must have taken after his father, because his mother was a very short and petite woman. Finn had raven black hair and dark-brown eyes. He was very handsome, but I never let him know that. He was my best friend, and would probably think I was a creeper. There was no way I’d risk the strong friendship we’d built. So I kept my feelings to myself.
Finn and his mother were last minute additions to our hive. The day we began evacuating, he came banging on our door in tears. He and his mother lived two doors down from us, and she was very ill at the time. He was a very scared six-year-old boy who didn’t know how to care for her, especially without any electricity.
My father felt compassion for him, and had thankfully built a few extra rooms in our bunker, just in case we did have any last minute additions. He escorted Finn home, helped him and his mother pack a few of their necessities, and brought them with us.
They were the people my dad hid in the back of the Chevy truck the day we escaped and came to live here. Finn said he watched my dad shoot the man, and he didn’t blame him. That man would have killed us, and my dad shot him to protect us. He saved us.
Finn and I kept each other sane during our thirteen year lockdown. I knew my life wouldn’t have been so...entertaining…without him.
“So what do you think happened?” Finn asked.
I shook my head. “I don’t know. Maybe there were others from different hives that went out early. But what if there were people who did survive the apocalypse?”
“I doubt it,” he whispered, pulling me to the side. “I overheard your father briefly discussing it with the Banks’s before the meeting. Dr. Banks was telling him he knew that a few of his friends, doctors and scientists, who were working to create a serum which would aid the body in repelling radiation. The governments around the world had their own scientists working round-the-clock, creating this magic formula. Some came very close, but when they injected the formula into lab animals, they went mad.”
“Do you think they injected that into humans?” I whispered. The thought made my stomach turn.
“I think the government would try anything to keep their own asses alive. I have a feeling they did test it out on humans, and when they went crazy, they let them out. But, then again…what do I know? I guess we’ll know the truth soon enough,” he exhaled.
“Yeah, I guess.” My mind was now reeling with questions. The results from the topside couldn’t come fast enough. And three days from now seemed like a lifetime away.
My mind was stuck on the threat which killed seven of the ten team members who ventured out to the topside to collect samples. I had to stop myself from making hollow theories, and decided to wait for the facts.
“I’ll race you down to the park,” Finn said, taking my hand and dragging me down the hall. His hand was huge compared to mine, and almost squeezed the life right out of it.
“I don’t think I want to go to the park right now,” I answered, shaking his grip from mine.
“Oh come on. It’ll do us both some good and take our minds off the news.”
“I think I have a better idea. Let’s go shoot some guns,” I said with a gleam in my eye. I was much better at weaponry than Finn. His big hands had a hard time handling a gun, but with his brute strength, he could clobber just about anything with a swing of his arm.
“Fine, have it your way. I’ll just whack the punching bag, but we are going to the park after to do a few laps, so I can show you up,” he smiled, wiggling his eyebrows.
“You may be able to outrun me, Finn Armstrong, but if we ever got into trouble, I could just shoot you in the leg and run right past you,” I taunted.
“Wow, when did you turn so evil?” he chuckled.
“The second I found out there were things on the topside that are killing people. I want to be ready for anything.”
“So you’d seriously shoot me in the leg so you could get away?”
“Maybe not,” I shrugged and laughed. “Oh come on, you know I could never shoot you. Which is exactly why I want to work on targets today. I want to be able to take down whatever tries to attack us, as quickly as possible.”
“You don’t need practice, Abi. You’re one of the best sharpshooters I’ve ever seen.”
I blushed. “Well, I’d like to keep it that way. You know. Stay on top of my game.”
I loved shooting. Holding a gun in my hand felt as natural as holding a cup of water. My uncle would tease me, and say I must have been a sniper in my previous life. Maybe I was. All I knew was I could outshoot anyone in this hive, even Uncle Frank…the Navy Seal.
I was also pretty good with knifes and a bow, but those things took up way too much time and effort. I loved the feeling of holding a loaded gun in my hands. The way it was contoured to fit my grip perfectly. I loved the sound of popping a loaded magazine in, feeding a round into the chamber, lining up the site, and firing. The kickback, the smell of gun smoke, and the thrill of hitting my target was the most exhilarating feeling in the world to me.
We had a large stockpile of factory loaded bullets set aside for when we left the hive, but for all of our practicing, my Uncle Frank had a space of his own to do reloads. We never wasted, and reused the fired bullet casings at least twice, sometimes three times.
He also had cases of empty casings, bullets, primers, gunpowder, reloading dyes, and two presses. Uncle Frank continually made ammunition for us to practice with, which kept us on our toes. I went to the shooting range once every two wee
ks. The others might go once a month, and that was just to keep themselves in check.
Yes, I wasn’t a typical girl. I wasn’t prissy, and I preferred it that way. Growing up in the hive did that to me. Maybe if events on the topside hadn’t occurred, things would be different. I often wondered what it would be like – what I would be like. But this is the card life dealt us, and we had to make the best of it.
Everyone said I looked like my mother, but I didn’t see it. She was very beautiful, and very feminine. The only things we really had in common were our hair and eye color. We had the same light-brown hair, but I preferred wearing mine up in ponytail. Both of our eyes were green, but hers were a lighter jade, while mine were almost emerald.
Living in the hive wasn’t easy. It had taken its toll, and every single one of us had a share of hard work to keep it running. We were survivors. Our whole existence underground was to prepare us for life back on the topside. It was gearing us up to begin our new lives from scratch. We were learning to be resourceful with everything around us, and to be ready for anything the new world would throw at us.
“Race you to ten,” Finn said, gently shoving me back and bolting down the stairwell to level ten: Weapons and Survival Training.
I grinned and followed.
Chapter 3
We were the only two on level ten today. Each member had a locker with a combination containing their weapons of choice. My locker was stocked with a few handguns and a blade. Today I chose my favorites; a Glock 27, nicknamed Hellfire, and a sniper rifle. I loaded the ammo, earplugs, goggles, and targets in my duffle bag and headed over to the shooting area.
Finn started to wrap his knuckles with tape, meaning only one thing - he was going to pulverize the hell out of the punching bag. That poor bag had been repaired at least a dozen times because of him.
“How long?” he shouted.
“One hour,” I replied. “After this we should head over to the ER and put in our hour.”
“Sounds like a plan. Well…happy shooting!” he said.