***
Faith resemble her mother a lot— they are both truly two of the most beautiful women in the bunker, at least in my eyes. Faith inherited her mom ocean-blue eyes, smooth and clear skin, peachy pink lips, and goddess-like blonde hair, she easily captivates everyone around her without even trying. Her dazzling smile, complete with energetic dimples, lights up any room. Her slender yet curvy figure despite her petite height have developed naturally over the years, making any man's heart skip a beat as they lay there eyes on her.
Then there's me. My name is Keinan, and I used to be a normal, happy kid, brimming with joy and a big, brave smile. Now, I'm just your average teen. My best qualities are my passion for old relic and my ability to think outside the box, always being kind and helping those in need—traits my mother always praised in me and my brother since birth.
We were once a close-knit family: me, my brother, Mom, and Dad. But then, something tragic happened, altering everything between us. That fateful day haunts me still, a constant wish to turn back time and undo it all. If only I hadn't been so foolish. It's a mistake I deeply regret, one that cost me my friends, cost me my brother, and fractured our family. If I could reset everything, maybe I could reclaim the warmth and brightness that once filled our lives.
But for some reason, I can't recall much of the accident—just how it began, and then everything becomes a blur. This haunts me constantly. Sometimes, I still have nightmares, trying to piece together the missing fragments, desperate to understand what happened that day. It drives me almost to the brink of insanity. I've tried to reason with myself, wondering if it's because I was so young when it occurred...
***
Some years ago...
On an early morning, I was playing around as usual with my brother Ethan. A few weeks ago, we had stumbled upon an old comic book while exploring a newly cleared digging site. The comic vividly depicted Earth as it once was—lush green landscapes, a vibrant blue sky dotted with towering skyscrapers from ancient times. The concept of planes and cars fascinated me.
"My grandpa used to tell me stories about how people flew in those metal bird machines called planes," I exclaimed, holding the comic up to the dim ceiling light, imagining soaring off to distant lands.
Ethan and I were always the first to explore the newly opened corridor halls. I can still recall the fresh scent of newly unearthed earth and minerals. While others were occupied with their duties, I raced around, playing joyfully and carefree, like any normal kid would be.
A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.
It was shaping up to be another mundane day until I bumped into my older brother Ethan around late morning. We often took leisurely strolls through the sprawling hallway corridors that extended from Sector A to G. As we wandered, my attention was drawn to Mr. Orson, the chief of the miner crew, engaged in what appeared to be a heated and significant conversation. Intrigued, I ducked behind some barrels and construction materials, eager to eavesdrop and uncover the reason behind their intense argument.
After what felt like an eternity, I listened intently to catch snippets of their conversation. I overheard them discussing a significant discovery—an old door barricaded at the very end of the west wing corridor in Sector G. Opinions were divided about whether to send an expedition to explore beyond the door. Some argued for sealing it up and leaving it alone, while others were in favor of investigating further.
My eyes lit up with excitement as a great idea popped into my head. However, I knew my plan was still premature. I needed to carefully plan ahead before convincing my friends and my brother Ethan to join me. I stayed behind the barrel for a couple of minutes, waiting until the coast was clear. When it was safe, I rushed toward the end of the hallway and made my way out of there.
By the time my brother Ethan and I arrived back home, it was past noon. We were both so hungry we could eat a horse. Ethan immediately dug into his bowl of vegetable soup, and I followed suit.
As we savored our daily rations, I listened to Mom's nagging about how I hadn't completed my chores properly the day before. With a distant look on my face, I stared down at my soup, trying to avoid Mom's penetrating gaze. She always had this way of looking at me that seemed to see right through to my soul, accompanied by her usual disappointed sigh.
"This feels like abuse, Mom. Why do I have to work so hard as a kid?" I muttered under my breath.
"Do you still ask me these silly questions, Keinan?" Mom responded, her voice tinged with frustration. "Because this place doesn't have enough help without you kids pitching in, and you know that. Everyone has to pull their weight so this community can survive. We all share the responsibility. Don't you understand that yet?"
She then got up from her chair, walking slowly to fetch a fresh cloth to wipe the rusty old table. She continued her lecture in a more calm tone, "Don't you know how hard it is to get food around here? Nothing is free in this world, you do know that, right? Your brother never complains about anything. He even got promoted recently to a water boy for the miner crew now. Can't you follow his example for once?" She smiled gently at Ethan, who smiled back playfully, tauntingly even, trying to rile me up.
It worked just as he intended. A surge of jealousy and bitterness overwhelmed my better judgment. I kicked Ethan with enough force under the table to let him know exactly how I felt. He let out a loud, painful shout, "Ahh, my leg! You little shit! Get over here" He jumped up quickly and lunged toward me, reaching for my raggedy t-shirt.
I darted down under the table, crawling as fast as I could to the other side. As I ran out the door, I could hear Mom yelling scolding the both of us. Briefly, I turned back toward Ethan, sticking out my tongue childishly, taunting him even more. Feeling satisfied and proud of my little victory, I made my escape in a jiffy.