Chapter 7

"The Day Before"

image [https://i.imgur.com/gcxKC1K.png]

05/25/2368

Bunker BP-25

The morning melody of the alarm sounded later than usual, allowing Aryah to enjoy a few extra hours of sleep and relaxation. She woke up slowly, stretching her limbs and with a smile, which faded as she felt a slight discomfort in her back from having sprawled in an uncomfortable position during the night; her bed was disassembled and messy, which was unusual for her. She yawned and rubbed her eyes, sitting up in bed. She had the feeling of not having slept well, despite the extra time to rest.

After dressing in a more casual jumpsuit, she headed to the kitchen where her father and brother were already having breakfast. She greeted them with a slight nod of her head as she served herself a portion of synthetic oatmeal and some dehydrated fruits in a bowl.

—Morning, sweety, you look a bit tired today — Ekhrem commented with a smile. Aryah looked at him with a reluctant expression, her eyes devoid of makeup and her hair disheveled. —But I suppose it's normal after the impressive performance you had yesterday before the Council —

Aryah furrowed her brow and stared at her bowl. —It wasn't impressive at all, Dad, it was a disaster — she replied sharply. —I already told you I want nothing to do with that position on the Council... I'm not a politician —

Nake, her brother, observed her over his bowl of cereal with synthetic milk, which he was devouring along with a doughnut. —Come on, Ary, you couldn't have acted that badly — he said between spoonfuls and bites. —At least if they choose you as the councilor's substitute, it would be better than being in charge of the water system for several more years, don't you think? — he continued to watch her while munching on his doughnut. Ekhrem held his cup of hot coffee with both hands as he glanced sideways with a slight smile at his daughter.

Aryah pondered her brother's words as she absentmindedly stirred her oatmeal. Perhaps he was right, and she was being too hard on herself. She sighed heavily. "I need some time to think," she muttered, getting up. Without saying anything else, she left the kitchen and went out through the sliding door of the house into the central corridors. Ekhrem and Nake exchanged glances and continued with breakfast, wondering how their week had been.

Aryah walked through the wide, illuminated corridors of Bunker BP-25, the metal grid floor creaking with every step, offering a slight forced smile to the inhabitants and guards she passed by. Her mind was flooded with thoughts about the Council meeting and the possible appointment as a substitute. She needed to clear her thoughts, so she stopped and leaned against the cold concrete wall painted cream on the top, a golden stripe in the center, and the lower area of the wall painted blue. Several ventilation ducts, water pipes, cooling systems, cables, etc., passed over the ceiling.

She blinked a couple of times, and a small reddish interface projected in front of her eyes thanks to the NeuroFy chip installed in her brain since birth. An old device connected to her ocular contact lenses, soldered onto her cornea. In the old world, they were very popular, replacing PCs and mobile phones in your mind. But most options were disabled due to the lack of real internet. It had disappeared since the fall. Bunker 25 was equipped with a similar internal network to a very limited intranet used by the inhabitants to do their tasks and simple things. There was no way to know if there were connections outside, as the entire underground structure of the bunker was covered in lead.

With a movement of her eyes, she navigated the interface searching for her contacts within the call application.

—Calling Tessa Blankschild — a robotic voice sounded in her head along with a short melody as the system established the connection. After a few seconds, her best friend's voice resonated from the other side.

—Aryah? Everything okay? It's a bit early for a call from you on a Sunday —

—Hey Tess... yeah, I know, sorry for bothering you — Aryah responded without gesturing words, only her eyes shining crimson. —I need talk about something. Could we meet in the gardens in half an hour? —

There was a brief pause before Tessa responded. —Of course, yeah, sure, girl. Are you okay, sure? —

—Yeah, I'm fine — Aryah reassured her. —I just need your advice on a matter. I'll see you in the gardens then —

—Alright, I'll be there. See you —

The connection ended, and the small interface disappeared from Aryah's field of view. She rubbed her eyes for a moment, feeling a bit relieved, and headed to the hydroponic gardens. Large halls with real soil floors, and natural and artificial plantations, the walls and ceiling covered by screens simulating a rustic landscape. It was the only place in all of Bunker 25 where one could simulate being outside the old world. Furthermore, several areas of the gardens were used for agriculture.

image [https://i.imgur.com/gcxKC1K.png]

Some time later

Hydroponic Garden South 03

Aryah stood against one of the walls of the hydroponic garden, which projected a vast countryside landscape on its screens. With her arms crossed and her eyes fixed on a group of children playing with soil, her expression was distant, thoughtful as she nervously nibbled on a nail. Suddenly, her thoughts vanished as she caught sight, from the corner of her eye, of Tessa entering through one of the sliding doors. Her best friend strode in with long strides, her toned figure highlighting the muscles acquired from the intense workouts she used to do in the gyms of BP-25. Her jet-black hair fell loose over her shoulders.

—Ary!— Tessa greeted her with a warm smile as she enveloped her in a tight hug.

Aryah returned the gesture. As they parted, she locked eyes with her friend.

—Thanks, Tess. The truth is, I'm a mess — she began as they started walking along one of the paths that wound through the crops in the large halls.

—What's going on? — Tessa urged with genuine concern. —Is it about the council thing you mentioned to me last night on chat?—

Aryah nodded and proceeded to elaborate on the events of the previous day: the invitation, the interrogation in front of all the Councilors, the strange behavior of Mafius and his odd questions, her clumsiness in answering some questions, and the unsettling feeling of having disappointed expectations while not wanting to be chosen, not wanting to be a politician. As the words flowed from her lips, the fears and anguish that had been tormenting her for hours surfaced. It's a lot of responsibility.

Tessa listened attentively, nodding occasionally as they walked among the plants and flowers. When Aryah finally fell silent, her friend placed a hand on her shoulder in a sign of support.

—Aryah, I think you're being too hard on yourself — she began in a calm tone. —It's normal to feel intimidated in a situation like this. But from what you tell me, it seems like you at least tried and did your best. That's already a great achievement... Your dad was there and saw your effort, in which case, he won't be disappointed and you wouldn't be a councilor... And at the same time, if they do choose you... I know you'd be a great councilor — Her words brought a smile to Aryah's face.

—I just ask that if you do become a councilor after all, I'd like them to change the gym jumpsuits — Aryah laughed at Tessa's request. —They're truly horrible, especially if you don't exercise, they're very uncomfortable to move in. You should exercise too, you're very weak —

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—Hey, what are you saying? I look fine —

—Yes, you're cute, no one denies that, maybe not at my level... but...—

—Oh come on Tessa, just stop it — they both laughed.

—But anyway, back to the other thing... Don't worry about it, Ary, you've already done your part, it'll be what it'll be— Tessa said, her smile fading as Aryah kept her gaze low, considering Tessa's words. Tessa continued, —Maybe you need a little distraction to clear your mind. Why don't you come to the party Matt is organizing tonight in Hall 12? It'll be fun, you could relax a bit... and meet people. Since I've known you, you've been alone... You should have your own pack at home —

—What are you talking about, you goof? — Aryah said, laughing warmly. —I'm fine alone, besides, I have no privacy at home —

—That doesn't justify you not coming to the party —

Aryah raised her eyebrows, hesitant. —I don't know, Tess. I have to work early on Monday with the water thing, I'm tired —

—Really? — her friend interrupted with a mischievous smile. —I thought after what the Councilors told you, they wouldn't assign you tasks for a while —

Aryah blinked, surprised. In her worry, she had completely forgotten about that detail. She let out a light laugh and shook her head.

—I guess you're right. Okay, I'll go to the party — she finally agreed. —But on one condition— Tessa watched her curiously.

—That you help me pick out something dazzling to wear tonight — Aryah added with a conspiratorial wink.

image [https://i.imgur.com/gcxKC1K.png]

At Night

Hall 12

After a long afternoon of preparation, Aryah and Tessa stopped in front of the sliding doors that led to Hall 12 on hallway 38 of level 2. It was one of the large communal spaces in Bunker BP-25 used for events, meetings, parties, and various social activities. Any inhabitant could request its use and be added to a waiting list to enjoy the area on the desired date.

Aryah was wearing a special white jumpsuit, fitted to her body with golden and yellow decorations and details, a radiant outfit Tessa had helped her select to accentuate her figure. The jumpsuit had a deep V-cut at the top that exposed her shoulders, while the bottom clung to her hips. Tessa, on the other hand, had opted for a similar sleeveless black lycra jumpsuit that hugged her toned figure. As a final touch, they both wore deep eyeliner to highlight their large eyes.

Aryah took a deep breath before reaching out and pressing the button to request access. After a few seconds, the door slid aside, revealing the familiar face of Matt holding a beer, a former classmate.

—Well, well!, look at that…The charming Miss Velsen and the fierce bad girl Blankschild — Matt exclaimed with a wide smile, making a slight mocking bow as he took a sip of his drink.

Tessa rolled her eyes with feigned exasperation. —Keep dreaming, fool, ours was a one-night thing —

—I know, I know, darling — he replied with a smile. Raising his beer, he said as he gestured politely inside, —Come in, ladies, I'm glad you came... You're welcome —

Aryah and Tessa smiled at Matt and entered the hall. Out of the corner of his eye, Matt blatantly checked out Tessa's behind.

—Don't even think about it, idiot — Tessa commented without turning around.

—Enjoy the party, girls… — Matt responded somewhat confused, finished his beer, and left with a group of friends who were calling him.

Aryah and Tessa walked through the spacious hall, decorated with red and black fabrics covering the bunker's appearance, the lights were dimmed, replaced by soft and colored lights. In the background, there was a small improvised stage where a DJ was playing remixes of tunes from over two hundred years ago, along with music equipment and some improvised instruments and keyboards. Underneath the stage, groups of boys and girls danced to the electronic rhythm, with tables of drinks and food nearby. The rest of the place was crowded with people happily chatting with each other.

Tessa took Aryah's arm and guided her to the drinks table. She grabbed two glasses and poured an amber liquid from an unlabeled bottle.

—Here, drink this — she said, handing one of the glasses to her friend. —It's a special recipe from Matt, it'll help you relax and forget about all that shitty stress from the Council for a while —

Aryah eyed the glass suspiciously, but eventually accepted it. Tessa clinked her drink against Aryah's in a small toast before taking a generous sip. Aryah followed suit, feeling the burning liquid scorch her throat as she swallowed. She coughed a bit but remained stoic.

—Wow, that's strong — she commented, grimacing.

—That's the idea, girl— Tessa replied with a mischievous smile. —Come on, take another sip and enjoy the night —

Aryah obeyed, taking another sip of the mysterious concoction. Gradually, she began to feel lighter and more uninhibited. The electronic music pounded with its strong rhythm, urging her to move.

In the blink of an eye, Aryah found herself dancing frantically amidst a crowd of people on the makeshift dance floor bathed in psychedelic lights. She jumped and waved her arms without any inhibition, letting the alcohol flow freely through her veins and push away all her worries. Tessa had joined her, both swaying to the music under the sparkling flashes of colored lights.

The night passed in a blur of unrestrained laughter, drinks of dubious origin, and increasingly uninhibited dance moves. At one point, Aryah found herself in the small bathroom, her head bowed over the toilet, her hair being held back by Tessa, as she expelled the overdose of alcohol she had consumed. But that didn't stop her, as she returned to the dance floor shortly after with renewed energy.

Alcohol, lights, music, and undulating sweaty bodies... everything merged into a whirlwind of sensations. At some point, Aryah found herself dancing closely with a tall, muscular guy who smiled at her dreamily. She returned the smile, placing a hand on his chest and moving even closer, captivated by the sudden connection that seemed to arise between them.

Laughter bubbled up from within her. Suddenly, Aryah found herself in a room with a large, soft bed, bathed in a soft light from a night lamp. The handsome, muscular guy was beside her, their bodies intertwined in a fiery embrace of unrestrained passion. Their movements were coordinated, rhythmic, like a wild dance of shared pleasure.

She was on top, naked and radiant, riding him with total surrender to the ecstasy of the moment. Her hands gripped the strong shoulders of the guy as her hair cascaded around her face, framing her exquisite features. Each thrust was met with a stifled moan of pleasure, a symphony of whispers and gasps filling the room with a sensual and passionate energy. The guy, with desire-filled eyes, leaned forward and captured one of her breasts with his mouth, sucking forcefully and biting the erect nipple. Aryah shuddered at the combination of pleasure and pain, a guttural moan escaping her lips.

Time seemed to stand still in that moment, suspended in an eternity of intoxicating sensations and carnal desire, interrupted as she found herself dizzy and confused, her body trembling and her mind clouded by the hangover. With a heavy sigh, Aryah opened her eyes and found herself back in her room's bed, disheveled and disoriented. She was dazed and confused. She brought a hand to her head, feeling the throbbing pain that hit her forcefully.

She sat slowly at the edge of the bed with her disheveled underwear. She turned on her NeuroFy and saw unread messages from Tessa in her inbox: There were several congratulatory messages for having spent the night with that handsome guy. She was happy for her friend, who seemed to have had a lot of fun, and sent her greetings.

Aryah blinked, unable to even remember who the guy she had hooked up with was. Confused, she put on her work jumpsuit and headed to the kitchen where her father was. He looked at her with his usual cup of coffee and asked her what she was doing with her work clothes. She, feeling drained, responded with a tired look, conceding to her father.

—You're right, dad... I had forgotten about that — she said, dragging her feet as she walked to the couch. She held her head due to a constant dizziness.

Her father asked if she wanted something for breakfast, as she had returned late from the party last night. She told him she wanted a coffee if it wasn't a problem and thanked him. Her father prepared her a hot cup and handed it to her along with a slice of toast with peanut butter. She thanked him. As she turned on the house speakers and tuned into Bunker 25's radio/podcast "Got a Goo’Day!"

Between bites and sips of her steaming coffee, Aryah listened absentmindedly to the speakers broadcasting the program, trying to shake off her dizziness with the aroma of breakfast. The hosts chatted animatedly about community news and trivial events.

—...And as I was saying, the temperature in the beautiful 25 remains stable at 23 degrees Celsius, as always — joked one of the presenters in a playful tone. —Isn't it exciting? Finally, climate change we can enjoy!—

The co-host laughed at the joke. —True, true. Although I must admit, the cookies sent to us by Mrs. Gramm are the real reason to celebrate. They were exquisite! Mrs. Gramm, you'll be invited to the show to talk about your beautiful grandchildren —

Aryah closed her eyes and took a big sip of her coffee. Suddenly, the tone of the conversation changed, becoming more serious and excited.

—Speaking of important news, we have a groundbreaking announcement to share with all of you — one of the presenters said. —As we all know, the Council has been meeting all weekend, debating who will be the interim replacement for the late Councilor Alsadh... May his ashes rest in peace in the gardens —

Aryah held her drink in her mouth expectantly.

—The Council has decided to announce to all of us residents of BP-25 that the person chosen directly by majority vote of the Council and approved by President Hook is the fortunate Velsen Aryah!... The inauguration ceremony will be held tomorrow morning... In the words of Councilor Mafius, Miss Velsen will be able to take the reins of this beautiful home by advising President Hook —

Aryah's eyes widened like two enormous plates. She forcefully spat out the hot coffee she had in her mouth, splashing the small table in front of her.

She coughed violently, tears streaming from her eyes, as she looked at her father with an expression of complete surprise and bewilderment, mixed with absolute fear. A sudden discomfort overwhelmed her, and without warning, she began to vomit loudly onto her legs.

image [https://i.imgur.com/gcxKC1K.png]2024 © LJ Kauffmann