Kyle West - Darkness

I was still walking forward, Elias’s voice echoing in the chamber. I then heard other voices — women from above returning to the ship. They had entered by a different direction. As more women filed into the hangar, talking and laughing, I turned back to Elias.

“Where are my friends being kept?”

“They are aboard Aeneas already. Secured, of course. You are the only one who got the grand tour.”

I had no idea why Elias was keeping us all alive, but I supposed I would find out as soon as I went aboard Aeneas. According to Ashton, there were only four spaceships constructed during the Dark Decade by the United States military. Obviously, he had been wrong. There were at least five, perhaps even more.

“Bunker 84 was designed to be independent of Bunker One,” Elias said. “It had complete autonomy. It was believed that if Bunker One made any important decision, they needed a check in case it was the wrong choice. Bunker 144 was also part of this process, though of course, 144 was one of the first to go offline.” Elias chuckled. “I don’t know what they were thinking, constructing a Bunker in the Arctic.”

“Three Bunkers making sure each one didn’t get too strong — sounds like checks and balances.”

Elias raised an eyebrow. “I am surprised you know about that.”

I didn’t bother to tell Elias about how we learned about the Old World government in my time at Bunker 108. As we continued to look at the Aeneas, it powered on. The lights from its dozen or so ports glowed and filled the hangar with an iridescent glow. The craft was long and angular. It clearly had more than one deck — perhaps as many as three. It appeared to have the same amount of thrusters as Gilgamesh, only they were larger.

I stared upward to see a large exit tunnel rising ever upward.

“So this ship has stayed docked here ever since Dark Day?”

Elias nodded. “We haven’t flown it, not even as a test.” He gave a crooked smile. “We have had no need to. That is — until now. The Voice was clear about the prophecy — as soon as you all came, it was time to being the Ascension.”

“Do you even know how to fly it?”

Elias nodded. “Lyn and I both do. What we know is by the book, but I am confident that I know what I’m doing.”

Before I could protest that, Elias strode forward. I followed after him.

We entered the Aeneas by way of the boarding ramp. It was longer and wider than the ones Odin and Gilgamesh had. I wondered what Ashton’s reaction had been to this massive ship .

We stood before the blast door. I noticed an indentation around its edges where it could connect with an airlock.

The door slid open, revealing Lyn, the woman who had spoken to Elias earlier.

“Is everything ready?” Elias asked.

“Everything,” Lyn said. “The feast is near ready, and all will be gathered to hear your proclamation.”

“Good,” Elias said. “Prepare the rest of the Five and keep them under guard.”

Lyn nodded, glancing at me askance before turning on her heels and retreating into the light of the ship.

“She is skeptical of you,” Elias said. “But you cannot be anyone other than who I foretold about just yesterday.” He sighed. “I think Lyn just expected the Voice to give us more time to prepare. But the time is now, because it has been commanded.”

He stepped into the ship and I crossed the threshold after him. The door shut behind, the lock clicking into place.

We had entered a wide atrium. If this were Gilgamesh, we would be standing in the wardroom. But this space appeared to be far larger than that. One corridor led aft to our left, and another ran aft in the far corner of this main “anteroom.” Between the two corridors was a staircase that led to a second deck. To the right of that staircase, a flight of steps led downward, probably to a large cargo bay. Toward my right, a large central corridor led forward — probably to the bridge.

In the center of this anteroom, two long metal tables had been set up, around each crowded twenty or so chairs, for a total of forty. It looked as if there was space for the entire Community and its guests. The ship’s interior was white and kept clean — much cleaner than the rest of the Bunker. I guessed since this was their main home, the Community kept it well maintained. It probably had enough bunks for all of the Community members.

Several women and children already sat at the far table. The women wore dresses made from whatever scraps of fabric they had managed to scrounge in the Bunker — this usually meant sheets or old clothing. I wondered why they did not wear the vestments typical of Bunker dwellers — hardy pants, usually of camo, and wear-resistant shirts. I guessed, after fifteen years, even Bunker clothes would get worn down.

“Where are my friends?” I asked.

At the sound of my voice, the women turned and looked at me suspiciously.

“They are being kept aft,” Elias said. “They will be brought out when dinner is served. Then, I will reveal the details of the Ascension.”

When Elias had first mentioned the Ascension, I thought the word had been metaphorical. Now, in the context of the spaceship, it felt more literal.

“You’re going to fly this damn thing, aren’t you?”

Elias smiled as more women and children filled the anteroom, coming in from behind and from the stairs that led down from the second deck. As they took up their seats, the anteroom was filled with their chatter — though it felt a bit subdued. I guessed everyone was nervous at having new people inside — people they were taught to recognize as containing “darkness.” I found this fear ironic, considering I was completely outnumbered and would likely be killed if I went against the grain in any way. If these women had been taught that men were evil for their entire lives, then it made sense that they were suspicious of me. I searched for the brown-haired woman with blue eyes I had seen earlier, but she wasn’t present at the moment.

“Does everyone eat here during mealtime?” I asked.

Elias nodded. “We are the Community, from highest to lowest. It does not matter who you are. In the Community, we always eat together.”

At that moment, trays of food were brought from the kitchen, carried by several women and some of the older children. There were fruits — watermelon, apples, bananas, even raspberries and dates. There were also vegetables, like carrots, asparagus, broccoli — nothing was cooked. Bowls of intricate salads were also brought out, along with several varieties of nuts.

The fruits and vegetables looked as fresh as could be. Still, despite the fact that I hadn’t eaten in a while, I had zero appetite. I had yet to see Anna and the others and there was no guarantee that they had been kept safe.

It was at that moment that the others were led into the anteroom from aft. Their hands were bound as mine had been. Anna’s eyes met mine. I felt my throat clench, knowing that she was in danger and there was absolutely nothing I could do about it. All this, after all, had happened under my watch. I should have listened to Makara and gotten everyone out while I could have. Now that opportunity had passed.

At last, all of the Community women and children seated themselves. I kept my eyes on Anna, and she kept hers on mine. I realized she was trying to signal something. I had no idea what that was, though, and I tried not to let my frustration show.

My eyes finally found Michael, Julian, and Ashton, who stood to Anna’s side. Grudge was missing. He was the one who had escaped, then.

Behind them stood several women with guns holstered on their sides. If it weren’t for those guns, we could probably easily take these people in a fight.