Together as Half

The Vaccine

Edin

You would think, with being the leader's son, I would have some amount of respect for the bunker.

At least for the people, anyway.

But walking through these sunless, ill-lit hallways, I was reminded of how much I loathe this place. Not just this place, despite how much I would rather be outside, but a large amount of my loathing was reserved for the people. The people who had, since my father became leader, looked down upon me as if I would set them on fire if I had the chance.

Of course, I could if I wanted to. I did want to. I wasn't born a fire-faerie just to keep myself warm. Although, that did prove to be of use during the colder months.

I hadn't actually done anything wrong, well, not to the people that mattered. Even so, being Daris's son offended them so dearly, that dirty looks and scowls was my norm. Focusing their hatred on my father would be easier, but with him, they'd be playing a dangerous game. With me, well, there were no repercussions. They would relish in the fact that my father hated me as much as they hate him.

Just not for the same reasons.

That is why, even though my father controlled the gatherings, I had no idea what this one was about. He had not thought to tell me about it. Or he just did not bother wasting words on me.

The gatherings were always held at the top level, so all I had to do  leave my room and I arrived. The leader got the luxury of living in the largest room of the bunker, on the highest floor. I guess that's all living with my was father is good for. Albeit, if I had the chance, I would leave. But for that, I would either have to be married or a father and I am neither. Not that I would be the first twenty-year-old in the bunker to have 'accomplished' such things.F

It wasn't as if I hadn't had a girlfriend, I just didn't want to marry any of them. Or produce their child, for that matter.

I arrived at the gathering early before anyone had acquired their seat, securing mine in the furthest back corner. This left me with little work. People would see me, snarl at me, then hurry in the other direction. It used to trouble me, the dirty looks, and vulgar gestures, but now I just couldn't bring myself to care.

I scanned the room, searching for any signs of what the gathering could be about. Nothing amiss, it was just like any other gathering (which I sometimes join out of boredom), but with many more chairs. They were stretched to each wall, not a surface left untouched except for the stage on which my father was standing. The younger children would likely be asked to sit on the floor as there is no way everyone is getting a chair. The whole population of the bunker would hardly even be able to squeeze into this room.

I placed both hands behind my head and swung my legs up to rest on the chair in front. I began to close my eyes, ready for the gathering to be over when I noticed two more figures standing on the stage beside my father. The Uperen girl. What was her name again?

Her jet-black hair was tied back, leaving the sharp points of her ears on display. Her golden skin glowing under the artificial light. She smoothed her hands over her black tunic, scanning the room. Her brown eyes locked with mine and I held her gaze. Was she... nervous? She quickly broke my gaze and turned to speak with a man I could only assume is her father.

I shifted my attention to the man. His hair an identical shade to his daughters, his skin golden like hers, but without the bronze tinge. I couldn't fight the feeling of familiarity, I'd definitely seen him before, but where? He clutched onto a bowl, much like the ones lining the shelves of the science laboratories, where I had snuck into more than once out of mere curiosity. Science. That's how I knew him. He's head of the science team. What was he doing with my father then?