Below The Forest

one

Family and Friends; Something I completely took for granted before all of this happened. About 200 years ago the world was in a nuclear war, nobody survived..... except a small group of us that found this safe haven.

My great grandfather saw all of this coming and tried warning people, he said that the human race was going to end but people thought he was crazy. They thought he was just a conspiracy theorist but little did they know he worked for the secret service. After he found out about the plans to bomb the United States, he built the largest and most secure underground bunker that was at least 50 feet deep. It was stocked with food, running water, and a air conditioning unit that released oxygen.

The nuclear bombs went off and this place is the only thing left; as I have been told.

But about a month ago, a deadly virus eradicated us and killed everyone. Everyone besides me caught the virus and choked on their own blood before passing away, leaving me to clean up the mess. I moved their bodies in the quarantine room and sealed it shut so I wouldn't have to look at the decaying bodies and traumatize myself even more.

I've wondered why; why I never caught it... I guess I was just lucky.... if that's what you call being completely alone for the rest of your life.

I've practically spent everyday with my head in a book pretending to be somewhere far far away from here; somewhere with luscious green trees that sway in the wind and the bright sun to kiss your skin. I guess you can say I'm detached from reality, but in all honesty that's a blessing.

"Mr. Whiskers, you've brought friends." My smile widened seeing all of the mice crawl out of a little hole in the wall.

I ran to the table and tossed them a few pieces of cheese—not getting close enough to scare them away.

This was the only outlet to living creatures I had. They were so adorable and innocent. I continued analyzing them and mentally taking photos to remember this moment I didn't quite feel so alone.

Soon they finished the cheese and scurried away.

I hummed the tune to my favorite song as I set the record up and played the music. It was 'clair de lune'.

My head twirled around to the music and I closed my eyes as I imagined being somewhere very far away from here. Like the forests I've heard about in books. Apparently large green trees are scattered everywhere and animals live amongst the land. The sky is a bright blue with puffy white clouds floating. How did water manage to stay afloat in the air like it had no gravity? My mind loomed with questions I had. Though every question I have will never get answered because I read all of the books in this place so all of the information Ive learned is all I'll ever get to know.

My mouth hummed while I twirled around carelessly. Finally I opened my eyes that were facing towards the ceiling due to getting lost in myself.

The painted wood detailing scattered along. I feel like when people say "bunker" you think of a cold, stone, small room. But this place definitely wasn't small. It was decorated nicely and stocked overflowing with food. My great grandfather was preparing for this for a long time.

The walls were laid with beautiful wallpapers and edging creating a fancy and cozy feel.

Though everything about this place seemed to look normal, no windows covered the walls. That was something I've read about. How the characters would hopelessly ponder out their window and admire the perfectly cut grass in their yards or see birds chirping in a tree nearby.

Sometimes I start getting confused on what was real and what is fiction. But I've never developed powers that can move things with my mind so there is some comfort in that.

I looked to my right and saw my painted wall that I made to look like a window peering out into the world. Imagination was all I had along with a few pictures hanging on the wall of the ground, so I painted what I thought the ground would be like; to be looking out the window and into the seemingly endless world.

I let out a sigh and left my room to find some food in the large kitchen. It was set up like a cafeteria and a couple people would be preparing the food for lunch hour. Now I have more food then I can eat all to myself. The food was obviously non perishable, but they planted different fruits and vegetables, equipping it with artificial sun light. It was my daily routine to come check on all of them and take care of the plants as needed.

I placed a plate down and cut a few strawberries, transferring it to a small bowl.

Putting everything away, I opened the kitchen door that lead to the eating area and I sat down to eat my snack. Every surface and floor was spotless thanks to me. After the plague killed everyone, it wasn't a pretty sight to see so I made sure I scrubbed everything twice over.

I can never forget seeing my parents cough up blood, struggling to breathe and assuring me that everything was going to be okay.... it wasn't obviously.

After I finished my food, I walked empty halls and made my way back to my room. It was weird seeing everything so empty so I preferred staying in my room where it was normal to be by myself. My floor was littered in beautiful rugs covering the hardwood. Beautiful drapes cascaded down the canopy on my bed. With a running start, I glided onto my bed and picked up a book to read. A sigh left my mouth as I turned the pages to this book that I've read over 10 times along with the others. Blah blah blah- Romeo blah blah blah- Juliet. Their decisions to choose each other over family is ridiculous, no man could be worth betraying family.

I had a little sister, Josephine, but I called her Josie. She was the most full of life child I've ever met and that says a lot living in here. Everyone seemed so zombie like living without a purpose or the beautiful landscapes above us to energize us. Obviously down here we lacked sunlight so we got our own vitamin D lamps that mimicked the sun. Oh the sun... I've read that if you stay in it too long, your skin burns. Unlike mine right now which is pale as snow.

But before everyone died, the scientists tried doing tests to see if our earth was habitable again but our technology wasn't that advanced. Kind of foolish to build a bunker for safety and not have the tools or knowledge to leave.

Am I'm too scared to open the latch. I've tried making my mind up and just going for it but I can't find the bravery to do it. This bunker is all I've ever known, I don't know how to survive out there... if you even can. Though like myself, Josie was fascinated with the ground and its history. She had me read her bedtime stories every night about living in a big castle that looked onto the mountains. I mostly would make them up so she could hear what would make her happy.