Box of Chocolates

Noah's Secret

"We're lost, Noah. Finally, admit it," I said, wiping the sweat off my brow with a sleeve of my shirt.

Still breathless after the hike up what he called a hill, but what to me was more of a tilting wall overgrown with grass and trees, I leaned into him when he wrapped his arm around my waist from behind. Sighing contentedly, I observed the magnificent view which my eyes had been offered as a reward, admitting that the crazy climb had been worth it.

Like a huge piece of jade, a green valley criss-crossed by several streams lay deep under our feet, shimmering in the late autumn sunshine, surrounded by infinite, emerald forests on all sides as far as I could see.

"We are not," Noah insisted, his chin resting on my shoulder. "Just a little longer..."

"But it's been hours since we left that trail. The children are tired..."

"They are not, you are." He chuckled, turning around.

I turned around too, following his gaze to our twelve-year-old Jake descending the steep hill without any trouble, trying to reach the closest stream, leaving his five-years-old sister behind, complaining loudly.

"Jessica! Come here. Don't worry about him; he'll be back in no time!" I called.

"And you, young man, stop playing around and come this way, or we won't reach our shelter before it gets dark," Noah told Jake.

I shook my head. "Stop that Noah. There's no accommodation in this forest, we should really go back to the car before it gets too dark. Come on, which way?"

We had spent the whole morning and a great part of the afternoon by walking under the trees, and now I had enough of adventure. I wanted to go home, wash the kids, and have pizzas delivered while I took my shover. I had completely lost my orientation at some point, but knowing Noah, he led us in a circle, and we were not far from the car... Hopefully.

"Come on, let us descend into the valley at least, and then we'll go home if you'll still want to. I promise," Noah said, his ocean blue eyes boring into mine, pleading.

How could I refuse? Noah was... my crazy scientist, a nature lover, a child at heart, and I loved him just the way he was.

"Jake, Jessica, shall we follow Daddy down into the valley before we go back?"

A synchronized "Yes!" followed my question, and the three of them were halfway down the hillside before I took the first step.

Just... what did they all like about a nature hike so much, Noah especially? I mused, descending the precipice, or better, sliding down the slippery stems of long grass in their wake. Noah had spent so much time in these woods lately, and he never seemed to get bored of them.

I smiled as I landed in my husband's open arms, making the kids giggle.

"Now listen to me, everyone," Noah said, giving each of us what was supposed to be a serious, mystery-filled look. "Somewhere in this valley, there is a place where we will sleep tonight. A bunker. Hidden under the ground. Who will find it will get... this whole bar of chocolate!" he called, pulling the promised treat out of the pocket of his rucksack theatrically, showing off his classic piece of legerdemain. I had to give to Noah; he knew how to make the two do what he wanted.

When Jake and Jessica ran off, giggling, I let myself drop to the ground. I was exhausted and not at all in the mood for his games.

"You are kidding. Tell me it's just a joke, Noah, please..." There was no way I was going to sleep in a bunker.

He dropped to his knees in front of me, kissed me deeply, then sprang back to his feet and pulled me up, before he ran after the kids, calling over his shoulder, "I know you want that chocolate as much as they do, hurry or they'll win!"

I rolled my eyes at his retreating back, then started walking in the opposite direction. I couldn't believe my eyes when I suddenly found it-- an iron latch, closing what looked like a round metal door covered with patches of rust and moss.

"Noah, I found your door!" I called, struggling to believe that this place really existed, and he had brought us here on purpose. So this was where he spent all his free time lately, setting this... bunker up.

I jumped when he appeared at my side too quickly, but of course, he knew well where his door was and was just playing with us.

"Mummy found it, come you two, let's go in!"

Taking a small key from his pocket he slid a round piece of metal hidden under the heavy-looking latch to the side and pushed the key in the lock, turned it, then moved the latch out of place. The kids joined us even as Noah opened the door and motioned us to follow him inside.

"Noah..." I begged, still unsure about this whole idea.

He looked at me silently, his eyes asking me to follow. I sighed, then nodded and let him take my hand in his as he led me inside.

The moment we entered, the lights came on in the first room. Soft buzzing filled the space around us, an air-conditioning system, no doubt.

There were no windows, but otherwise, the room looked like the sitting room of our house, to the tiniest detail.

While he closed the door, shutting out the sunshine, scents, and sounds of the valley completely, I turned around in a circle.

I froze when my eyes fell on the picture hanging on the wall-- the four of us on the beach this past summer, sun-burned cheeks framing our smiles, wind-swept hair caressing our faces. The very same picture I hung on our sitting room wall only a couple of weeks ago.

"There's my bedroom in here!" Jake called from the depths of the buker. "And mine!" Jessica's call followed his.

"There's ours too..." Noah whispered in my ear as he approached me from behind while I stood spellbound in front of the photograph, "...and your kitchen, my study, the bathrooms... Enough food and water for several years..."

"Noah, how did you do this? Why?" I asked, turning towards him.

"Promise that you'll at least try to believe me."

I nodded, feeling at a loss for words.

"Do you remember my latest project?" Noah asked, searching my eyes, gauging my reaction.

I stared at him nonplussed for a while before I forced myself to mutter, "Aliens."

He nodded gravely. "I received a warning..."

"Noah..."

"There are more of us hiding in bunkers like these right now. More families, all around the country, around the whole world, probably. They promised they'll let us get in touch soon... Let me cook while you wash Jessica. Once the kids are in bed, we'll talk," he said, disappearing into the kitchen, leaving me standing alone in the sitting room, torn between my desire to bolt, and my wish to pretend that everything was fine, that Noah knew what he was doing...