LINKAGE

CHAPTER 44: THE FAMILY TIES

The first door revealed the rooms for the D&D, but it was not working properly since the power supply was almost empty. The other entryways were opened too, and after passing through them, the boys faced a long staircase that closed the 5 meter distance between one floor to another. They walked down the steps quickly, discussing their concern about finding a way to ignite the electricity so the bunker can work properly.

"I want to find this thing already. I can't stand this suit anymore." Gavin said while wearing the helmet again. The environment was all dark and the only thing that could help them search for the maintenance room was the night vision installed on the helmet. Isaac wore his too.

"This place looks like a space station." Isaac commented. The early rooms of this bunker looked like a space station indeed, with white walls that didn't have more than 3 meters in height, details of lightning in dark blue and a slight touch of industrial interior design. They faced a hall that lead to one big room in the middle and two hallways in the left and right specifically. "Let's split. Our helmets are paired so we can still talk. I will go on the right. If both of us do not find anything, let's get back here." Isaac said and Gavin agreed, walking to the corridor on the left.

The hallway was wide and had circular borders, with doors on both sides. Gavin searched for signs that could denounce what type of facilities these doors were hiding, but so far nothing was found. He kept walking deep in the corridor until another staircase was found. That point of the bunker felt hotter and stuffy since the air conditioning system had been off for nearly two decades. Gavin could see dust flying around the room as he walked down another batch of stairs, finding a big square room with another four corridors. That room specifically looked like a dining hall, having amounts of chairs and long tables divided into the space. Gavin started to think that somehow the way to maintenance area was close, but he decided to check with Isaac what his side was all about.

"Hey, how's going there?" Gavin walked to the first hallway on his left, seeing a sign 'KITCHEN AND DEPOSIT' written on it.

"Nothing important. Just locked doors after locked doors. Probably this the bedroom area. What about you?"

"I think I'm on the right track here." He said after going to the second hallway, a bit far from the first he saw, with a sign saying 'LEISURE AREA'. "Come here. You will find another staircase by the end of the corridor."

"Alright, going." Isaac went silent and Gavin paced out to the third option. Things started to look more technical in that one, where the sign showed 'LIFE-SUPPORT MAINTENANCE SECTION', but before entering that hall, he went to check the last one, seeing that the sign denounced a 'GENERAL SYSTEMS FACILITIES'. "Found something."

Isaac didn't reply, but since he said he was on the way, Gavin waited for him to get there. He shook his hand in the air when he heard quick steps touching the staircase. Isaac followed the small boy waving in the back of the dining room. "What is it?" He asked, feeling the same uncomfortably feeling of the poor quality of the air Gavin felt.

"General Systems Facilities. What do you think?"

"You first." He extended his hand for Gavin to walk on front.

"Such a gentleman." He started walking forward in the corridor, Isaac following by his side. This one didn't have doors on the sides, just a long extension to walk in.

"Just making sure if something attacks us, you will protect me first."

Gavin laughed at that. "How can you be so selfish?"

Isaac smiled too. "I am not being selfish. I am being smart because you are quite invincible."

"And you're stronger and more trained than I am, so we're even."