The Pod

Chapter 1

Chapter 1 - 17th July 2017

Shade ducked his head and jammed one foot in the doorway. The battered trainer creased, letting out a feeble squeak, before he pulled it back. A flake of paint fell away from the wood - he grimaced, leaned against the tunnel and then raised his voice.

"Vic! The door's jammed!" He crossed his arms, waiting for a reply. When all he heard was a faint shuffling, he yelled, "Victoria Anne Maine! Open this door right now or I'll-"

"You'll what, Sooty?" The door swung inwards to reveal his flatmate as she cocked a hip to one side. "It might be stuck in the ground - pros and cons of living underground, I guess."

"For the last time, it's my birthday. I'm not a kid anymore... Stop calling me Sooty." At his glower, Victoria shuffled from one foot to the other. Shade peered over her shoulder, only to be forced back by golden-brown hand on his chest.

"Woah..." his companion voiced. Mixed emotions manifested themselves on her features and her shoulders shifted to cover the movement behind her. "Not nice, not coming in."

"I own the place too," he protested.

"Just kidding... Err, we've had builders in and they left the place in a mess." The Indian faltered; a distrustful eyebrow was raised.

What's wrong with her? Shade puzzled, grumbling when his superior height gained nothing. Afterwards, he lowered his gaze to the human obstacle and watched her a flattering shade of pink under his observation.

"Alright." She glanced over her shoulder. "Come in."

The door opened further to welcome Shade inside. And then the ruckus exploded. Streamers and confetti were launched, figures sprung out from their various hiding places while some scrambled to free their arms and wave hello. The focus of their attention blinked and took two shaky steps into the room. Dirt clouds flew up as his heels scuffed the dirt.

"Happy Birthday, Ashton! Hope you like the cake I made." A boy, only a few years younger than him in appearance, jumped up onto one of the two crudely made beds - the structure creaked with every movement. The twenty-one-year-old nodded tentatively and eyed the creation, wondering if it'd be fit to sleep that night. He turned to Victoria, who still stood beside him.

"How did you organise this without me finding out? It looks like everyone in the tunnels is here. I mean, there are barely fifty of us but they're all here."

"Not everyone - certain people were a little busy," she explained, her eyes rolling in tune. But then she laid a hand on his arm with a smile plastered across her face. "Anyway, forget about them, let me show you what everyone got for you."

Shade allowed himself to be dragged along behind her, carrying a feeling of dread. The presents had always been good to say that their little town had limited resources: clothing, handcrafted jewellery and various knick knacks. However, he'd also received some odd things in the few years he'd been there. The worst part was what he did with the unwelcome gifts when everyone had cleared out and it was only him and Victoria.

"There's one I've been told to show you first." She brought them to a halt at a small pile of objects - where he swore he saw the best pair of socks he ever would down there - and picked up a patchwork box made of roots. Pushing it into his hands, she told him, "It's from Ethan. You know, that creepy guy - he brought it back from his last 'trip to the surface'."

"Sounds like someone doesn't believe him..." A teasing smile found its way to Shade's lips as he lifted the lid of the present.

"And you do? Seriously, the surface is covered by radiation and has been since we got down here." Victoria eyed him pointedly.