The Earth Underneath Us

Ch 4: Rooms, Rooms And More Rooms

The air got even cooler, the sky started to fade. We were standing in front of the building that looked like 100 years old. I can't believe it's still standing after that storm.

"Well, here we are. Do you see any signs of people?" He says starting his way to the glass doors half open.

"Not yet, we should split up to see if we can find somebody."

"Good idea, meet you here in 15 minutes."

I make my way through the lobby. It looks like a run down hotel. Chairs and tables upside down and torn up. The cash register empty. Paint peeling off walls.

"Hello? Hello? Is anybody here?" I say walking around the lobby. It was dead silent. It seemed like someone went through the place rather than a storm hit it. And if someone did, that means they're probably near. I make my way towards the elevator. It was dirty and way too scary to be riding it, so I decided to use the stairs. I climb the long, narrow stairs up to the second floor. I open the door that leads to the hallway. It was completely dark, with the doors all cracked open. Did someone go through the rooms? Or did people run away? My mind was spinning with questions.

I walk slowly down the hallway. I'm scared to speak and call for anyone, but smart little me does it anyways.

"Can anyone hear me? Is anybody here?" I slowly peep my head through each door making sure if anybody is in them. And of course, there is no one. This feels very strange to me. You'd expect to find signs of life in such a stable place for such a horrific storm. But no, there is no one. While I was going through the rooms, one room catches my eye. On the messed up bed, there was a piece of paper. The handwriting looked like it wasn't written too long ago. I grab the paper and read what it says

"Dear whomever receives this note,

"I am proud of your success in surviving. It is very rare but you made it through. You may be wondering, what is going on. Though do not worry, it is very normal to be confused. Our team of people are here to help you, by testing human nature on our civilians. We are here to see if you can survive horrific events such as the storm you may have just went through. Do not worry, you are safe in this building, for now.

Sincerely,

Annonymous."

My heart skipped a beat. A test? This is all a test? This can't be right. Where is everyone else? Why am I in this stupid test? How? Just how? My eyes water up. I just want to scream. I kick the side of the bed and cry in my hands. I can't take this. I am not in a stupid test. I need to find my mom. I need to go back to my family, to school, to friends. This is all a dream. This cannot be happening, no, no!

I run down the hallway and run down the stairs.

"Ethan, Ethan!" I yell. He was standing by a window in the front looking outside.

"What's up, what's wrong?" He says looking sorry. He obviously saw me crying, but I didn't care at this point.

"I...I found a note on a bed, and...and it says that this is all a test and that we're an experiment."

"What? What are you talking about?" He grabs the note from my hand and reads it. His face goes from worry to anger. "How is this possible? No, I don't think this note was meant for us, Lia. It can't be. It just doesn't add up."

"Well, it obviously fucking is! Were in an experiment Ethan! An experiment! I don't know what is real and what is not anymore." I yell out between sobs.

"Hey, calm down okay, it's going to be fine." He grabs me in a hug. I dig my head into his shirt, crying. "I promise you, it is all going to be just fine." I felt like such a loser, but for the first time, I didn't care.