The Underground

Prologue

The only light we saw was the shimmery light coming from right above our heads, the lightbulbs that swung around each time another earthquake hit our underground shelter. Yes, we lived in underground shelters. For years now. For so long, we've been hiding, that there isn't even a generation left that knows anything of the ground above. Very few have been out, and even less have returned. The few that once returned, described it as out of this world. Eventually, everyone called it "Satan's playground", and some didn't even know who or what Satan was.

The human's reigned tens of years ago and were the leading force of the food chain. Now they had descended to the lowest; literally forced into the ground. But that was humanity's own mistake. Them thinking they were smart was pure banter for this world; as eventually they were outsmarted by their own tools.

No one knows the cause of the nuclear apocalypse. For years, writers, artists, and open-minded people romanticized the post-apocalypse. If only the higher command had taken notice of the speculation of these people. Because at the time, people thought they were crazy. They were the nerds. The unpopular group who just wanted some recognition.

This world we live in is far worse then what was once fantasized. We can't even go outside, let alone do things human's used to be doing; go to school, going to college, meeting someone to love, build up a family, live happily with your kids and die in peace. Pregnancy in itself was scarce, and it actually succeeding without miscarriages was rare. Childbirth barely happened, but it occurred enough to keep the small group of sheltered humans alive.

With the unhealthy state of living of these people, it was a pleasant miracle when in the time of five years, three healthy children were born. Some said it was a gift from Him, others say it was just pure coincidence. But whatever you believed, it brightened up the entire ambiance when one of those kids gave you those innocent smiles.

But of course with every evolution, with every good step towards our future, some are there to ruin it.

The first newborn, Winston, was admired by the guy who had the highest command; supervisor Greene. Greene wanted to make Winston into a supersoldier, train him from youth and make him go out so we could once move out again. Some people agreed with Greene, but some not. The last party included Winston's parents, who kept Winston very close since Greene told them his sickening morals.

One day, nobody knows the date, that was already lost long ago, Greene went out with a group of his followers, and killed Winston's parents. They took Winston and went into an empty part of the bunkers. They set up their own reign there and nobody dared to even come close to the place.

The second kid, Luna, grew up under only the vision of her dad. Her mom had died during childbirth. Luna's father tried keeping his daughter away from the cruel world they lived in. But she did, of course, find out about their state of living. Luna's father tried pretending that everything was right, but it wasn't.

Luna's father was sick. It started as a simple virus. Just the flu. But everyone knew even the flu could be deadly. Luna took notice of it as she grew older. Eventually, the tides turned. Luna had to take care of her father.

There was a single doctor in the entire bunker. There used to be three, but the other two joined Greene. Luna stole medicins from him for her father. Medicine was scarce and was only to be used in emergency situations. That's how Luna ended up in a cell.

She pretty much was locked into her room. But a small group of men broke her out, believing that what she did was justice and she didn't have to be punished for that. That's how eventually the last camp was formed. Luna, her father and the remaining group of men got into a fight with the others, to eventually be driven back into an unexplored and more dangerous part of the bunker. That place was under high tension and could collapse at any time. Yet they lived there for years.

The third newborn, Jack, was born two years after Luna. They grew up together but eventually were separated. Jack grew up with both of his parents and compared to the other two, he had the healthiest youth.

After all this drama and the remaining pieces of humanity were scattered throughout the bunkers, it almost seemed that humanity was doomed for eternity.

Almost...