After Annihilation - Would you want to survive?

Chapter 7

At the end of the road we were led to an underground cave almost a kilometre wide. Most of the ground was taken up by a huge lake that had steam rising from it. The lake looked to be fed by a stream of water bubbling up from somewhere below. It was emptying constantly through another stream, also underground. One half of the lake was covered by huge boards standing on pillars. They were large and looked like shutters laid down over the lake.

Above was all rock. The temperature in the cave was hot, making me sweat. From here we followed the guides to another passageway dug out and lined with brick and cement. It was well lit with LED lights. We walked on for fifty meters and came to a large hall, which was well furnished and had a high ceiling. Some men in uniform were standing on a raised platform, directing people and making announcements for the almost five hundred civilians present. We had arrived at the entry point of Shunya, the "announcement hall" of the safe city.

Two huge speakers were blaring out an announcement continuously.

"Please be quiet and maintain decorum or you will be asked to leave the city. As of today, thirteenth April, 2034, this is the only place in the country where safety is ensured. This city has been constructed for the preservation of human civilization in cases of man-made or natural mass extinction. As of today, we have no news of the situation in other countries, but we believe the bombings have completely stopped, due to unavailability of missiles or manpower. So far, internet and cell phone connectivity have not been re-established.

"This facility has a capacity for a maximum of five thousand people at a time. With us currently, we have five hundred civilians from all over the country and two hundred army men and women in service. The prime minister is in the city but has sustained burns and radiation sickness. He is under treatment in the city hospital. As of now, Iddis is under military rule until the prime minister's complete recovery.

"Within the country, we are attempting to contact any survivors who may have found temporary safety. If anyone has any information about safe houses, please let us know immediately. Due to the level of radiation in the atmosphere, soil, and fresh water, the surface has become unfit for survival till the processes reverse themselves to a habitable degree. This city is the only known shelter for the remaining people. Please make sure to follow all rules and regulations to maintain the sanctity of the city.

"You will be allotted rooms according to the numbers you were given at the time of registration. Please proceed with your armed guides."

The announcement ended.

Aarav and I looked at one another, uncertain about everything.

We reached a level still lower in the earth, through a wide flight of stairs dug out from the rock. Beyond lay a street so long we almost believed we were in any other city on the surface. It was well lit and warm, with LED tube lights running along the length of it. There was a metal vent spanning the entirety of one side of the high ceiling. These metal vents pushed filtered air into the street and maintained the temperature to an optimum degree. Pillars of concrete and iron supported the roof at every foot.

Now and then there were stone pillars, erected irregularly, and these were the only indication that the cavity was not entirely man-made. A series of six exits lay at the proximal and distal points of the street. The walls on either side of the street were made up of thousands of small white cabins with numbers above their doors.

Although the temperature was comfortable, looking at the scene that lay in front, I started feeling suffocated. I wanted to run back to the surface.

One of the soldiers came up to us and asked for our identification numbers. "Room 333 will be past the exit on the left," he told me. He looked at Aarav. "2053 is the fifty-third room on the left side of the second street."