I was very confused about the whole situation—it felt like I had missed something. All I did was take a shower, and it was a whole new scene out here.
Rows B, C, and D all made some type of alliance, but when I got back to my row, nothing was made.
Settling back into my bed, trying to think of what was even happening, I looked to the only person who might have an idea.
"What happened? Why are people gathering around all like this?"
I saw him peer from above the bed, "What do you mean, why?"
He got down from the top bunk bed, where we were now talking eye to eye. He was a bit taller, but only by an inch from the looks of it. "You really are naive."
'Ouch,' I thought.
"What is it that the officer said when we got here?" He paused, waiting for a response. I didn't give him one and let him answer it for me. "Come on, try to think. We only have one week's worth of supplies. What about after that?"
Thinking about it, I quickly replied, "Well, it's only missiles. We should be out of here quick."
Ael seemed annoyed at the fact that I wasn't getting it. "Not that part, after that, 'Until I get word, this is our home.' For all we know, a foreign country can be invading the academy right now."
And then it hit me. I looked around once again. People were gathering around forming alliances for one reason and one reason only. For protection. People were going to fight over food and other resources soon. It was going to be a bloodbath.
My realization and shock showed on my face.
"Now you get it." He walked to get some food from his storage box.
"Wait, no, I'm sure our row can make one as we–" Ael cut me off, "If this row wanted to form an alliance, they would have done so already. But they didn't."
'Damnit.'
How did I not realize this earlier? I may be able to fight, but I can't take on seventy-nine people by myself. I only had the basic training the academy provided, but so did everyone else in here.
I bit my nails, trying to think of anything. Would I even be able to leave this place before the bloodbath? No, the officer is on watch, having his bed in front of the platform that brought us down.
I wouldn't even be able to join an alliance. I was a low noble—who would want to join up with me? If anything, I would probably be the first one dead, I had the least amount of protection, no big family name, no friends, or an alliance I could cling to.
I started to frantically look around for any ideas, but none came to mind.
'Shit, shit, shit, shit, shit!'
Ael interrupted my thought, "Calm down, this just makes things more fun."
'Fun? Fun for you!'
"Well, I'm going to take a nap." Ael made his way to the top bunk.
"Wait, you're sleeping at a time like this?" I asked with a hurried voice.
"I mean, there is nothing else to do right now." I could hear Ael getting comfortable on the top bunk again. As he did, a lump started to form in my throat.
'How does this even happen?'
As I scanned the room once again, I noticed something happening in row D. They were holding a trade center. Some people were trading food for water and vice versa. Were people already preparing for the worst? I looked at my row, and everyone was doing nothing but waiting for the day out. I think some were missing trading at row D.
***
Nighttime came, and the lights from the bunker went out. It seemed like the lights were powered by a timer, so we wouldn't lose track of time down here.
I would try to sleep, but I was never able to. All I could think of the whole time was when the bloodbath would start. The stress was eating away at me.
Meanwhile, Ael was sleeping peacefully above me. I'm sure he had nothing to worry about, seeing as how he could probably take on ten of them at a time.
It's weird. When I would talk to him, he was so different from what I imagined. When it came to killing, he had a chilling aura, but otherwise, he was a normal person. Maybe even charming in a sense.
If I hadn't seen him out there like that, I would have thought he was incapable of doing anything wrong. The problem is, I saw him. He killed them all without hesitation. All the while, I couldn't. I know I can't be thinking about him right now and that I have better things to worry about, but still, I can't help but think about it.
***
It was morning again, and it looked like most people had slept through the first night. Out of nowhere, a head pops up from above again.
"Good morning."
It was Ael. After the first day of talking to him, I got the sense that he wouldn't hurt me. If he wanted to kill me, he would have done so outside.
"Yeah, good morning," I replied in a monotone voice.
"You know, if you always have such a blank expression, people will not like you very much." Giving Ael very little attention, I replied, "Does that mean people will leave me alone? If it does, then that's perfect."
Having Ael as a bunkmate meant that we would see each other more than everyone else here, which also meant he would talk to me more, and I must say, he was a talker. For example, he tried to talk to me a couple of times, and today, it looked like he was back at it. To be honest, it was getting on my nerves.
I had very little practice talking to people, which would have come in real handy right about now. This was mainly because if I said anything unacceptable to any of these higher-end nobles, my head would just get chopped off. It was better to stay quiet.
But talking to him wasn't the annoying part. The irritating part was that it was attracting attention from other rows due to Ael's whole display yesterday. That was the last thing I wanted.
I could hear some people whisper his name from time to time. Of course, none of them knew my name. They all just called me a rabbit because of my white hair, pale skin, and red eyes.
Ael came down from the bunk bed again. "Wow, so myysssterterious," he mused with a small smile appearing on his face, almost as if he was trying to tease me. Still trying to give him as little attention as possible, I snapped back, "Shut up." I turned, trying to ignore him once again.
Ael just kept on smiling, ignoring my comment. "Real tough nut to crack, huh?"
Looking toward the bathroom door, Ael followed his retort with, "Well, I am going to go hit the showers. I'll be back." He walked away, waving his hand once as a small goodbye.
Watching him walk through the doors to the showers, I heard a voice erupt from across the room.
"He took my necklace!" It was someone from row B, talking to someone from row C.
"I didn't. How dare you disgrace my family name with such accusations?"
"Then let me search your storage bin."