Ren followed Yane reluctantly, wondering what awaited him. The hallway they entered was surprisingly bright, with smooth white walls that contrasted with the dark, metallic atmosphere of the lower levels.
Doors lined both sides, some left open, revealing spacious and well-equipped rooms. Voices and laughter echoed from inside.
"This is where we live?"
Ren was surprised by how comfortable the place looked.
"Yeah, this is the boys' dorm. Each room's shared by two people. We've got everything we need—beds and a bathroom. Not bad, huh?"
Ren nodded, though his mind was elsewhere. He wondered how such a sophisticated place had been built—and more importantly, why they were locked inside.
He glanced into one of the open rooms, where two boys were chatting casually, looking relaxed. It was a stark contrast to the tension he had felt until now.
"Tell me, Yane..." Ren hesitated before asking his question. "Are we really underground?"
Yane nodded without hesitation.
A chill ran down Ren's spine. Being trapped beneath the earth, with no clue what was happening on the surface, made him feel suffocated.
He wondered how long they had been here—and how long they were expected to stay.
Yane stopped in front of a door and pulled a key from his pocket.
"Here we are. Our room."
Ren stepped in behind him, curiously taking in the space. The room was simple but functional, with two beds, a desk, and a bathroom.
He sat on the edge of one bed, his thoughts still clouded by everything he had just been through. Yane, on the other hand, looked completely at ease, as if this were all normal.
He opened a drawer in the desk and pulled out a few personal items: clothes, a book, even a small electronic device.
"See? We've even got our own stuff. It's not much, but it helps kill time."
Ren looked at him, a little surprised.
"And do you know how this place works? The rules? What we're supposed to be doing here?"
Yane shrugged.
"Not really. They just told us to settle in and not cause trouble. The girls have their own dorm on the other side of the building. We've got set hours for meals and activities. The rest… we figure out."
Ren frowned. "And Vagner? Does he come around to give instructions?"
Yane shook his head.
"No, he keeps his distance. Sometimes he appears as a hologram to make announcements, but he doesn't really mingle with us. It's kinda weird, but you get used to it."
Ren sighed, frustration welling up inside him. He hated feeling like a pawn in a game whose rules he didn't know. But he also knew getting angry wouldn't help. For now, he had to watch, learn, and prepare for whatever was coming.
"You know," Yane said, sitting across from him, "we'll get answers eventually. In the meantime, we just have to adapt. And hey, you're not alone. I'm here, and so are the others. We'll make it through."
Ren looked at him, a bit surprised by his calm outlook. Maybe Yane was right. Maybe, for now, the best thing to do was play along and see where it led.
But one thing was certain—Ren had too many questions, and he was determined to get answers.
---
Yane stood up and opened the door, motioning for Ren to follow.
"Come on, I'll show you around. That way you'll know where everything is."
They stepped back into the hallway, where other boys were going about their business. Some chatted in front of their rooms, others headed toward what looked like a common room. The atmosphere was strangely relaxed, as if everyone had already accepted this new reality.
Still, Ren noticed that people spoke carefully, measuring their words.
"That's the common room over there. We can hang out, play games, talk, or just chill. And over there are the showers and toilets. It's all well-organized, you'll see."
Ren nodded, impressed in spite of himself. But it only deepened his feeling of being trapped in a place that was too perfect, too controlled.
"What about the girls?" he asked, remembering that Yane had mentioned a separate dorm.
He wasn't being nosy—just curious.
"They're on the other side of the building. We're allowed to see them during shared activities, but otherwise, we keep to our side. It's a bit strict, but hey, that's how it is."
Ren wondered how Carla and the other girls were dealing with the situation. Were they just as confused as he was, or had they already begun to adapt?
Yane patted him on the shoulder, pulling him from his thoughts. "Come on. Let's check out the common room. That's where everything happens."
Ren followed Yane, thinking that for now, he had no other choice but to play along.
As they walked toward the common area, Ren noticed something odd. The boys they passed introduced themselves only by first name—never a last name. Curious, he turned to Yane.
"Why doesn't anyone say their last name?"
"You noticed that?"
Yane glanced around cautiously before answering.
"That's one of Vagner's rules. He said it was to avoid trouble."
"Trouble?"
Yane lowered his voice even more.
"Some of the kids here come from opposing sides—sons and daughters of politicians, soldiers, people who were enemies before the war. If we knew each other's last names, it could cause tension. So Vagner banned them."
Ren understood now. The rule was a way to maintain peace in a place where teens from conflicting backgrounds were forced to coexist.
"Does it work?"
Yane shrugged.
"For now, yeah. But you know how people are. Eventually, the truth always comes out. And when it does…"
Ren nodded, grasping the fragile balance they were living under. The rule was just a temporary fix—a bandage over a deeper wound. And he knew that one day, the tension would rise to the surface.
---
As they neared the common room, a device on Yane's wrist started blinking. A message flashed across the screen. He read it quickly, then turned to Ren.
"Sorry, looks like I'm needed."
"No problem," Ren replied, though part of him was dying to ask more questions. But he realized he'd been interrogating Yane nonstop since they met. Maybe it was time to let him breathe.
"Thanks. I'll go check the place out on my own."
Ren gave a small sigh and pushed the door open. The first thing he saw was a large map showing the layout of the common space: a cafeteria, a recreation center, a library—and a training room.
A training room? In a bunker like this, it made sense to have a space to learn how to defend oneself. But would there be firearms?
The thought crossed his mind, but he dismissed it. If Vagner had done so much to prevent conflict, it was unlikely that modern weapons were allowed.
Ren made his way toward the training room, curious to see what it held.
As he crossed the common area, he was struck by how vast the complex was. The hallways stretched endlessly, and the different zones were clearly marked.
He passed a few groups of teens chatting quietly, but no one paid much attention to him. After about ten minutes of walking, he finally reached the training room.
Unlike other places he'd visited, no one was around.
At least no one's guarding the entrance.
What he found inside left him speechless. He had expected racks of firearms, training targets, maybe even some high-tech gear.
Instead, there was a large open space like a sports hall, with a small row of seats for an audience. Along the edge of the room were melee weapons: long swords, bows, an axe, and other items that looked like they'd come straight out of a medieval movie.
"What the hell is this?"
He didn't see the point of wasting resources on something like this, especially in a world where guns ruled the battlefield.
No wonder the place was empty. Anyone seen playing with those old-fashioned weapons would be laughed at.
Yet, despite his doubts, Ren felt drawn to them. No matter how old we get, there's still a kid inside us—and Ren was no exception. He picked up a longsword, felt its weight in his hand, and began mimicking the moves of ancient warriors he'd seen in movies.
"Looks like you're having fun."
Ren jumped and spun around.
Who's that? I didn't even hear the door open.
Scanning the room, he spotted a blond boy sitting in one of the seats, amusement in his eyes. It was David.
Of all the people who could've walked in… it had to be him?
"Relax, I'm not here to judge," David said.
Ren tried to play it cool, awkwardly putting the sword down. "I was just looking. These old weapons are… interesting."
David didn't seem convinced. He stood up and walked over, hands in his pockets, looking calm and slightly amused.
"There's nothing wrong with being curious. We all are, in our own way."
Ren nodded, unsure where David was going with this. He wasn't used to talking with people like him—public figures who were always in the spotlight.
"So, do you know anything about old weapons?" David asked, picking up a short sword and spinning it skillfully.
Ren shook his head. "Not really. I just found them… intriguing."
David smiled again, his gaze calm, almost knowing.
"'Intriguing' is the right word. But it's nice to see one of us interested."
So he remembers me.
Before falling asleep in the capsule, Ren and David had crossed paths briefly. A short, almost meaningless encounter—but one that stuck with Ren. Of course, he remembered David—how could he forget the president's son? But he hadn't expected David to remember his face, just one ordinary boy among so many.
"I didn't think the famous David would remember me."
David shrugged, like it was the most natural thing in the world.
"It's normal to know the people beside me, Ren."
At the sound of his name, a shiver ran down Ren's spine. It wasn't just the fact that David remembered him—it was the way he said it, like he knew more than he let on.
Ren's parents hadn't been on David's side. Neither had Carla's. In fact, he was here because of unusual circumstances—decisions that weren't his.
And even if he had the choice now, Ren didn't know which side he'd pick. He had never been passionate about any cause. He preferred to observe, to think, without ever really committing.
"Well, I'll leave you to it, my friend. See you around."
The word friend rang strangely in Ren's ears. It wasn't the same as when Yane had said it.
"Yeah… see you."
David gave one last smile before walking out, leaving Ren alone with his thoughts.