Trust isn't given, no not in this world. It's taken, earned or even paid for in blood. The sound shouldn't exist, that was what hitted Jasper first.
"Something is running" Jasper said.
"You hear that?" Someone whispered
No one answered because everyone heard it and yet nobody understood what it was, In a world that burned, machines shouldn't still be breathing.
"Quite."Jasper raised his hand.
Everyone kept quite, including the ones who doubted him because there was something about that moment that felt bigger than fear. As they moved towards it in a slow manner, the narrow passage widened gradually and the air around them became cooler and filtered, it seemed impossible at first and then Stacy leaned closer.
"This isn't natural." She said
"No." Jasper nodded slightly
Which ment that someone built and maintained it was still there. The group froze at the edge of the opening the moment the saw the steady artificial light, they were all concerned about what was a head of the hidden structure, the metal was embedded Into the at one with sealed doors and panels and the system was still running, the old world was buried but was still alive
"How is this even possible…" someone exhaled deeply.
No one answered because it didn't matter at that point but survival to them does. Their hope was mixed with fear and each opportunity with risk, that very place could mean shelter or control. Stand stepped forward now and his to me was a bit different.
"We don't rush this." He said
As Jasper glanced at him he nodded once in respect. After some moments of silence they moved in further and saw a massive sealed door with no visible handle or obvious entry point, just a panel that glowed faintly beside it but it was still active. Jasper stepped closer and scanned every detail.
"It could be a trap," someone muttered.
"Everything is," Jasper replied
But he didn't step back, he reached toward the panel and then stopped. He listened again, something felt off inside, a faint click echoed from behind them and Jasper spinned immediately and the passage entrance sealed as metal slided over the stone cutting of the way back. Panic surged instantly. Fear exploded under pressure and they had their weapons raised and shouted on to o of the it voices.
"We're trapped!" One of the survivors cried.
This time it was worst because they all walked into it willingly.
"Stop!" jasper commanded
"You brought us here!" Someone snapped
"You said this was a way out!"
"We trusted you!"
The anger returned stronger now because fear needed someone to blame and Jasper was right there. The word trusted hitted harder than anything else. They felt betrayed. Stacy tried to step forward but Jasper stopped her with a look. It was just moment and he already knew it. Jasper stepped on to the center calm and grounded.
"You're all right." He said.
"I brought you here."
Those words landed hard because no one expected that. Silence creeped in for some seconds.
"And yeah…"
"I didn't know what we'd find."
His voice tightened slightly, there were no lies or excuses, just the truth.
"But I made a choice."
He stepped closer to them now with eyes locked with each one.
"Same as all of you."
Just hen the tension drifted a little because it wasn't him versus them, it was all of them versus reality.
"So you think there was a safer path?" He asked
No one dared answer him because they already knew the truth that there wasn't
"Out there…" he continued
As he gesturex back toward where the raiders were.
"We were prey."
And then he pointed toward the sealed door.
"If here…we don't know yet."
He paused for a moment exhaled heavily letting it settle and then he continued.
"But I'd rather face something new…"
"Than die running form something we already understood." He concluded.
A heavy weight of silence took over because that was the truth they didn't want to face. Stan exhaled slowly, looked wrought the group and then back at Jasper.
"So what now?" He asked.
Jasper turned back to the door with his focus locked in again.
"Now we find out what this place is."
He reached for the panel again without hesitation this time. His hand pressed against the surface and the system reacted instantly with light flares and a deep mechanical hum arose. The group braced their weapons ready with their hearts pounding heavily. The massive door opened slowly and heavily revealing only darkness beyond and a voice echoed from the inside calm and quite familiar.
"Identification…accepted."
Jasper froze because he never gave one. The group looked at him with fear rising again but this time it was different because they trust him just enough… to follow him on to whatever comes next.
As the door opens wider and the darkness inside seems to breathe…one impossible truth locks into place; This place knows who Jasper was…and it has been waiting for him.