Stepping into the elevator felt strange to the both of them. Lucas and Stella have never been to any Units as far as they can remember, so all of this was new to them.
Lucas, who hadn't interacted with technology such as this in decades, got a child-like excitement as he stepped into the elevator. The rapture happened when Lucas was twelve, and he didn't remember much up until a couple years after he got lost in the wasteland. So for him, it was like he hadn't touched even a single elevator since he was twelve. Now he was… thirty? Maybe a little over that. Lucas really wasn't sure. His perception of time since he got lost had been thrown out the window. For all he knows, he could've been wandering around for an entire century, though, he doubted it because he knew his sanity would've probably been lost if he had spent any longer without any human contact.
The only thing that kept him sane for so long was the guardian Angel. He talked to it as if it was his best friend one moment, and then curse its name the next. But now he had Stella to keep him sane. But he knew he'd have to leave her here. There was no way he could bring her along to help find his wife. This was his burden, not hers. He just wanted her to be safe.
Stella held the baby close. All of them, even the baby, gawked at all the lights. A light of any kind would certainly result in an awestruck stare, but this elevator was the pinnacle of all their hopes and dreams. Safety at last. There was probably a whole colony of people at the bottom of the elevator leading a relatively normal life.
A screen with red digits above the door presented how far below the surface they were. Stella wondered what it would all look like. She imagined something straight out of a Sci-fi movie. Futuristic technology everywhere, laser blasters, robot assistants, and much much more.
Lucas also had high expectations, but not quite like what Stella was thinking. His mind was on his wife. He knew he probably wouldn't find her here, but he thought there might be someone who could track where she was, and point him in the right direction. Then he could leave Stella here where she'll be safe, and he can find his wife. His mouth contorted into a large smile. It was perfect!
Stella noticed the smile he wore, and she couldn't help but smile along with him.
(Stella: "What are you so happy about?")
(Lucas: "Huh? Oh. Nothing.")
(Stella: "Oh my god, it can't be nothing! I haven't seen a grin like that on your face since I met you!")
Lucas sighed.
(Lucas: "I'm just glad we've found somewhere safe.")
Suddenly something started hissing. They both flinched, and they saw gas coming out from dispensers at the top of the elevator. They didn't know what it was, and they didn't think to stop breathing.
They inhaled the gas. It had a sweet smell, but it burnt their nostrils. Stella covered her nose, the baby began coughing, and Lucas just crinkled his nose.
Perhaps he spoke too soon about this place being "safe."
Then the gas stopped, and the gas in the elevator cleared. By the time the gas was all gone, they felt really tired. Lucas figured it must've been a sedative of some sort, but it made him feel good. Something inside him had been cured by it. He didn't know how to explain it.
A bell in the elevator rang, and a moment later the doors slid open. They were met with a disappointing sight. There was a corridor outside the elevator. It was bland. Empty. Soulless. The walls were bare, and painted a pale white. The floor was made out of polished concrete and was also very bland. There were no lights on the ceiling, but there were L.E.D. lights lining the wall about an inch off the floor.
Stella was severely disappointed, but Lucas expected this more or less.
(Stella: "This is it?!")
Her breath led into a yawn.
(Stella: "Why am I so tired!")
(Lucas: "Shh! Do you hear that?")
At the end of the corridor, it turned right. Lucas had heard something down there, and he was tempted to turn back and travel up the elevator to the railway again, but he wanted to see what it was. He needed to see. They had come too far to turn back so soon.
They waited. The sound became louder. Lucas raised the crossbow and aimed it down the hallway.
(Lucas: "Is the safety on?")
(Stella: "Not unless you turned it on, which I doubt you know how to do.")
Lucas ignored her snarky remark and kept his eyes glued to the end of the corridor. Everything seemed to blend in his peripherals. Footsteps. He was hearing footsteps. He didn't know what made them, so he was ready for anything.
(Lucas: "Hello?")
Lucas called out to whatever was approaching. There was no answer. The only response were those steady rhythmic footsteps.
And that was all there was. Until a figure emerged from around the corner. It was a woman. It was a woman! She wore black shoes, baggy khaki pants with a belt, and a white button-up shirt with the sleeves rolled up. She also wore rectangular glasses. Lucas put down the crossbow.
(Woman: "Hello.")
She said this very casually. It gave the impression that this was nothing new to her. Seeing people was a regular occurrence for her. This confirmed to Lucas that this was indeed a sanctuary.
Lucas waved sheepishly, not quite knowing how to interact with her.
(Lucas: "Hi.")
She stared at them, looking at Lucas, then at Stella, and then back to Lucas.
(Woman: "What is your business here?")
(Lucas: "We're just looking for somewhere safe.")
The woman nodded and looked away from them. Her body began to sway. She took of her glasses and cleaned them with her shirt.
(Woman: "What's your name?")
(Lucas: "My name is Lucas.")
(Woman: "Last name?")
(Lucas: "Miller.")
(Woman: "What about the girl?")
Lucas turned to Stella. They waited for her to respond.
(Stella: It's Stella.")
(Woman: "Last name?")
Stella looked at Lucas for a moment, clearly not knowing what to say. He had never bothered to ask her last name before. Did she not have one?
(Stella: "Well, what's your name?")
The woman crossed her arms and leaned to her right a bit. She seemed annoyed by Stella's avoidance of her question, but in all honesty she couldn't be bothered.
(Janice: "My name is Janice Jennings. Why don't you folks follow me.")
She turned around and walked back around the corner. Lucas and Stella caught up to her.
(Janice: "I think I'm supposed to give you some sort of formal welcome since you guys are obviously new here, but that's really not my job, so I'll abstain.")
(Stella: "So this is Unit Twenty-one?")
(Janice: "Did you not see the giant '21' painted outside?")
(Lucas: "Where is everyone? It's very quiet here.")
(Janice: "Gone. You missed most of them by sixteen years.")
(Stella: "They are all dead?")
(Janice: "Most likely.")
Stella looked down. Her vision of what this place was like was fading before her. All her hope was being replaced by the harsh reality of the situation. In hindsight, it was obvious something like this would happen. Humans tend to become very destructive when faced with dire circumstances. It was only natural most would probably die off.
Janice's casual attitude was concerning. She didn't seem like she cared at all. All that life that had been lost. And by sixteen years! What possibly could've occurred sixteen years ago for this to happen?!
Then she asked a strange question.
(Janice: "So, do you guys feel tired at all?")
(Stella: "I do.")
(Lucas: "A bit.")
(Janice: "Good, so that means it worked.")
(Lucas: "What worked?")
(Janice: "The gas.")
(Lucas: "What about it worked?")
(Janice: "It's a toxin. A lethal one at that.")
Lucas' heart dropped into his stomach. He looked back at Stella, and she had the same expression on her face as he did. A toxin?! A damn toxin?! "Did I just lead Stella to her death?" Lucas thought to himself. His worst fear was happening before his eyes.
It seemed they had walked right into a trap.