Chereads / : "The Soul of Heaven" / Chapter 10 - "Death around the Corner"

Chapter 10 - "Death around the Corner"

∎̳̿͟͞E̳̿͟͞c̳̿͟͞h̳̿͟͞o̳̿͟͞e̳̿͟͞s̳̿͟͞ ̳̿͟͞o̳̿͟͞f̳̿͟͞ ̳̿͟͞D̳̿͟͞e̳̿͟͞s̳̿͟͞t̳̿͟͞i̳̿͟͞n̳̿͟͞y̳̿͟͞ ̳̿͟͞I̳̿͟͞V̳̿͟͞∎̳̿͟͞

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⟹ 2+2?

YEE..I know, it's a very difficult question, you'll have the answer at the end.

Anyway.. Today we're talking about DEATH.

Hehe, I definitely scared you, haha.

..

Actually, let's change today..

The lesson will be different.

Tell me your story instead.. You can do it here in complete anonymity or at home on a piece of paper!

It's amazing how some phrases spoken at certain moments can change your life.

Sometimes doubts and thoughts need to be written down or grouped together; they seem less omnipotent than in our minds.

But did you know that our brain, or rather our thoughts, often lie to us?

Yes haha..

Without realizing it, we lie to ourselves many times.

If you want, we can talk about it in the future.

And.. Ah!

I met that long face again, remember I already told you about it.

Today, he greeted me.

I kys him gently. c:

 ˜"°•.   ♪   .•°"˜

With evident joy, Adam watched with anticipation as Eve descended gracefully from above.

The dark and cloudy sky cast a gentle luminosity, accentuating her presence.

Eva couldn't help but say enthusiastically, ▶ "We hit the jackpot; it looks like a power plant!" Forgetting about the situation she was in.

As she fell, her movements resembled a delicate ballet, a seamless dance in the air.

The atmosphere was charged with a sense of anticipation.

The girl landed firmly in Adam's metallic arms, who had just arrived, creating a moment that seemed to freeze in time.

The touch of her landing caused a subtle sensation of warmth, leaving her cheeks tinged with a slight blush.

▶ "Pervert.. did you see them?"

Turning his head fixed on Eve. ▶ "Seen what?"

Eve, even redder than before, began to move like a child who have not getting what he want, ending up falling to the ground. ▶ "Nothing, forget it!"

Getting up and adjusting her dress, she asked. ▶ "So, are we safe now?"

With his hand on his chin and visibly thoughtful, Adam replied. ▶ "Well, let's say yes, but I don't think it contains electricity anymore.."

Eve said, smiling. ▶ "Let's try entering; maybe we're lucky!" 

Adam, ready to leave after scanning the area. ▶ "Okay, it also looks like a simple model- a coal power plant." 

As he walked, hiding his face with one hand. ▶"I didn't picture you as the type who prefers pink.."

Hearing these words, Eva stepped back, her eyes wide, appearing momentarily frozen.

With a stutter, she managed to say. ▶"Sso.. Youu saw themm!"

The android, however, immediately noticed a problem: the entrance.

The walls of the power plant were imposing, standing at 4 meters tall, and made of thick blocks of concrete.

Their presence created an inaccessible barrier, with sharp, completely rusted iron fences challenging any attempt to climb.

These dense and sturdy barriers seemed like an impregnable fortress surrounding the facility.

Even though some parts were fragments, those walls, now darkened, retained their imposing nature, giving the industrial complex a massive and inaccessible appearance.

Adam, thoughtful, stopped in front of the wall. ▶ "As imposing as it seems, I don't think it will be too difficult to bring it down now that it's quite old!"

Eve, however, with an ironic tone, said. ▶ "Good! You knock down the wall; I'll decide whether to enter through that entrance down there or fly over it."

Adam turned and looked at Eve.

Eve waved at him as she walked away. ▶ "I've decided I'll take the entrance over there on the right. See you inside, Adam." 

The Android, realizing there was an entrance, decided to follow his companion, finally arriving in front of the gate.

▶ "This place still seems.. let's say, intact." Observed Adam, trying to scrutinize if the structures were still usable.

Eve, with a confident tone, pointing towards the center of the power plant, affirmed.

 

▶ "Well, let's pass this small and sad checkpoint for car access and the entrance barriers, finally head towards the central structure!"

▶ "Okay!" Looking around, noticing the total emptiness.

There wasn't even a single corpse in the power plant's courtyard, unlike outside.

However, the power plant's structures, while still "intact, " didn't seem safe to use, with all those cracks and the vegetation that had grown around them.

As she passed through the barrier, Eve, curious, asked Adam who had to jump it. ▶ "Earlier, you mentioned that this is a coal power plant, but how do you know?"

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Adam, standing tall with arms around his waist, replied.

▶ "Well, Eve," He explained. ▶ "I used the scientific information in my system!"

Pointing ahead, he continued. ▶ "These coal power plants have boiler and turbine equipment designed to operate at extremely high temperatures."

▶ "And, of course, those towering chimneys release smoke. These emissions are primarily carbon dioxide (CO2), Sulfur dioxide (SO2), and Nitrogen oxides (NOx), among others."

▶ "But!" He added, turning to the right for emphasis, ▶ "When I analyzed this location, I detected an absence of emissions. It momentarily threw me off, but then..."

Adam indicated a big building to the right. ▶ "Something convinced me even more, and is that those power plants require large quantities of coal, which is often stored in designated storage areas like that one."

▶ "Adam, wait, wait, I don't think I understood anything. Explain better.." Eve said with a turned head.

Adam with a severe face, and ready to begin, exclaimed. ▶ "OK, it's better if I explain step by step. Trust me, it won't be too complicated, so listen!"

▶ "But first, let's go inside. We need to reach the control room." Continued Adam, walking forward into the most prominent building.

He explained his speech as they entered through the deactivated security doors, which opened quickly without electricity.

The interior of the power plant was pitch-black, and they couldn't see anything.

However, thanks to Adam's eyesight, they were able to have a decent view, providing a glimmer of hope and some visibility within the labyrinth.

It was filled with creatures like snakes and rats, hidden away, and they saw the light for the first time in their lives.

Eve, slightly scared, asked. ▶ "Hold my hand, don't walk this fast, or else I might get lost.."

Adam, taking Eve's hand, continued trying to distract her from the surroundings.

▶ "You surely know coal, a sedimentary rock of organic origin, primarily formed from the remains of plants that grew in ancient lacustrine and marshy basins.."

Eve replied. ▶"Of course!" Nodding The head up and down, even though she didn't know it.

Adam, determined, continued the speech and his walk through the vast areas of the power plant, going from room to room, searching for the control room.

▶ "Good. Coal is also primarily extracted through two methods." He stopped in the hallway just before entering the sought-after area, showing his index finger.

The rooms were too large; it's possible that they had already passed through the desired room without noticing it.

They noticed that at times, three arrows appeared: one red, one green, and one yellow.

Both of them decided to follow the red one.

▶"The first involves extracting coal from the surface when it is relatively close, but in this case, it is not applicable."

Then, pointing down, with the index and middle finger together.

▶ "The second method involves underground mining, which can be done at depths exceeding 300 meters (approximately 1000 feet)."

The vegetation was also a persistent companion on this journey, accompanying them through every area.

Their choice led them to a large room with giant containers. ▶ "Adam, do you know where we are?"

The android, looking around slightly, said. ▶ "Well, this is the storage room, and they seem quite intact to me; maybe they still contain some coal, I hope at least 20% of their capacity, to fill the battery for now and in the future!" 

Then he approached one of them and stared at it intensely. ▶ "Activate X-ray vision!"

Eve commented. ▶"Don't you dare look towards me! I—i know you can see through clothes too.."

Adam began to laugh slowly, saying, ▶ "Don't worry; there's not much to see."

Eve, blushing, and walked away, clenching her fists in the darkness. "Y—you'll pay for this." She muttered.

Adam, laughing ironically, ran towards Eve, and taking her hand again, he went ahead, saying. ▶ "I was just kidding, you're perfect as you are!"

Eve began to release steam due to the redness on her face while walking, without saying anything.

Adam, following the yellow arrows this time, continued the conversation, this time with his other hand, moving it upward.

▶"The extracted coal is transported from the mine to a preparation plant via a conveyor belt on the mining site." 

Finally, however, things changed.

It could be perceived that the room just a few meters ahead was the right one because there was another large yellow directional arrow.

Eve commented, looking at it. ▶ "Maybe we've arrived!"

Adam, however, deeply engrossed in his speech, continued.

▶ "Once there and cleaned, the coal is transported here to the power plant using a means of transportation, presumably that imposing building near this one."

The choice was right; the yellow arrow led them to the brain of the power plant.

▶ "Subsequently, it is deposited into the power plant bunkers, the one we saw earlier, which contain enough coal to ensure electricity for a certain period until the next replenishment."

Placing his hands on Eve's shoulders, making her jump from the sudden fright and embarrassment, he asked. ▶"Understood so far?'"

The victim, getting more comfortable to the explanation. ▶ "Yes! I think so.."

▶ "Well, let's go in and see what the state of this power plant's system is.."

Speaking in a low voice. ▶ "Finally, something interesting.."

▶ "You said something, Eve?" Asked the companion, annoyed.

Thanks again to Adam's light, the control room was a spacious and dark space; rows of computer monitors adorned the walls.

Some screens had scratches from animals like rats, and some were visibly still intact.

Eve said, hiding herself behind Adam. ▶ "Ehmm, there are many of these rats here.."

The android, touching his head to hold it close, turned back and said. ▶ "Don't use that word; it brings back bad memories."

The girl responded ironically. ▶ "True.. That crazy bastard should appear soon.."

Adam, with a confident tone. ▶ "And soon we'll have the battery to escape from here!"

Eve asked, curiously. ▶ "Ah, I forgot it.. Did you find something earlier, by any chance, in the data? "

Adam responded as if struck by memories. ▶ "Ah, it's true, I haven't told you yet.."

▶ "While I was searching, I found some files called "Heaven," and when I opened them, it said, "This is cheating!"

The girl thoughtfully replied, surprised. ▶ "Interesting; Perhaps it's related to technology?"

Adam, also full of questions, with his hand on his chin, continued.

▶ "Well, the name Heaven reflects life after death, but I don't understand 'This is cheating.' As the man said, the programit's alive, but why throw obstacles in our way?"

In the center of the room stood a large control panel with buttons, switches, and levers.

Adam and Eve approached the control panel, their footsteps echoing in the room.

The surrounding darkness and the sound of small insects and rats fueled a growing anxiety.

▶ "For now, it seems like we have bigger problems.." Replied Eve.

The control panel is the nerve center of a power plant, where critical decisions and operations are typically managed.

▶ "You're right, I don't know if this power plant still works." Putting the hands around the body.

It was a complex array of controls, each labeled with technical terms related to the power generation process.

However, this was not the case, as it was completely inactive.

Nevertheless, the room was comfortably cool, with only a few lifeless bodies, and the temperature was regulated.

The control room was inhabited by the remains of a team of presumed engineers and technicians, all in positions concentrated on their tasks, monitoring the nothingness of the power plant and trying to ensure everything ran smoothly, even after life.

The walls were adorned with sheets of diagrams and blueprints outlining the intricate network of pipes, generators, and electrical circuits that made up the power plant.

Adam and his companion observed the former dedicated professionals at their eternal work, their expertise evident.

Eve, looking at Eve with a smile, to not panic asked. ▶ "So what do we do now, clever boy?"

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