Aria leaned on her support stick, her movements deliberate as she walked to the left wall in the living room. The soft, golden light from fluorescent above, casts warm shadows on her face, illuminating the gentle scratch around her beauty.
"Let's get our hands dirty before taking a bath again," she said, while Ryan and Samuel exchanged a look, the look that was exchanged was the look of, who the fuck is she, the Aria they knew was the one clinging to Ryan's back for survival.
Aria pressed the button labeled "Left Wall" on the remote control nestled in her palm and the wall slid open, revealing the hidden room.
As the wall slide open, harsh emerald green light spilled out, bathing them in its radiance.
Before them lay rows of empty tables stretched across the room, their surfaces pristine and bare. The shelf that held many containers of seeds stood at one end of the room, Samuel gaze swept the space. "Time to start planting."
Ryan swings the sack out from his shoulder, containing their precious soil that was their key to survival "Let's get started." Aria nodded, her eyes shining with purpose.
"Time to bring life to this garden." She pressed the button labeled "Entrance Wall" on the remote control and the first wall they had used to enter the living room slid shut, sealing their heaven from the tunnel area.
They moved further into the room and Aria again pressed the button labeled "left wall", the wall slide shut, sealing them from the rest of the sanctuary.
Samuel moved to the tables, inspecting it. Ryan opened the sack, revealing the rich, dark soil. Aria moved to him and she scooped out a handful, inhaling the earthy scent.
"Smells like life," she said, a smile spreading across her face.
Ryan began putting the soil on the empty tables, he carefully spread it evenly, ensuring every corner was covered.
Aria and Samuel walked to the shelf that was lined with rows of containers holding an array of seeds, each label carefully marked with the crop's name. Aria scanned the labels, her fingers trailing over the containers.
Samuel picked up a container and Aria picked hers.
They both began planting the seeds at the tables that Ryan had put the soil on, their hands moving in harmony, the room transformed into a hub of activity, filled with the promise of growth and sustenance, a beacon of hope in the darkness.
Ryan finished spreading the soil across all the tables, the earthy scent filling the air. He dropped the now empty sack in the corner of the room, the worn and torn fabric crumpling against the wall.
Walking over to the shelf, Ryan picked up a container and joined Aria and Samuel at the tables. He began planting the seeds alongside Aria's and Samuel's.
The three worked in harmony, their hands moving with precision, planting seeds and nurturing their hope. The room was filled with laughter and conversation.
Ryan planted the last seed and stepped back, surveying their handiwork. Rows of tables stretched before them, each one a promise of sustenance and survival.
"We make a great team," Samuel said with a wide grin, wiping the sweat from his forehead with the back of his hand. A smudge of dirt remained on his left cheekbone, and a faint streak of soil marred his nose.
Aria smiled warmly, "We do." Her hair was tied back in a ponytail, but loose strands framed her face, damp from the sweats and clinging to her skin.
Ryan nodded, his eyes sweeping the rows of tables, taking in the neatly planted seeds and the rich, dark soil. His T-shirt clung to his torso and his arms were streaked with dirt.
Samuel glanced around with satisfaction on his face. "This will sustain us for a while." He let out a contented sigh and Aria nodded, her eyes never leaving Ryan's face.
Ryan walked to the shelf, his footsteps echoing through the room and picked up a remote control. the remote has two buttons each colored "red" and "green." His thumb hovered over the "green" button, and with a gentle press, the remote sprang to life.
Suddenly, a soft hiss filled the air as fine sprays of water erupted from the ceiling, dropping down to the tables below. The nozzle above released water.
Aria and Samuel watched as the water danced across the soil, nourishing the newly planted seeds.
The three stood in comfortable silence, witnessing the birth of their underground garden.
Aria, relying on her sturdy support stick for balance, walked back to the shelf and she carefully dropped the container she was holding onto the shelf's lower rack, making a soft clatter as it settled.
She leaned against her stick and she felt a sense of accomplishment. Their underground sanctuary was thriving well.
But despite their progress, the creature's presence lingered, a constant reminder that their safety was fragile, and their survival depended on their ingenuity and teamwork.
"Let's freshen up," Ryan said and pressed the button on the remote control to turn off the nozzle that had been spraying water across the newly planted seeds.
Droplets of water clung to the soil, glistening in the harsh light of the fluorescent above.
"A shower sounds heavenly, I'm covered in dirt." Samuel said while Aria retrieved the remote control from her pocket and she pressed the button labeled "Left Wall" with a gentle tap.
The entire wall began to slide open and it divided the two spaces. As it opened, the warm light from the living room spilled into the garden.
Aria led the way into the living room, her support stick helping her move, the living room's inviting atmosphere enveloped them and Aria pressed the button on the remote again, the left wall slid shut behind them.
Meanwhile, in the tunnel outside, near the iron door, a sudden movement stirred. The creature's claw that was laying motionless before suddenly twitched. The claw's razor-sharp tips scraped against the cold concrete floor.
The part of the claw that was cut began to regenerate, tendrils of dark, scaly tissue sprouting from the stump, the growth was slow but it was still happening.