As I walk through the housing center.
As usual, the elders are poisoning the younglings with their tales of the surface.
I don't know why, it's not like they will ever see it.
I guess it's about remembering the world we once had.
Or maybe about fantasizing a world that we will never have.
When all of us were children, The elders would tell us tales of the giant ball of fire Sitting in a place called the sky. Of flying creatures that soared through the air.
Of large bodies of water called oceans. In which swimming creatures lived.
But me.
I don't believe them. And why should I.
They have never been to the surface.
They have never seen it themselves.
No one has.
Everything the elders know about the so-called surface are from old ragged book's past down from the first generation.
Those who once lived above before the calamity.
But my naïve younger brother Dean.
He believes the tales of the elders, despite what I say.
He says i am one of little hope for not believing.
And maybe he's right.
The last ounce of hope I had, died along side my parents.
After what the first generation called the " great calamity " humanity was forced to escape deep underground like rats.
And for generations we cave folk have lived and died in this bunker, like flies in a sealed jar.
No one knows for certainly what was the said calamity.
Or even what caused it.
Did the so-called sun die?
Did the ocean flood the surface?
It doesn't matter, we cave folk will never know.
As I enter and walk through the barely lit cave walkway that connects the market district and the housing complex.
A voice from behind shouts to me.
"Oh Kelly…. Oh, Kelly dear, wait a second."
As I turn to face the voice, I couldn't catch my smile when seeing her.
Ms.Cait
An old, tiny chubby lady with brown skin, black hair and piercing brown eyes.
She raised my brother and I for some time when our parents disappeared into the abyss and never returned.
She's a kind and sweet lady with a very scary side to her, nobody dares to mess with her.
"Ms.Cait, how have you been?"
"Oh, I have been well, dear. I need your help, are you busy, if so, it can wait?"
"I'm just getting dean's medicine, after that I'm free."
"That's great, dear, I'll see you at the house, bring Dean if he's up for it."
She said as she waved good bye, heading back towards the housing district.
As I watch her walk to the gate.
I reminisce the time we spent together, and how patient she was, when my parents went into the abyss seeking the surface.
"Ok, no problem Ms.Cait."
I said while waving back and beginning to continue walking.
Time really does fly.
After some time I reach the market district gate, that's being guarded as usual by Mr.James, an veteran guard.
Since before my time he's been guarding this gate.
He's an older skinny man with short grey hair, light brown eyes and big ears that can give a hell bat a run for its money, and as usual wearing his black gate guard uniform.
"Oh, Kelly boy, how's your first week of cave guarding been?"
Mr.James uttered with an innocent smile on has face, sitting up from his chair.
"It's been alright Mr.James."
I replied cracking a smile while shaking his old and thin hand.
"Oh, that's good to hear."
He replied nodding his head.
"You fought any hell bats yet?"
"No, not yet sir. But commander Axe said I will have to face them soon enough."
"Listen, sunny boy when fighting hell bats, you gotta keep your distance while trying to pierce the suckers with a spear."
"Many good man are bags of bones right now, trying to fight those things with swords and hammers."
Mr.James said to me doing a piercing gesture with hands all while having a serious face.
I nodded.
"I understand Mr.James."
"Good, that's good to hear."
Having to catch his breath.
Mr.James was always a caring man, he's been like a grandfather to me and lot of others.
"On that note, how's your brother? I hear he was bitten by one, I know he has always been a sickly and fragile boy."
"That disease he has been cursing him all his life."
Mr.James said, his face becoming Concerning and sitting back down.
"Oh he's doing better, The hell bat didn't get him too bad, it was just a baby."
I replied, easing his concern.
When mr.James begin to speak again, he couldn't utter a single word.
"Emergency…. Emergency…. I repeat… Emergency."
The alarm sirens ringing throughout the bunker.
Mr.James walkie-talkie on top of the desk received a message from the cave guard operator.
"Attention, all cave guard Personnel…. Attention, all cave guard Personnel."
"A horde of hell bats have infiltrated the Mining district."
"Five fatalities, ten injured, please aid in assisting the evacuation of the injured and the elimination of the horde."
As I rushed, turning the corner to enter the walkway that sit's left of the market gate and Mr.James black security desk.
That leads to the mining district.
Mr.James shouted to me.
"Don't you forget what I tell you sunny boy, you hear?"
Running full speed, heart pounding, arms swinging, already half way to the mining district front lobby.
I spout back.
"Don't worry, You don't have to tell me twice Mr.James."
Entering the silent mining lobby, I see the legion of cave guards readying themselves and picking up their weapons preparing for the pending battle.
As I look around I can tell the difference between the old guard and the green horns.
The olds are serious and focus, no hint of fear in their eyes. All in the vanguard, spears in hand.
That's what years of experience look like, I guess.
And the green horns, you can tell they're trying to match the old guard, but failing.
All standing in the back, with swords and hammers in hand.
I hear some praying to their mothers and fathers.
I pushed through the crowd, reaching the weapons rack.
Which sits on the left hand side of the entrance.
As I am putting on my tactical armor and grabbing my spear, gold crosses my eye.
Leo.
My best friend since childhood.
He's easy to spot in a crowd, with that golden hair of his.
He's wearing his late father's old tactical gear, and on his left hip is the new sword his mother gifted him, when he became a cave guard.
He's been training for this exact moment since childhood.
And through all that training, he gained the physique of a lion.
When shit hit's the fan, I know I can count on him, more than any green horn or old guard.
Leo senses was always sharp, he spotted me approaching him before I uttered a word.
Typical.
"Oh, what's up Kel."
He grinned, cocky and fearless.
I elbowed him lightly as I walk to his side.
"Why haven't we entered yet?"
He tilted his head towards the mining gate, resting his forearm lazily on the hilt of his sword.
"We're waiting for the big man himself."
Commander Axe, Of course.
I checked my gear, tightening the strap across my chest.
"Are you thrilled? It's finally time to put all that training to the test."
Leo didn't answer right away.
He just looked at me - a weird, unreadable look in his eyes - then turned back to face the gate.
A grin broke across his face, wide and fearless.
"Hell yeah, I am."
I couldn't help it. I grinned too.
This was it.
"Oh, the gangs all here I see."
A voice speaking from behind us.
I can always recognize that voice.
Tom
My other bestfriend and the final person to complete our little group.
He's a tall and skinny guy, brown hair and brown eyes to match.
Walking towards us, Towering over the legion of soldiers, with a spear in hand.
Leo turn to face him, crossing his arms and remarks cracking a smirk.
"Oh, so you actually decided to show, I thought you would go hide in your room."
'Ah, shut up Leo, I would never do that."
"Besides if I did ms.Cait would rip me a new one."
Scratching the back of his head, looking down.
"ALL RIGHT, MEN, LISTEN UP."
A man suddenly spouts from the front, walking towards the center of the crowd, between the green horns and old guards.
Commander Axe.
The big guy. An Intimidating man, with his hulking mountain of a body, thick black beard, large jagged scar that tore down from his forehead, through his right eye, and ripped across his cheekbone.
He look like he fought death and won.
Commander Axe didn't waste time.
He glared at us.
"I DON'T GIVE A SHIT IF YOUR OLD BLOOD OR NEW BLOOD."
He barked, voice rumbling through the room.
"AND THOSE FUCKERS DON'T GIVE A SHIT AS WELL, ALL OF OUR BLOOD BLEED RED."
The greenhorns stiffened.
The old guards barely blinked.
Commander Axe voice roaring through the crowd.
I readied myself.
Tom's heart probably pounding against his ribs.
Leo only grinned — that fearless grin he always wore when things got bad.
"I WANT SPEARS COVERING THE VANGUARD TO PICK THE FUCKS OFF, AND THE REST IN THE BACK KILLING EVERYONE THE VANGUARD MISS."
"IF YOU AIN'T GOT THE BALLS TO STICK IT, YOU BEST WALK AWAY NOW.
No one moved.
Hell No one dared to move.
Commander Axe nodded once, Satisfied.
"GOOD. NOW LET'S REMIND THOSE BASTARDS WHY HUMANS ARE STILL ALIVE."
And unison the old guard slammed their spears against the ground - a Sharp, heavy thud that rattled through my bones.
Even the greenhorns mustered up a shout, trying to match them.
Leo leaned in, voice low.
"You ready, Kel?"
I tightened my grip on my spear.
No turning back now.
"Hell yeah."
" LIEUTENANT BOB, OPEN THE GATE."
Commanded Axe roared.
Lieutenant Bob an chubby bald man with a Horseshoe mustache, nodded opening the gate.
Place his hand on the handle, the gate groaned while opening.
When the gate opened half way, a bloodcurdling scream filled the room, ripping through my ears.
Leo unsheathed his sword.
Tom grabbed his spear more tightly.
The green horns step back while the old guard didn't move a muscle.
END OF CHAPTER 1