4.1

"Sergei, you’ve got to tell us what you know about the incident though,” Liyeva pouted.
      “You think it’s a joke, Liyeva? People died! It’s not some funny story Luíz tells us, actual people were killed in the event. Even more were wounded and will probably never leave that factory alive ever again.
      Yes, those involved are required to stay inside the factory until further notice, because they’ve been exposed to high levels of toxic chemicals and are a walking hazard to the rest of Underconqueron right now. They’ll probably have to work and sleep there until the chemicals – or the enforcers – kill them!” Sergei yelled at her. He had eventually caved after Liyeva’s constant prying the entire evening and he was fuming now. Understandably so. Cass had been watching Liyeva’s continuous whining and was surprised and impressed by how long Sergei had managed to stay calm and quiet about it.
      “Come on, guys. I feel like it’s time to go to our rooms now. It’s almost time to turn off the lights anyway. Don’t fight, we only have each other.” Travis tried to calm the two, but they just kept staring at each other furiously, ready to throw fists at any moment.
      “Could you idiots please shut the fuck up! You’ve been chattering and shouting and bickering since you settled here, people are trying to sleep!” one of the older inhabitants in the bunker screeched at them. It caught Cass by surprise, she didn’t expect any of the other workers to actually say anything.
      On that note, everyone suddenly got up, cleaned up their mess and said their goodnights, before quickly scattering to their rooms. Travis, however, stayed behind. He claimed he’d be a terrible host if he’d let his guest walk home by herself after the first event.
      “It’s nothing unusual, don’t worry,” he said softly, to break the silence.
      “What do you mean?”
      “The discussions, cards or cans flying through the halls – usually because they were meant for someone’s face, getting yelled at by some old crone. It’s a basic evening,” he shrugged.
      “You mean this is normal? This happens on a regular basis?” Cass replied, convinced he was lying. Fighting wasn’t normal and especially not throwing things at each other.
      “It feels like a family. You know, the things we read about in the books we get from upstairs. A happy and healthy family with a mother and a father and some children. But they always have a fight too, only to work it all out and come back with a stronger family bond.
      Our group is a little bit like that as well. We all fight. Sometimes it’s two of us, like Liyeva versus Sergei today, sometimes it’s all of us against another, or group against group, and sometimes there’re no fights at all. And the subject varies. A lot. We’ve had fights about what the best soda flavour was, but also because some of us care less about getting the chance to go up than the others…” He paused for a moment. They had already arrived at Cass’ room, but Cass felt like he needed to get this off his chest. “You see, I don’t really care for it. I’m fine down here. Life isn’t great, but it’s not the worst. And we don’t know what awaits us up there. Will it be as grand as the nobles promise us when they come down here for the Ascension Rite?
      What if it’s worse than here? At least we have decent accommodation and food rations here. Working every day and barely being able to socialize without being punished is awful, but what will you get punished for when you go to Conqueron? I can’t help but wonder and stress about it every time the Rite is near. Norah, Luíz and Liyeva would love to go, and Sergei doesn’t give a damn, so it’s me against them. I just can’t shake the feeling something bad happens to you there. Which is also why I always stand at the back of the crowd when they pick out those “fit” for the Ascension.”
      “It’s okay. I understand, I think. The unknown is always mortifying and you make a pretty good point. We have no idea what awaits us there. Some of us want to hold on to a dreamy future where you live out your life in a pretty house, or mansion even, even if it means working for them. Others are horrified by the thought that there might be something worse waiting for them. For all we know, they could kill us once we’re out of sight for the rest of Underconqueron to see,” Cass said, in an attempt to comfort Travis. Although her last statement didn’t seem to really comfort him. At all.
      “Don’t say that, what if someone of us gets picked next time? They’ll probably move up the one that was planned because of the incident, to keep us satisfied. That's what they usually do anyway.”
      “Travis, we just don’t know what will come. If one of us gets chosen, they’ll just have to wait and see what is going to come their way. You can’t do anything about that. The fates of the chosen ones are out of your hands. Now go, before the enforcers catch you with your lights on.” Cass grabbed his shoulders to move him in the direction of his room, but squeezed his shoulder before letting go. “It will be fine.”
      She watched as he walked away. How was he able to be such a nice guy while he’s so burdened by his own thoughts? Cass could’ve sworn she saw him wipe away tears, but she couldn’t see his face properly in the reflection of the windows. Unsure of what to do, she decided to shut the door and prepare for a night’s rest, before the enforcers caught her with her light still on.