I have no idea how they have managed to build all of this in this mountain. To say I am impressed is a vast understatement. Never has it been more obvious to me that I know so little of this world. How can one stand in the middle of a mountain?
The rooms have small holes carved into the mountain side with fabric hung over them.
“At night you should always keep these over the windows. During the day it is ok to open them up,” Steve says.
We nod at him. They hide us in plain sight from whatever is out there. They are so unbelievably smart.
“Breakfast is from six am till nine am, depending on your jobs. Lunch from twelve till one and dinner is at six pm. Just follow the crowd to know where the cafeteria is. Get some rest and unpack your belongings tomorrow. Then come and find me at my office. You can find me at headquarters on the main floor, room 101. We all do our part here, I will have jobs ready for you then. If there is anything else you need you can ask your platform officer. He lives in 701, right next to the stairs.” He gives us a small nod and steps aside, letting his men through. They all place their boxes in the small space and then the door closes, leaving us in silence. We take it all in. Then I sigh, this is a lot better than we could have ever hoped for. Mom and Dad seem less worried too. We are safe, we can stay here and have our own place.
Steve had said I would have something to do here, but it is wonderful to hear he also has jobs for my parents. Dad has been searching for jobs for so long. He will be fine with whatever job they give him. Hopefully they have something fitting for Mom though. Her mental state is not very good, disabling her from work so far. She really does want to do her part though. Let’s hope all will go well.
Steve told us to go straight to bed, but there is too much adrenaline rushing through me. I move towards our boxes. My parents apparently have the same idea and we laugh at each other as we all move towards the boxes at the same time. The sound sends chills down my spine. We have not really laughed in such a long time. It gives me sparks of hope and joy.
We will be ok.
Unpacking goes even quicker than packing and within no time I cross my legs on my new bed looking around my new room. The room is simple, but it is all a person would need. Next to the bed stands a nightstand with a small lamp. I drape a red scarf over it, giving my room a warm red glow. The red reminds me of Gil. I miss her, but this way she is sort of with me. In the corner of the room stands a small dresser and a bookcase, both only half filled with my personal items. I laugh at the sight of the heels I have brought with me. Even though I hate wearing them, I have gotten attached to the memories they represent. Seeing them in my mountain bedroom is almost too funny though. They are complete opposites.
The next morning we do as Steve told us. We follow the crowd to the first floor and into a hall so huge it can seat thousands of people. This must be the cafeteria. I am struck by the spacious room and all the people, a small panic attack hits me. Large gatherings of people are not my favorite.
The room has rows and rows of tables with benches. Sitting on them are probably over a thousand people eating and chatting like this is the most normal thing. Who are all these people, why are they here? Are they running like we are? Were they also in danger?
Snap out of it Mera.
I force my focus back on the large room in front of me.
The back wall has a large buffet station. There is kitchen staff running around filling the buffet tables with whatever seems to be running out. People that are done eating take their plates and leave them at one of the cleaning stations, set up in all four corners of the room. I have to say, it all goes extremely smooth. I smile a little smile. My anxiety makes way for a little joy seeing such an organized group. This might be a place I can actually fit in.
The buffet is filled with all types of food. There is fresh bread, jam and other spreads and fruit. Another happy surprise. I had not expected this type of food. I grab a few items and a cup of tea and make my way down to some empty seats. While chewing I watch the people around me chat and eat. They all seem very content with their life here. Kitchen staff move around the large place wiping tables. Carts of stacked plates and cups are taken towards large swinging doors which probably hold a kitchen and cleaning room. The smoothness of it all stuns me. It is all very impressive.
After we finish our own food we follow the others example and place our plates and cups on one of the cleaning stations before making our way out.
“So, shall we go on a scavenger hunt to room 101?” Dad asks jokingly. It is wonderful to hear him this way. I know he is looking forward to getting a job. And I love the humor in his voice. It feels worry free, I can’t remember him ever being worry free.
“Do you think they will have a place for me too?” Mom looks at her feet and fiddles with some loose hairs. Her worries make sense to me. She has not been able to work for many years due to her mental health. But she still has so much to offer.
“Of course Mom, you have so much to give.” I mean every word of it. I just hope the people running this place see her worth too.
It takes us a few back turns and even though Dad does not want me to ask for directions, I do it anyways. Finally we find room 101. Although now that we are here I wonder if the word ‘room’ is even close to what this is.
The door has a finger scanner on the left side and a doorbell on the right. Once we ring the bell a camera above us moves into action. A click in the door almost makes me jump back. Then the door moves open swiftly. The world behind the door is unlike anything we have ever seen before. It kind of reminds me of a spider, with a fat body and long legs.
The belly of the spider is filled with desks, placed together as cells. The desks are filled with large screens. The men and women manning the desks are hard at work. I’m not sure what they are doing, each screen has different images or codes. They talk amongst each other, reaching across their desks and pointing at the screens. It feels like an organized mess. They all seem to know exactly what they are doing, and they seem in control. The positive vibe gives me energy.
Then there are the spider’s legs. Eight long hallways spill out into the large center belly. From where I stand there is no clear view of the hallways. Curiosity fills me as I wonder what each corner brings.
A man sitting at the front desk moves our way.
“New?” he asks, taking in our stunned faces.
“Uh, yes, we are here for jobs,” my father replies, not really looking at the man, but still staring at everything around him.
“Ah yes, go there, second door on the left,” he says, pointing at one of the spider legs.
The hallway has ten doors, five on each side. Some of the doors are closed, some are open. All have a glass panel next to the door, enabling you to look in. The hallway has a dead end, giving it an unfinished feel. The brick reminds me of where we are exactly. A mountain. We are in a mountain. This is insane.
Lost in my thoughts, it is dad’s hand pulling me into an office that brings me back. We find ourselves in a small office with a young woman sitting at the desk.
“Hello!,” She sounds as chipper as she looks even under the harsh light and I like her already.
She lets us sit down and gives all three of us a glass of water. Then she turns to have a better look at her computer screen.
“Let’s see,” her finger presses the screen a few times. It takes her a moment to pull up our files. “Ah, yes, Steve had already informed me that you would be coming here. I have your jobs pre-selected.”
“Oh,” is all I can muster. What has Steve told her about us? How much does he know? He seems kind, and thoughtful. My mind races, my palms begin to sweat. Worry creeps into my mind. I followed Steve here blindly. I stepped into the mountain without too much thought. Are they really who they say they are? What are they really doing here? Is this even the right cause?
Dad hears my breathing and lays his soothing hand on mine.
“Sir,” the woman says, looking at my father, “I have b
een informed you don’t mind any job, you are eager to work?”
Dad replies with a very eager nod. He is so excited. I really should not be worried. I can still trust people, I think.
“Wonderful!” she exclaims, even more chipper than before. “I have assigned you to be a trainee, I think with someone as eager as you, it would be a waste to put you just anywhere. So you will be an apprentice with our engineers.”
Dad jumps up in pure excitement. Tears fill his eyes. He has never had the chance to really learn a trade he can do with one hand. I have never seen him this excited about anything. As I watch him wiggle in his chair, mom places a careful hand on his knee, making sure he doesn’t run for his new job straight away.
The lady clearly enjoys watching us. She patiently waits till Dad sits down again. She then makes sure she has his attention again. He will be learning from the best. His job will mainly concern our amazing mountain structure and everything that needs to be done to keep us all safe inside.
She probably has no idea. She might never know how big this blessing is. He is just so happy.
We will be ok.
She turns towards my mother. I hold my breath. “I understand you are a little worried about work?” her chipper way making place for compassion and patience.
I breath out. She is good.
Mom nods slightly and her hands tremble.
“Well, I was thinking, maybe you would like to do something with your hands?” she asks.
Mom looks up from beneath her eyelashes and gives another small nod. She still holds onto the teddy bear that used to be mine when I was small.
“I was thinking you could work at the bakery, and your friend can come and keep you company, if you’d like,” she points at the teddy when she says it.
Gosh this woman is brilliant. Without ever meeting my parents, she is spot on. Mom has always loved baking bread and I think she is really good at it. And it could be something she does without interacting too much with others. This is perfect!
Mom agrees with me, her lips curl into a smile and she nods a few times. I smile too. The feeling of dread and worry is replaced with joy and comfort.
Then the lady turns to me. “So, I know you worked as the Queen's personal assistant, very impressive. I am pretty sure I have the perfect job for you here too.”
“Alright? What can I do?” I ask as my nerves get the better of me. Waiting and patience have never been a strong suite of mine.
“Steve needs a personal assistant, and he has requested you for the job.”
Worry rushes through me yet again. Am I the right person for such a big job? I am only a small town girl.
I am only human.
But then I almost laugh at myself, I survived as the Queen’s assistant, a job does not get much bigger than that. If I could handle that pressure, I should be alright here, right?
The lady takes her time explaining all the details, showing our schedules and answering our questions. As we leave I feel light as a feather. The pressure on my shoulders has lifted and I almost skip out of the office. We are going to be just fine.
Since we don’t start work till tomorrow I have time to explore, and I need some time to make this place my new normal. My parents go back to our apartment, and I turn the other way, towards the center of the main floor.
During the day the sun reaches in through the large opening at the top of the mountain. Even though I stand at the bottom, I can still feel its warmth. For a moment I close my eyes and face my head up to the top of the mountain. The light streams over me, soothing me. All around me people walk to their jobs. Everyone knows where to go, they all have purpose. The whole mountain is alive. The energy is buzzing, people talk, walk and even laugh.
I continue my exploring. The first few floors hold all the practical things that are needed to keep this place running. Such as the offices, the kitchen, the infirmary, cleaners, technical department, but also a long line of shops. Then the fourth floor is set up quite spacious with a bunch of different types of activities set up. I make mental notes of a sport area, a game hall and a children playroom. This floor also houses a small school.
The mountain feels like a maze, every floor has a different labyrinth. Every door a different purpose. There is so much to see, so much to process.
I stand on the platform on the fourth floor, lean against the bars and look up. The corridors are much wider on the first few floors. The smaller corridors must lead to apartments, like ours. It would explain why the corridors on the first floors are so much larger. Everyone has to pass through them. The other levels are only visited by residents. How many residents does this place hold? I lean a little further over the bar to look up and count. There has to be at least twenty more floors.
“New huh?” A woman close to my mother's age moves next to me. She looks me over and I give her a small smile. Usually I do not like people looking me over, but somehow with her I don’t mind. She does not return the smile, but still reaches out her hand.
“When you first get here it can be very overwhelming, it helps to have some familiar faces. I am Annabel, I can be a familiar face for you.”
I have no idea who this woman is, she does not look particularly happy, but somehow her energy is wonderful. She feels warm, caring.
“Thank you Annabel, I am Mera. And yes, we arrived last night. This place is unbelievable.”
She mirrors my body and leans against the railing. For a moment there is only silence and I turn towards her.
“How long have you been here Annabel?”
“Oh, a little while, probably two years?” She replies shrugging.
“That long?” So many questions pop up in my head and I can’t help but go on. “So who comes here? Why do people come here? How long has this place been open? And..”
She stops my waterfall of questions by placing a hand on my arm. “Let’s go get a cup of herbal tea, shall we?”
I nod, and follow her down the many steps.
When we reach the cafeteria I walk towards a free table. Annabel pulls on my arm and I look up in confusion.
“Not here, but in there,” she says pointing to a large door in the middle of the left wall. I had not really noticed the door this morning. But now that I think back, it was closed then. Now that it is open the vibrant colors pull me in. We step over the threshold and I stand still. A cafe? Are you kidding me? They have shops and a cafe?
Annabel reads the confusion on my face. “we get a small allowance for our jobs, so that we still have some freedom in what we buy and do, it gives a normal day feel” she explains.
I decide not to think about how HR can afford all this as we take a seat at a small table. The cafe is really cozy. There are about twenty small, candlelit tables. Since the cafe is in the middle of a mountain, there are no windows. But with the decoration you can still pretend we are sitting outside. The stone walls are painted beautifully with trees, mountains and a waterfall. I am sure the actual landscape outside has been the inspiration and I admire the work. The mountain’s dirt floor reminds me of sitting on a porch.
Annabel very generously buys us both a nice big cup of herbal tea and I stir some sugar in mine. While I stir, I look up at the woman sitting across from me. She is quite a pretty lady, even though she wears her troubles as wrinkles on her face. She is plump and a little short but she seems strong. Her dark brown hair chopped and thin, pulled back into a small ponytail. Loose strands of hair fall into her face when she moves to blow on her tea. Her facial features are plain enough, until I stop at her eyes. Although they are brown, the kindness in them is familiar. Warm and soft.
For a second my mind spins toward the Prince, his eyes gave me the same warmth. I pull my eyes away from her, towards my tea. It is a sad realization to know that the one person I want to share this experience with, is the one that cannot know about this place. I miss him. If only I could just feel his touch, hear his voice. See his eyes.
I snap out of my self-pity as Annabel starts talking
. “So, let’s see if I remember your questions,” she starts, “Yes I have been here that long, although I do not think it is long compared to many other residents. The first member of the HR movement came to this mountain over twenty years ago, and as far as I know they have been working to improve it ever since.”
I nod, willing her to continue her train of thought.
“You also asked who are here.” she says after taking a sip, “As far as I know, humans who are running from the Elite, for whatever reason.”
She takes another sip and looks up at me.
“So you were in trouble with Elites too?”
“Yeah, you can call it that.” Her eyes turn darker, shadows take over.
I want to ask more but it feels like I should not press her on the subject.
“Steve mentioned this is the east location, do you know how many are out there?” I ask, changing the subject.
She seems thankful for the change of conversation and replies, “I know there are at least two more large ones like this one. But I suspect they have smaller projects and locations all over the country.”
“Why is that?”
“Well, they have to get money and supplies somehow right? They need contacts all over the country to be able to pull this off.” she moves her arms around while speaking.
I nod, understanding what she is saying. This is all so much bigger than I could have expected. They must have people all over the place, spies, allies. People like Amber, who are fighting for the cause in secret. I really hope nobody finds out about Amber, I cannot imagine what they will do to her if they do.
Chapter 15
My reflection stares back at me. My eyes are big and round, like a deer in headlights. My hands shake, I am nervous, so nervous. I am not even really sure why. I worked for the Queen, what the heck is my problem, no need to be nervous. I wish my eyes were bright blue. The fake Elite strength would come in handy right now. My whole life I have been told I could not do something because I was not born Elite. Even though I have proven the world, and myself, over and over again that they are wrong, this still gets me nervous. The world is a messed up place, filled with lies. Somehow we start to believe those lies, even when we know they are wrong. A part of me knows I can do anything I set my mind to. But somehow, the world’s view of me still makes me self-conscious. What if I cannot do this? What if the world is right?
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