Page 13 of Shattered World

Everyone had told me how bad of an idea this was, even the voices in my head, but I hadn’t listened.

My guard up, I froze in place, trying to decide the best course of action. I needed to get out of this room and then we all needed to get out of this hotel. Screw the information she may have, we’d find another way.

Caroline let out an annoyed sigh as I internally freaked out, my eyes darting to her. The annoyance didn’t match with what was brewing in my head.

“I see that intelligence only takes you so far. Why would I admit to you that I worked for the government if I was going to harm you?”

Her words should have been a relief, but delivered in her cold and calculating tone, they were anything but.

“I’m supposed to believe you’re going to help me out of the kindness of your heart?”

As if I would ever believe that. I may have fallen right into a trap, but that didn’t mean I didn’t realize how this world worked.

“Now, I didn’t say that. You see, I’ve been working with the government for the past twenty years. Worked my way up the ranks from an assistant to working with confidential cases. Imagine my surprise when nearly two years ago I received details on the creation of bunkers.”

Following her timeline, that was around the same time when my dad and Emmanuel had discovered the meteor. Before the government shut them down. How unfair that the two men who discovered the end of the world didn’t even have a chance to survive it?

“You don’t seem surprised,” Caroline added, and I debated how much information I should give her.

Deciding I had nothing left to lose and only something to gain, I said, “My father was the scientist that discovered the meteor.”

Caroline nodded, her eyes narrowing as if filing away that information for later. “I didn’t think anything of the assignment. Why wouldn’t we save the people of our country?”

Realizing where this was going, I asked, “When did you realize they weren’t even planning on saving half?”

I couldn’t help the snark in my words and she cut her eyes to me sharply. “Not until much later. Around the time that theystarted implementing the plans to destroy the cities. And when I did, I realized I couldn’t simply go along with their plan any longer.”

By her sharp tone, I knew she had no intention of explaining the reasoning behind her decision. But that didn’t mean I couldn’t ask another question.

“Why did they do that, anyway?” It wasn’t necessarily important anymore, but no matter how many answers I got, that one was always still a mystery. Why couldn’t they have let everyone enjoy the rest of their lives in peace?

Shrugging, she said dismissively, “Too many resources would be wasted if life continued as it was. Do you know how much electricity we use? Gas? Food? All of those things are needed to continue life in the bunkers, and plenty of it. Making sure that no one had unlimited access to those things anymore was the first step in the plan.”

That made sense. Except for one thing. “And yet this city is still standing. People are still going to work, using all those precious resources.”

“It may seem like that as you walk about. But many people have been displaced, kicked out of their homes and sent away. The people you see milling about are all working either for the government or on the bunkers. Plus, those who paid their way into the shelters, as you so eloquently said.”

Nodding, I wracked my brain for the questions I had prepared, wondering how much she was willing to share. “Where are the bunkers?”

It was a bold question. One I was sure she wouldn’t answer, but I was even more surprised when she let out a bewildered laugh.

“Do you think I’d be sitting here, doing all of this, if I had any clue?”

Any hope I had walking into this room deflated like a balloon. What was the purpose of her sharing this information if she didn’t even know where the bunkers were?

Shuffling through papers on her desk, she pulled out several maps, setting them before me. Leaning forward in my seat, I scanned the lines, dark circles penned in different areas.

“I’ve been scouting the city for months now, trying to find where the bunkers are. I don’t have high enough clearance for that information.”

“But you have a spot in them,” I stated. She wouldn’t have access to this much information if she didn’t.

“Correct. However, there’s always a contingency plan. They don’t want some loudmouth feeling guilty and telling everyone. Until the day comes when they are needed, only a select few know the exact location.”

The news settled in my gut like a stone. The odds of us finding someone that already knew the location were slim. Although I knew this, it didn’t explain why Caroline was sharing all this information with me.

When I told this to her, an eerie smile graced her lips. “Dozens of people have come through my doors, seeking a place to stay. I mean, what better business to run when you’re searching for people with nothing to lose?”

Swallowing roughly, I realized I had played exactly into her hand. I had blatantly admitted that I would do anything to survive.

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