Page 22 of Us Dark Few

Total submission was mandatory.

The Ordinances explained the history of Apollo, the other underground cities, and the events that led to the Great Collapse. They detailed the greed and power that overtook society and why it was necessary to obey the Council in all things; to prevent the extinction of humanity.

She nodded. “Yes. The first Apollo Council wrote the Ordinances to save us from rebellion and radiation above.”

“Is that what they’re teaching?” Winnie bent over, choking on laughter. “Those fools, thinking they can re-write history to match what best suits them.”

“What do you mean?”

“The Apollo Ordinances are nothing but pure propaganda designed to keep you in line. A few professors in the early years protested against the Ordinances. They worked tirelessly to convince people that the Apollo Council would do away with all democracy and descend into a totalitarian regime. They were all executed, of course. Their predictions slowly came to fruition, and we don’t even remember their names.

“Every citizen fell in line because they lost their will to fight. All they could remember were the nuclear bombs descending on their beloved cities and dancing across their screens as their loved ones perished and hope burned. The image of the sun vanished from their minds, and the feel of the ocean water dissipated. Animals and plants died along with their souls. Humanity escaped fiery terror above and thought they would find solace below, but it only brought us closer to hell. How far the mighty have fallen,” Winnie trailed off.

“How do you know all this?”

“Winnie worked in the Archives, and the professors wrote a few books about it,” she said nonchalantly, still lost in thought. Khalani’s eyes shot up, and she scooted to the edge of her chair, her hands clasped together.

“The Archives? Did you know a man who used to work there? His name was Douglas.”

“Douglas?” Winnie tapped her fingers against her chin, staring at the ground as if it contained a library of memories. “Douglas, hmm. I can’t say I remember, but the Archive workers don’t generally converse with one another. Too many secrets are held within our brains. Charles was my only friend.”

Khalani leaned back in disappointment, grief perforating her heart once more. All she wanted was to share a memory of him with someone who remembered his face.

“It was because of Winnie’s work in the Archives that the guards selected her to be the next keeper of the Braderhelm library. The guards never come and force Winnie to stay here all day, preferring she stay with the books. Call her ‘Cookie Winnie.’ Call her crazy lady.” Winnie’s lips pursed.

“Winnie doesn’t mind, though. Because they don’t pay attention to Winnie, she can get items smuggled into the shipments. But they haven’t sent any prisoners up here for a long time. You are the first. It’s been…lonely.” Winnie stared down at her hands, sagging her back.

Khalani’s lips turned down at her expression. It might not be too far off to say that Winnie was not all there in the head, or at least not completely normal. But she didn’t fear the old woman. It was hard to explain, but there was a gentleness in her infectious energy that drew Khalani in.

“Well, they sent me to help today. Maybe, if you request it, I can be placed with you more often,” Khalani offered in a hopeful voice.

Winnie’s attention shifted to Khalani, and she nodded emphatically.

“Winnie would like that.”

Khalani’s lips curved up. Working there definitely beat any other assignment she’d been given. And something was different about the library, like a semblance of life lay in the forgotten space, untouched by the forsaken walls of Braderhelm.

In there, Khalani felt like she could breathe.

“What do you need help with?” She glanced around the disheveled room and cringed as a colossal cockroach crawled under the corner of a bookcase.

Winnie’s eyes sparkled at Khalani’s words. “This is great! Someone to keep me company while I finish my work. Maybe she can help…no, no. That’s a foolish dream, Winnie. No trust. But still, company! Wonderful, wonderful,” Winnie mused, pacing back and forth.

It was odd that Winnie kept referring to herself in the third person, but that was probably something Khalani had to get used to.

Winnie kept muttering to herself with no end in sight.

“Uh, Winnie?”

Winnie stopped and focused on her. “Yes, dear?”

“Help with anything?” Khalani reminded her.

“Oh, yes, yes!” Winnie threw her hands up emphatically before disappearing behind one of the stacks. She reappeared a few seconds later, rolling a cart with a dozen books entitledApollo Ordinance Volume One.

“We must deliver these books to the guard housing blocks every few months. You can help Winnie by delivering these. Use these papers to jot down each room number you deliver to.” Winnie handed her a couple blank white sheets of paper and a pencil.

She drew back in trepidation, not wanting to get anywhere near where the guards slept.

---