The Bunker
Niamh Sanderson | Williamstown High School |
7/8 English | Term 1 2025
“Abi, get up!”
I groan, and try to roll over, but no. I can’t be allowed to sleep in, especially on Wednesdays.
“Abi, come on, we’re gonna miss the gathering.”
As my blurry eyes adjust to the lighting, I see Roy’s face above me. Ugh, of course he’s worried about being late, this kid wouldn’t break a rule if his life depended on it.
“Ok, ok” I grumble “I’m coming”
I stand up and get out of my pod, as the bright lighting from our artificial windows shines through, a false representation of something that used to be called a sun. Suddenly the roll call bell tolls, and all 250 of us in my sector of the bunker stand up, awaiting Her instructions to go to the gathering.
“Please proceed to the main room, the gathering will start in 5 minutes” Her smooth, melodic voice instructs us. Even though all of us have heard this voice every day of our lives, it still brings everyone awe to be in Her presence.
We continue to walk into the main chamber, where everyone from each sector has now gathered into circles. The main chamber is a circular room with a fountain in the middle. It’s rumored that in the old days, before the plague, people used to throw coins into the fountain and if they wished hard enough, She would grant it. Now it’s just a stone statue, with a murky pool of supposedly holy water.
We all fall silent as She starts speaking, firstly telling us the usual story. “Long ago, you humans lived above this bunker, among things called plants and animals. There were millions of you, billions even, but you were corrupted. You took the things that were given to you and twisted them, until you had too many people to even fit into your darkened world, and you were but a glimmer of the people you used to be. Because of this, all of your greed and wickedness seeped together to form a plague, the worst you’d ever seen, that corrupted you further. You became cruel, twisted beings with no sanity, and then you passed, leaving few remaining. Luckily, I took pity on some of you, some of you did not deserve this, and founded a new life for those of you who were worthy of it. Together, you have made a new world, and that is why you never need to go above the bunker again.”
Everyone applauds. I do too, but there’s something about that story that always makes me uneasy. Everyone claims that it’s meant to bring hope and symbolise the remaining people’s superiority compared to those who passed from the plague, but I always think it sounds rather depressing. Shouldn’t we be treating those poor souls who caught the plague with respect, mourning them, rather than using their death as a way to feel superior?
Whilst I am lost in my thoughts, She continues to speak, but as I jolt back to reality, I realise it’s a different spiel to what I’m used to hearing. Everyone else notices it too, not that they would dare talk over Her, but I can tell by the confused look on their faces. Rather than hearing the typical “you are lucky to be here. You were chosen from the best people on earth, so you must continue to prove yourself” She shifts to a different approach.
“Whilst some of you are grateful to be here, I’ve been hearing whispers. Whispers of wondering what is above. You know that above the bunker is a dangerous world, one full of suffering. You must stay under here, where you are safe. Remember, I am always listening, and if I hear any more unwanted whispers, you will be punished. I will hear you. Now, I hope this has all motivated you for the day to come. Get to work, and make your ancestors proud!”
I can tell I’m not the only one who feels uneasy. She is meant to continue to motivate us to be our best selves, to continue to make her gift to us worth it, but that didn’t feel like motivation.
That felt like a warning.
