Chapter 32: Gaming Zone
Behind him, the man on the couch gave a noncommittal grunt and flicked his knife into the air again. The shard-tipped blade rotated before he caught it by the tip, as though he had done it a thousand times.
Elias glanced back, raising an eyebrow at the careless display. One of these days, he's going to put that knife through his own hand, Elias thought with a shake of his head. I guess expecting everyone to be normal is asking too much right now.
Returning his focus to the pod in front of him, Elias examined the door. It was layered with thick metal plates, their surface unmarred save for faint grooves where the segments interlocked. Beside the door, a glowing green handprint pulsed rhythmically on a scanner embedded in the wall.
He hesitated briefly, then placed his hand over the scanner. The device chirped softly, its light tracing the contours of his palm before a gentle, artificial female voice greeted him.
"Welcome to your pod," it said, the tone crisp but carrying a certain warmth that felt almost out of place in the sterile environment.
Elias stepped inside as the door slid open with a faint hum, rising from the ground like a mechanical curtain. His eyes widened briefly as the space revealed itself—a pod far more expansive than he'd expected.
The floor was a polished, dark laminate, smooth underfoot, with a faint sheen that caught the overhead light. His boots clicked softly against it as he stepped further inside, his bag slung over one shoulder.
A full-sized bed sat tucked neatly against the left wall, its green sheets drawn tight, corners sharply folded as if prepared by a soldier. The sight made him pause. Too clean... too perfect.
To his right, a tall dresser stood against the wall, its four stacked drawers giving the room a sense of functional utility. Atop it, a massive flat-screen TV—easily 45 inches—gleamed, its reflective surface catching Elias's curious glance. Definitely wasn't expecting luxury, he thought, setting his bag on the bed and straightening to take in more of the space.
At the far end, a fridge stood seamlessly embedded into the wall. Its surface was spotless, blending into the pod's sleek, modern design. Beside it, a narrow window ledge was visible, though its shutters were drawn tightly closed. The design made him pause for a moment. A window? Underground?
Elias pulled his father's knife from his bag, turning it over in his hands before setting it carefully on the dresser. The weight of it felt heavier in this small, isolated room.