hope
Day 196 had already begun for Kazimir. He hadn't eaten since yesterday's class, so his first stop that morning was the diner.
As he approached the food distribution table, the diner lady greeted him with a smile. "Where were you yesterday? Expecting something extra today?" she asked teasingly.
Kazimir responded quietly, "No. Just the normal amount."
Behind the table stood Dr. Erdmann Warner, A member of the elected council.
"Good to hear your voice." Dr. Warner said, handing Kazimir his portion.
Kazimir acknowledged him with a nod then headed straight to his usual table.
Near him, Berthold and Lili, the two kids he had met in his latest regret: yesterday's class, that hour he'd never get back. They were close enough for him to hear their talk. Not every syllable reached him yet he could not help stop his mind from piecing together the subject. He never could.
They were talking about a girl one of their friends was dating — her name started with a V. Victoria, maybe? Kazimir couldn't catch that part. Her sister apparently was seeing someone from the Council. Which council? He couldn't tell.
Two other teenagers joined them: Abi Gorman and Steffi strobel.
"You're kinda late. Where have you been?" Berthold asked.
"Just woke up," Abi replied casually, "I stayed late yesterday. Prepping for the mission."
Steffi added, "I just finished work a few minutes ago."
Lili said joyfully, "I still can't believe you're the most qualified in your teams."
"Herta doesn't wanna die, so I have to be the hero," Abi responded, "And He's not going alone."
"Plus, I wasn't chosen." Steffi added "I volunteered. Anyone can."
"You must really hate living." Berthold said.
"I don't hate it," Steffi said, "but not mush into it either."
"We still have no idea what's out there." lili told them. "You might not even make it a few steps."
"It's not that dangerous." abi said. "It's been like six months. Things must have settled down. Besides, the cameras on the outer walls hasn't shown any movement in five months."
"you're not explaining." lili looked at him. "you're just trying to believe it yourself."
"We need to move on" He told her. "Or we'll end up like the ones who stayed behind."
Lili stayed quiet.
Berthold skeptically said, "None of the things you said has been proven. No one has ever seen any camera footage."
"I have seen it," Abi said, slightly condescending. "The footage, many times. And I told you so. Many times."
"Really?" Lili said, teasing. "Like we're gonna believe someone who works for the system?"
"What system?" Abi's said. Anger filled his tone. The kind that usually follows hearing a stupid person speak with confident. He continued, "Do you mean the building's water system or the electrical system? Which one of the few remaining systems that actually keep us alive bothers you?"
---
[CHARACTER FILE – ABI GORMAN]
Full Name: Abi Gorman
Age: 21.
Height: 5'11"
Hair: Straight brown
Skin: White
Eyes: Brown
Build: Average — neither thin nor muscular
Department: Water Maintenance
Supervisor: Prof. Herta Wolter
Previous Post: Rations Department
Known For:
- Youngest in the Water Maintenance team
- dating Victoria
- Has medical skills. Will not be relevant in the future
Notes:
- Switched departments after two years
- rumored to be sleeping with Herta
Combat Proficiency: 4/10
Martial Arts: None
Survival Rating: 7.5/10(he has common sense)
---
Lili giggled while hiding an evil smile behind her hand.
Abi sighed in frustration before getting up and leaving the table.
Steffi Stood and looked Lili in the eyes.
"Whatever's out there — whatever it turns out to be — we'll be the ones to find it." He said with the conviction of someone setting sail to find the One Piece.
(I wrote this in 2022, One piece would've probably ended by the time this is published)
---
[CHARACTER FILE – STEFFI STROBEL]
Full Name: Steffi Strobel
Nickname: Steffi
Age: 23
Height: 6'0"
Hair: Black, medium-length, and straight.
Skin: brown-ish
Eyes: Black
Face shape: Square with defined cheekbones
Department: Rations
Supervisor: Anneli Dieter
Known For:
- Flirts with women just enough to avoid suspicion
-
Notes:
• Not sleeping with his boss
• Graduated from the Wall's School System as a medical doctor.
• Probably smarter than he lets on.
Combat Proficiency: 3/10
Survival Rating: 7/10 — excellent improviser, decent moral compass, good cardio
---
After The two kids left, their voices dipped too low to follow. Silence returned, but it wasn't empty. Kazimir's mind picked up where theirs had left off.
"Anyone could go," one of them said.
The words stayed longer than they should have.
And with them came a flicker of something he didn't like admitting to—hope.
Hope for a future that felt like a bad joke for so long it stopped being funny.
Hope that maybe, if he gets out, if he makes it through this mission, he might finally get what he chased his whole life.
Not survival. Not safety.
Something more dangerous:
Peace.
If he made it, he wouldn't just escape these walls—he'd finally win against the world that kept reminding him of what he'd lost.