/Michael
A whole week in this place. How fun. I've started to "work" as a servant, Jane got the "job" of security and Sujin was with the "job" of maid.
From what the dear secretary Sheng had tasked us with, even though we had a gist it might go this way, we were a bit put off by such "jobs" they've thrown us in.
"You'll get to know more this way." - Were the words of Sheng, as we were in the work "uniforms" and off with respective people who helped us get the basics of the workload.
My work was rather silly. Though, I suppose that Ana would have skinned alive the people who got to me around a hundred times over, which is why we're keeping them off of this information currently.
A servant here is a person who is a bloody slave, but more refined in a sense. Not only are you assigned to someone of "high" standing and accommodate them at their every whim, every nonsense request, wish and desire, but you also do the work of maintaining their personal space, or quarters they're at or whatever.
THanks to the translation device - all three of us "infiltrators" understand what the others are saying, but under the great request from Sheng - we're all "deemed" mute. So you can't say anything, even if you really want to. With that premise, I suppose that the three of us are the best bet to pretend to be "mute".
I'm stuck with a lady who is absolutely not what I expected at first, when Sheng put me to work for her. She's Feng's sister. An older one at that. The damn wish to wrap my hands around her until she stops breathing is haunting me every damn second I spent near her.
Jane and Sujin ain't got it better either. Also put to work for some of the high standing brats of this place.
We did notice a thing that stands out really well - most women here take men for all the services, most men take women for all the services. If the script flips - that's sort of the "oh, they like the same sex more, huh" situation. But none the less - no matter who is put where to serve whom - that is torture in itself. Those brats are so pompous, unhinged and absolutely void of common sense, empathy, even the humane aspects - that it looks like a mad house. A bunch of machiavelian villains, prying on the slaves thrown for their amusement to their feet. What glory.
"Come here." - She, my "boss", says, as she points at me, then to her tights, as she spreads them.
I saw this countless times. She does that to many. That's her way of making whomever does the work of pleasing her sexually. Wherever she might be at. I'd call it many heinous words, but that's their "norm" in this mad city.
"I said come!" - She demands.
I make a step towards her, but am stopped by another man, as he has his hand in front of me.
"My lady, he is not versed in this. Allow me." - The young man walks over to her, drops to his knees and gets his face between her legs.
She just rolls her eyes, as she leans on armsrest of her chair.
"Make sure I water." - She says, spreading her legs more, for more access.
The youngster works with his tongue masterfully, making sure her breath quickens, gets muddled, she eventually grabs him by the hair and pushes him fully into her wetness.
It would be quite the scene if this were the bedroom or her own home, maybe even the living room of a home she's at. But no. We're in a cafe. There's a gathering of six ladies anywhere aged 20 to 47. Some of them have their servants eat their pussy out in this cafe, whilst they're at the table, which has some drinks, food and whatnot placed on it. The whatnot being a couple of men making out on it, being the eyecandy to mesmerize the ladies whilst they're having their own relief.
One of the ladies leaned over the table and had her servant ram it hard from behind, pounding into her roughly, with another servant below - eating up at her wetness.
They're all hot, bothered and rough with whatever they're up to. Moaning away, or hissing at their servants to do a better job.
Me? I'm standing here and watching the whole ordeal like it's none of my business. But as the servant - I have to stay here. That's the job. She says "get me this or that" and I am the one getting it, doing it… Though every time there's sex involved - someone else steps up to the plate and does it for me.
Truthfully - my dick would not get up for any of them, or anyone at all for that matter. Unless it's the sole person I love. For her - easily anytime anywhere, as long as we have our privacy and I can devour her to her pleasure and my satisfaction.
This here though - ehhh… Like a goddamn sex club no matter where you look. Men fucking anything and everything, same with women. The unsettling anger that makes me want to break their spine in half is every damn time I see a child being sexually used. And to my dismay - that's every 10 meters nearby, as it's so common - it's disheartening.
During the night I was back in my servants room. Guess being the damn 'newbie' was the way to go, to not be too involved.
"I want to murder them indiscriminately." - Sujin sat on the edge of my bed.
"Should we just plainly go and do that? Coz I ain't having any second thoughts about it." - Jane added, as he stood leaning on the door.
"They sure have a really fucked up way of being. That is true. But again, as we've learned - it's only this side of the city." - I let out a tired sigh.
"It was indeed quite the news to know that the damn place is divided into five sections run by five elite families. Though, we're yet to send that information to the bunker." - Jane looked down.
"How come we've not really met Feng after that first encounter? The damn spokesperson is Sheng all the damn time." - Sujin grunts.
A knock on the door. Jane walks over to me, the door opens and Sheng walks in, closing the door behind.
"Speak of the devil…" - Sujin glares at Sheng.
"Good to see you all in one place." - Sheng lets out, as he checks all of us out. - "Although I am not sure of the reference you made."
Sujin lets out a tired sigh. Over the span of the week here, every damn time we spoke to anyone, if we made any references to anything - that just flew over the heads of people, either that or made them have the confused-quizical look on their faces. At first we tried to explain, then down the rabbit hole it went, as no matter the amount of explanation - people still had no clue what we were on about. I still wonder how that damned Feng DOES understand some references every now and again.
"So why are you here? Came to say that you've missed us?" - I smiled at Sheng.
"Not at all. I did, although, manage to get the people to get you over to the next exploration stage. They'll come meet you tomorrow. You'll leave with them and shall go over to the area that's under the Souza family." - Sheng eyed us all, like the damn corporate HR with issues. Not that we were that much against it.
"Trying to get rid of us?" - Sujin remarks.
"Trying to get you to know all there is to know about the Iron City." - Sheng replied.
"How come we've not seen Feng?" - Jane tiredly asked.
"Ah," - Sheng smacked his lips, looking like his HR duties are indeed a lot more pressing then our friendly banter. - "He's rather busy with his act and duties."
"Act?" - Sujin raises her eyebrow, looking at Sheng like the latter is trying to cover something up.
"As you've met the family members, you should know that they all are rather… As they are. And Feng being the only person who is not like the others poses a threat to them. So he dutifully does the whole 'play' act, to calm the other family members." - Sheng leans on the door.
"He's off to shag, drink and be the epitome of debauchery then?" - Jane remarks.
"Mhm. As much as that…" - Sheng begins.
"Trying to throw them off the scent, huh? What are they, a bunch of hounds to track after him?" - I smile at Sheng.
"No, they're more like the cold-blooded relatives who won't dwell on your miniscule existence, if that makes the name dirty. And they value the family name above all else. Emperor stays emperor through many means." - Sheng replies.
"Dictatorship, censorship, instilling fear, limiting resources and information, having a tight grip on each and every one through imposed measures, endless deaths and the mindwashed cult-like brats who'll rat you out at the drop of a hat. Yeah, pretty obvious, really." - Jane tells it all, like he read it out of a newspaper. - "So what's Souza like?"
"A different kind of beast. Still, be careful." - Sheng sarcastically eyed Jane. - "Especially with that mouth of yours."
"You sure would not like it over you, huh?" - Jane smirked back.
"I'd say 'get a room', but this is not the time. And I'm too tired for the great enemies-to-lovers trope in this place." - Sujin got up to get back to her room, moving Sheng to the side, as she opened the door, then turned around as she stood in the door frame. - "Behave." - She glared at me and Jane.
"I'll try." - Jane winked at Sujin.
"Oh for fuck's sake." - Sujin left, door closed.
"See Sheng, you scared her away!" - Jane pouted at Sheng.
"I did not..?" - Sheng suddenly seemed confused.
"I wonder when you'll tell her that you're shit with and around women?" - I laugh.
"I am not.." - Sheng tried to rebuke that.
"No man, I get it." - Jane walked over to Sheng and wrapped his hand around his shoulders. - "I'd be scared by her too. But she's a nice sweet sunshine, once you know her better."
"How dare you?!" - I look at Jane insulted. - "You! You foul beast! Just for a moment I have my gaze averted and you pounce on a man like that! Preposterous!"
"Baby please! I would never cheat on you!" - Jane plays along, yet clings to Sheng even more. - "We're just friends, you see?" - Jane pressed his cheek against Sheng's cheek. - "We're just cute, ain't we?"
"I don't follow this conversation at all." - Sheng retorts.
"Don't worry baby girl, I'ma be a gentleman." - Jane pulls back a bit, wiggles his eyebrows whilst smiling at Sheng.
I get up and get close to Sheng, all up in his personal space. I reached out to touch his face gently with my hand, whilst I looked him in the eyes.
"You better not play games, my dear. And make sure that Feng ain't playing games with us too." - I inch closer to his face, my lips almost touching his. - "Or I'll eat you up like no other horrid nightmare you've ever had. Lovingly." - I smile at him. Jane pushes me away from Sheng with his free hand, as the other is still tightly around Sheng's waist.
"Don't worry baby, I'll keep you safe." - Jane says, then pulls Sheng's face to face him. - "I'll be gentle."
"Don't lie to the man. You'll be rough as hell." - I comment, as I get in bed. Jane slowly turned to look at me.
"Meanie." - Jane pouts at me, then turns back to Sheng, gives the latter a peck on the cheek and steps back. - "Be careful hun. Return safe and sound back to me."
Sheng stood there in a daze for a moment, then as if the senses finally came back he turned around and walked out of the room. Doors closed once more.
"You sure playing him is the way?" - Jane looks at me.
"That's the only one we've got here for now." - I let out tiredly. - "He sure has the fancy towards you Jane, so that angle is a fine one to poke at."
"As long as he ain't poking me." - Jane smirks.
"I wonder about the length of the hidden sword." - I laugh.
"I'm top. I just don't see Sheng as the top. He's a fine bottom." - Jane thinks aloud.
"He sure is a bottom." - I nod. - "Though he might be power bottom." - I give Jane a snarly look.
"I ain't got the strength honey." - Jane shakes his head softly. - "I'd rather take it slow."
"Like the motion of the ocean." - We say in unison and laugh.
Jane eventually leaves, as we've by now shall have only 4 hours of sleep before things pick up the pace.
The morning came early, as it did for the past week of staying here. Getting up, getting dressed, basic damn hygiene, then shoes and you stand outside of the door of your room.
There's those who know where to go and when. Those who recently began - stood by the door, awaiting the person supervising them to arrive.
A bulky woman approached me. Like a mountain of well refined muscles, though covered nicely in a fine outfit. Something in between a maid and a guard. Fancy. She stood in front of my face, eyeing me, then just gestured with her head, part nod, to follow her.
Along the way I saw Sujin with a bulky looking man and Jane with a skinny fairy looking lady. We all went off the same way.
From the floor of luxury and absolute insanity to a whole another world, I suppose. The damn pathways down from the housing area to the floor a bit lower, which reminded of a mall, a shopping district and a brothel simultaneously. It was all mixed up here. All the time. We walked through the path that's for servants, as we veered off to the side. This path was mainly with people going back and forth in the workers outfits, such as maids, personal guards, servants. In a way they all had a similar way of outfits. Anything that's a 'personal toy' or a 'play thing' they called, I'd just call it slave, those - mostly either like a doll being all pretty or dressed like anything one could conjure up, though if they'd be less satisfactory - absolutely naked. I mean, seeing bare chests here was a mundane occurrence whether it was a man a woman or a kid that's a slave. The 'working' ones were covered, but the damn outfits were made in such a way that you could undo the whole thing in a second. Well, for sexual work purposes.
Walking down the path, on and on, though I did notice a curvature of the road. So we are indeed up to no good. That's good.
It took us around 40 minutes walking, maybe more… Though my sense of time in this place got all wonky, due to the damn lights being bright most of the time throughout the day in the areas of these Elites, when it came to the workers paths - those were a bit more dimly lit in some sense. My eyes were not happy.
Sure, bunker fucked about with my vision every now and again, but the yellow hue was not straining my eyes so much. Here it feels like 24/7 led light exposition. Bloody mad.
Eventually we came to the wall. The damn thing stretching up like the great wall of China. High as heck. The bulky duo and the fair lass walked over to the gate looking thing. Then pressed into the pad, which stood out, with a buzz a damn door opened and we followed them in. The bulky lass was overseeing us go in, then walked right after I walked in last. The corridor of the security looking thing, then some scanners on the sides.
The three of us got checked - me, Jane and Sujin, then walked after the lot out of the security corridor, through the set of another security door into, by the looks of it - another world in a sense.
Walking in - the lights were a bit more yellow in a tone, people seemed a bit more different as they are. Close to no slaves, people properly covered and dressed, no sounds of sex on every corner. Faintly more decent. Like I walked out from a dystopian mix with Asian culture being the inspiration, to another dystopia where the South American area of the world came to gather into a brainstorming session.
Could this be called refreshing?
We followed the lot off through the streets. There's people enjoying the shops, cafes, sort of a more decent thing going on. Though there's a bit of the odd thing going on… Can't really place my finger on it yet.
Whilst I kept thinking, we reached the elevators and went up. A few floors later we got to the halls - looked like a fancy office space, but more cozy. A lot of curtains, a bunch of plants, people back and forth, rather hurriedly though.
As we pass through endless entries to rooms we end up at a place that looks like a large meeting room. Though - curtains, breeze sort of passing around, the smells of spices, plans, cozy furniture…
The damn guides are silent. Sujin eyes me, I then eye Jane… We stand here like three stooges wondering what's next.
I counted to 91 in my head before a person walked in.
A woman walks in, two bodyguards by the looks of it - bulky women. Those ladies are plenty intimidating as is. Sheesh.
The lady who walked in - sure looked like gym ladies, though she was really voluptuous. She took a look at us, then waved her hand and the bodyguards, as well as the guides left the room, closing all the doors around, so that the room is very much closed off. I mean, having 5 doorways out of it sure is funky, but having them all take a door, go out and close it from outside… Then by the sounds of it - stand guard behind the door? Interesting…
"Come on, sit down." - The lady spoke to us.
We looked at each other - me, Jane and Sujin, then went to the sofa and chairs, picked what worked better for each and sat down. It looked like we were all around a fine round table now. Camelot, is that you checking us out in the background?
"I'm Maria Souza. Though, I am sure that Feng was having his tongue up his ass and said nothing." - Maria rolls her eyes, sighs and leans back on her sofa. - "That damn brat can't do anything right. Ehhh."
Well, she sounded genuinely disappointed, as well as pretty close to Feng to be bitching about him in such a way.
"All we heard is that the Souza family was the ones ruling this side of the City." - Sujin said.
"Let me guess, it was Sheng who gave that info." - Maria presses her lips with part disdain, part annoyance. Like she's the mother that's fed up with unruly son behaviour.
"Right about that." - Jane adds.
"The whole trip here was rather interesting." - I chimed in. - "I mean, in comparison to where Feng is."
Maria rubbed her eyes, as she let out the 'tsk' looking at us, evaluating us, though as if sympathising with us. What an intriguing lady.
"Let me guess. Feng got you in, threw you lot to work, then left you be, whilst periodically Sheng would show up checking on you like a damn big bro. Sounds about right?" - Maria was gesturing with her hands a lot, like it was also part of talking.
"That summs it up. Yes." - Jane gave a nod.
"That fucking…" - Maria rubs her eyes, then leans in towards the table. - "Feng ain't got that much power on that side. Sure, he's the Li family, but he's the outcast of it. Since the moment the whole 'breakout' began to the moment you all got in - he got the whole lot of surveillance on his case more than ever before. His older brothers ain't happy. The one that's the most pissed off is the mother though. She and the husband control everything. And she hates if things ain't going her way. A dragon lady with fuck ton of issues."
"Well, we heard that he's the youngest." - Jane began. - "We've even worked for some of his relatives during our week stay there. Though they're all fucking mental."
"Don't worry hun, there's the fucking 'mental' cases here as well. Though the plains of where it happens differ. You've seen the levels of the Li family side. Aware of how that is, well, after a week you sure had seen it all." - Maria kept going.
We gave a nod. Indeed through the week we had the job, sure, but every now and again we'd sneak out through here and there to other levels. The 'play rooms' we have seen, the military, the tech, agriculture and waste… Yeah. We checked that out. It's insane in all ways one could muster up.
"Ok, now here is a bit different. Up top is relatively divided. Some areas are more safe, whilst some others are absolutely a 'no go' zone, unless you're willing to end up as a toy to someone. There's also other levels with other things happening. Hence I provided you with the guards so that you'll check all out to have the understanding." - Maria kept going. - "Me and my brother Gabriel, as well as the side with Santos's Clara and Theo - we're the ones holding the whole planning of change in this area. To get things sorted out well and… And well, to get rid of all the damn evil which lives here."
It took her some time to give us some information about the situation. Feng was under the harsh observation, for his mother was now in doubt that he was under her thumb. The way the power was held - it was ruled through fear. So Feng would have a few problems now, that his men were under some really annoying surveillance. Some went into hiding, as far as hiding could do.
When it came to this area of the Iron City - Souza had their own issues. The 'war' games that the elders of the family were staging every week for their amusement would kill anywhere between a hundred to a few hundred each time. Games were about resources, which were held back by the family for the many who were residing on lower floors. These games would allow the families to have a bag of food per person in games, to prolong the living, or rather - suffering of survival for the entertainment of Elites. Maria and Gabriel were not so fond of this tradition, nor Clara or Theo who were from the military family - the ones who kept the security around these parts.
When it came to the other parts - it was known that the other sides had their own issues, though even though the ones craving the changes to it were communicating, the communication was not always that easy, nor open at all times. All due to the issues of trying to not get under the heavy surveillance of each of the states. Some people were transferred in-between the areas, some even smuggled as goods, just to get the information.
The Dlamini side was too well with what they had there, having their own thing going on, as their preferred way of control was religion and the use of brute power. People sacrificed to gods, whilst gods were the Dlamini family. Even the supporters were not necessarily the ones who understood what the change encompassed - some sought to grab the power for themselves, just to satisfy their cravings.
The Kaminski family were the head of state in their part. As far as the exchanges of people went and what Maria got to know - it's the unlawful law state. Anything and everything was under high surveillance. The easiest thing to bring out of there were the 'play things' - slaves for the sexual or harsh pleasure that people possessed. The ones who were trying to get onto the bandwagon of change - similar to the Dlamini side - up for grabs of power. They were craving their own riches and wealth.
The Desai side of things was very much the state that used religion which was highly embedded into the daily lives of everyone. The main issue there was that women, all women were a thing to use, trade and abuse. Even kids. Only some of the families up top had the option to shield the women, though not all of them. It took a lot to keep the women shielded to a point from the religious events. But even then - if the Desai family so wished - nobody was safe from whatever they wanted. Men were the ruling thing.
"Which is why you're here now with all this information." - Maria summarised. - "I've got to share with you what I know, now it's your turn to share what you know."
"Wait, Maria, I have a question, before we begin." - Sujin tapped the table. - "How much of world history do you know here?"
"World history?" - Maria seemed fairly confused by the question.
"You know, the world before Iron City." - Sujin looked at Maria.
"Ah…" - Maria seemed to roughly guess what Sujin implied. - "For the few of us in here some elders hid away some books, some bits of tech for us to find and well, to acquaint ourselves with. But then again - that all seems like a fairytale. Wast lands of people living, the different cultures, people, waters and seas, the, I don't know, different beliefs, money concept - that all seems rather imaginary."
"So you mean to tell us that you're unaware of the great times of Ancient Egypt, or the whole lot of Greek gods, legends, philosophers. The great steam engine change, the world wars, the age of the internet, development of the technologies…" - I was saying out loud things from the top of my head, but watching Maria get this expression of not understanding a thing, made me realize that they're unaware.
"What's philosophers? Steam engine? Egypt? You seem to throw some random words here." - Maria looked at me, like I was insane.
I looked at Jane and Sujin.
"I wonder if we could throw them into AIO to learn the history we've known." - I said, as I looked at my fellow compatriots.
"I guess Ana could pull something off." - Jane shrugged.
"I wonder if she already did with those who arrived there." - Sujin slowly shook her head.
"What are you talking about?" - Maria looked at us like we're aliens.
"About knowledge that the Iron City seems to have thrown out the window many years back to retain the power over the people." - Jane let out with a hint of sadness.
"Ahh…" - Maria let out a feeling, looking confused. - "So, now tell me what you know. About where you came from."
"Would that involve conception or location?" - I smiled wryly.
"She probably means the bunker, Michael. Not the actual origins of where we came from." - Sujin stopped me in my sly tracks.
"What do you mean 'actual origins'? Are you not born in a bunker?" - Maria looked puzzled.
"Oh no. No no no. We were born somewhere else. All of us in different places to different parents." - Sujin was explaining. - "And we were all put into the bunker for research purposes."
Maria looked highly confused.
"So where did you live before that?" - Maria seemed to have her curiosity grow by the minute.
"In cities across the world." - I added.
"I came from Seoul," - Sujin said. - "Jane was a contractor from America, Michael here is from the United Kingdom? Is that right?"
"London, yes. For many years. But born in Seoul, adopted through agency, just like my twin brother. Though he went all over the place, being idol and actor with all that." - I shrugged.
"You remind me of those times and now I crave a damn burger." - Jane let out a sigh.
"That all sounds puzzling." - Maria chimed in. - "What's Seoul? What is America? United.. Kingdom? What is that?"
"Seoul is a city in a country called South Korea, America is a country on a different continent, and the United Kingdom is an island in Europe." - Jane let that out loud, then understood his mistake. - "Those are all the different places people lived in. Outside in the cities, under the open sky, with houses, schools, fields, forests, lakes and rivers. The world that's outside the premises of the Iron City or Bunker. It's what's out there. Though, after all this time, the world has changed, but the air is still there, plants, animals, rivers, lakes, forests."
"I'd like to see that." - Maria smiled. - "We could not really go out, nor know what's out there. The history we got to know - before, outside - there were the poison winds. And people hid in the Iron City to survive the evil winds. But we've not really known much besides that."
It took us a bit to tell us about the bunker, as well as the people there, though I must admit - we left out quite a lot from the story. As we three are yet to be sure of whom to believe and trust. It seems that Maria picked up on the sentiment.
Altogether it took a good half a day of chatting. Then the knock on one of the doors came.
"Ah, time for dinner." - Maria stopped us. - "I'll go then. You'll be accompanied by the people I sent for you. We'll meet tomorrow to talk. For now you can all rest."
She went off after saying that. All the doors which were closed prior were open now. The trio which guided us came to lead us again.
To the rooms where the servants have dinner. A rather alright place, like a large eatery with long tables. Somewhat gave me the sense of the medieval setup, either that or the Hogwarts dining hall.
We did sit, we did eat, as we were full the trio led us to our rooms. And that's where we saw the levels of how things were behind the scenes. Large rooms, double decker beds, housing over 20 people together. Both men and women.
We were shown our spots and went to rest. By the way things were - pretty prominent it was that we're in no way going to chat here. Silence for the most part, the whispers of some servants, as they eyed us. Surely the three people pale in complexion, with white hair do attract a lot of attention when in here they're mainly dark of hair, pretty buff all in all and by the looks of it - would be able to break some sculls in half if needed be.
I just hope that we'll get to leave soon. Because day after day the creeping feeling of being in the minority and under no safety makes a person not only paranoid, but rather cautious. Jane and Sujin seem to have similar sentiments.
Well, we did volunteer for this endeavour, but little did we know how it'll look like.
I hope Ana and the rest in the bunker ain't as compromised by the notions as we are in here.