Chapter : The Calm before the Storm
—Cael Lucian
[You may all check your bank accounts as 1 month worth of your salary has been transferred, in 3… 2… andddd]
Ding Ding Ding Ding Ding Ding!!!!!
I could feel my phone vibrating, I had a bad feeling about this…
And low and behold…
[$30000 transferred by XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX]
…
I couldn't help but thought of those characters in stories that go crazy after receiving a lot of money, thinking of ways to spend them all, but for me…
Sighhh
Inflation's still going crazy, and this amount of money—Even if I invested it in stocks or anything, I'd barely get enough money…
…
Even if I opened a high yield savings account…
…
I'd only get 100-120 ish dollars…
…
Sighhhh
"Somethings fishy." I couldn't help but feel that something was definitely fishy. 3 months worth of salary just for cleaning? and there's at least 200 of us here… I wanted to ask the system, but honestly? I shouldn't waste a question
"Let's talk about this at the quarters." Jeremy's spoke as we stood there without a sound.
[Those that are chosen shall be notified before the—]
—Later… Living Quarters
"Somethings definitely fishy"
"I doubt the higher ups would throw money down the drain like that." Eve spoke, her face filled with the kind of certainty that you could only have if you saw something abd happened
"M-m-maybe it's just small money for them?"
"Kiddo, those shroudy higher ups won't spend even a single dime if they could."
"Kiddo—? You mean Amanda?"
…
For a moment, it was an awkward silence, but thankfully…
"Well, hopefully we'll be assigned to take care of this facility, definitely better then being dragged in this other facility~" Eve spoke, successfully shifting the previously awkward atmosphere
"Little Evelyn's right." Old Man Randy continued with a slight cough,
"Well let's just hope, we don't get chosen for this" I continued as the atmosphere returned to how it was before
"Well surely we won't right~?"
"I swear to god Evelyn if you jinx this…" Jeremy spoke, just some friendly banter between colleagues, Yeah there's no way we'd actually get—
—
[Team D7 going to facility X70.]
…
…
…
Step Step Step
…
…
…
It was an awkward silent walk back to to our living quarters, and as soon as we got there…
…
…
Silence
…
…
Then—All hell breaks loose
"EVELYN YOU SON OF A SCHEISSE, YOU JINXED US ALL" Jeremy instantly spoke, it was followed by a rather small Tsk coming from Old Man Randy
"HEY?!?! IT'S NOT MY FAULT, MAYBE WE WERE DESTINED TO JOIN IN" Eve spoke as she waved her hands,
"SCHEISSE. THIS IS GONNA BE SUCH A PAIN IN THE ASS, AND IT'S ALL YOUR—" Yet Jeremy didn't even let her breathe, as I worried whether or not this could affect our team work—Someone no one expected to talk well… Talked
"Alright shut the fuck up you fucking youngsters." Old Man Randy's voice seemed to echoed for a while.
"Ah." Instinctively Amanda suddenly spoke, at the same time both Jeremy and Eve went silent.
"…"
"…"
***Silence—***Then Old Man Randy spoke once more
"No use crying over spilt milk. Might as well get ourselves ready." He spoke in a slightly annoyed tone before he soon walked away.
Step Step Step
—Later…
When work calls for a couple hundreds of people, there was no such thing as privacy instead…
"Size?"
"XL"
Rustle
"Here." We were forced into several lines truth to be told, all in the main hall, Cleaners that were already suited up giving us the equipment needed, for this 'Cleaning Session'.
Step
"Size?"
"M"
Thud
"Next." I could hear several cleaners shouting next over and over again, all yelling the same thing, and truth to be told. it didn't exactly take long for us to receive our gear.
Thud
"Next."
Step Step Step
"Tsk." Old Man Randy spoke as we walked through whatever free space was left in the main hall, grouping up as we began checking the gear we just received, and I've gotta say, it's honestly just…
"This is just those shit you can buy from Amazon." Jeremy couldn't help but mutter under his breath, his tone obviously pissed yet mixed with acceptance. The gear itself was nothing impressive. they were light grey in color,
Rustle
a single touch on it's surface and it felt smooth, and was hopefully… resistant to tear and wear as I turned the suit over in my hands, checking every seams, seals, and finally the hood that's suppose to be integrated with the respirator.
It looked cheap yet functional—Probably. In a way The Silentium's idea of adequate.
As I stripped myself of my clothes, leaving only my cotton shirt, shorts and innerwear, and of course I get my self to work… Sigh Alright Cael, enough procrastinating…
The first thing I did was wear a pair of latex gloves, they'll become what's known as the inner layer of the glove, after all in this field of work, people usually use multiple layers incase a breach happened
Rustle Rustle
Shhhhhhhkkkkkkkkkk
As I pulled the stiff and heavy material up to my waist, the inner lining was cold as I adjusted the internal straps, the suit itself moved with a plastic-like crinkle as I wriggled myself into soon to be personal sauna.
"C'mon…." I muttered as I fought my way with this stiff fabric. In a way it reminded me on the first time I wore the dry suit back when it was only me and Eve. I couldn't help but thought it had been 1-2 years since I joined The Silentium. I couldn't help but feel somewhat nostalgic.
Shhhhhkkk
As I pulled my sleeves up, the sound of the fabric still as 'plastic-ky' as ever, next were the boots
Rustle
Thud
As I placed my leg onto the boot, making a rather hollow thudding sound as my feet reached the surface,
Pffffffff
As I wriggled in place, forcing whatever left over air was left in it. It didn't exactly take long and soon they were properly fitted onto me. Now all that's left was to get the mask on and pop the hood. I thought to myself as I grabbed the respirator.
Grab
As I pressed the respirator against my face and pulled the straps tight. The rubber seal settled against my skin with a faint, unpleasant pressure. It wasn't painful. Just... snug, the smell of rubber and disinfectant coming with full power to my face was… Uncomfortable.
"And done…" I thought to myself, and now for the next part, which wasn't something one could do alone,
"Cael~ help me a little would ya?" Eve's voice rang melodiously clear, rather obvious what she wanted to do. "Alright" I spoke as we stood face to face, her smile was as light as always, I couldn't help but smile.
"I'll help you first then?"
"Yeah~" She spoke
Srrrrkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk
Snap
Pat Pat
As I snapped the tape and began by wrapping it tightly around her leg, it didn't take long as the legs were the rather easy part, next was the front. as I began by patting her front, making sure it was as flat as it possibly could
Thud Thud Thud
Srrrrkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk
Snap
As I cut the tape once more and patting her suit a second time before taping her up starting from her crotch up to her neck
Pat Pat Pat
"A-a-ah." I could hear Amanda suddenly speaking, her tone somewhat embarrassed and soon following it was Jeremy's voice as he muttered "Stop being annoying, here"
"Next should be…"
"The gloves" Eve spoke as she positioned her hands right in front of me
Srrrrkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk
Snap
Rustle Rustle
"Done," I said, patting down the final strip of tape on her left wrist.
"Thanks~" Eve smiled behind her visor, though her voice already carried that distinct, slightly hollow tint that came with speaking through a respirator .
"Just the face left." She said with a smile as she stood completely still, tilting her chin up slightly to give me a clear angle. The hood of the suit was pulled tight over her head, its elastic rim framing her face but leaving a vulnerable gap where it met the thick rubber seal of her mask.
I grabbed the roll of tape again. For the face, you couldn't just yank a massive strip and hope for the best. It took patience.
Srrrrkkkkkkkkkkkk
Snap
I tore a short, five-inch strip. Leaning in close, I anchored the first piece right under her chin, smoothing it over the fabric and onto the bottom of the mask.
Srrrrkkkk
Snap
Pat Pat
Piece by piece as worked my way upward, carefully pressing the tape along her jawline as I o mold the stiff adhesive into the tight contour of her cheek. I had to be meticulous—one tiny wrinkle in the tape and it's all over yet at the same time if I slipped.
Srrrrkkkk
Snap
"Hhhhh—Haaaaaa" I could hear her breathing as I pulled the final piece across her forehead, overlapping the side strips to complete the airtight ring as I firmly massaged the entire perimeter of her face, pressing the edges flat against the rubber and plastic.
Pat Pat Pat
The moment the circle was closed, Eve's next breath caught with a deep, muffled resonance. The tape completely locked out the external world, trapping her inside the suit completely
"You're fully sealed." I spoke
"Alright~ it's your turn now" She spoke with a smile, her voice slightly muffled, I handed the tape onto her as she soon began by pulling the tape
Srrrrkkkkkkkkkkkk
Snap
"Hold still."
"I am."
"You better be~"
The first strip of tape wrapped around my leg.
Pat Pat
Evelyn pressed it down firmly, making sure there were no loose edges, then she moved to the other leg.
Srrrrkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk
Snap.
Pat Pat.
I could feel the tape pulling the suit tighter around my legs, the suit feeling far more restrictive then it ever had
"Front." She spoke as I straightened myself.
Thud Thud Thud
Her gloved hands patted down the front of my suit, flattening the material before she started working her way upward.
Srrrrkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk
Snap.
Another strip. Then another.
Pat Pat Pat.
The sound was almost rhythmic, like playing a Rhythm game
Srrrrrrrk
Snap
Pat Pat
Srrrrrrrk
Snap
Pat Pat
"Arms."
Raise
Srrrrkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk
Snap.
One wrist.
Pat Pat.
Then the other.
Srrrrkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk
Snap.
Pat Pat.
"Done~, now the face." Evelyn spoke as she stepped closer.
"Alright." I spoke staying as still as I possibly could as she reached toward my mask.
The first strip went underneath my chin.
Srrrrkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk
Snap.
Pat Pat.
Then along my jaw. Another strip. Then another. I could feel each piece being pressed against the rubber seal of the respirator.
Pat Pat Pat.
Gulp
Instinctively I swallowed. The mask shifted slightly against my face, pressing my neck
Hhhhh—
My own breathing suddenly sounded louder. Not because anything had changed. There was nowhere else for the sound to go.
—Haaaaa
I could hear every breath. Every little movement. Even the faint rustling of the suit seemed louder now.
Srrrrkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk
Snap.
The tape reached my cheek, then the other side.
Pat Pat
My ears were beginning to pick up less of the room around me. The hundreds of cleaners. The footsteps. The shouting. Everything was still there. Just...
Farther away.
And Finally…
Srrrrkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk
Snap.
As Eve patted the final strip across my forehead. carefully running her fingers around the entire perimeter of the mask one last time, checking for any potential gaps
Pat Pat Pat
"There~" She spoke as she gave a smile, I couldn't help but blink. For a moment, I just stood there. The first thing entering my thought was a single word.
Warm
The suit had already begun trapping my body heat. Then came the smell.
Sniff Sniff
The air reeked of rubber, disinfectant and my own breath. Thank God I brushed my teeth…
Hhhhh—Haaaa
I was still breathing the same as everyone, no oxygen tank yet and somehow, with the hood pulled over my head and the mask sealed against my face... Everything felt different..
Rustle.
Instinctively I flexed my fingers, the suit answered with a faint plastic crinkle. I turned my head. The hood tugging against my neck, I could barely tilt myself before I had to move my body as I looked around.
Hundreds of grey figures.
All waiting.
…
"Old man, why're you just standing there?" Eve suddenly spoke, as Old man Randy looked at her for a moment, before his signature, "Tsk." as he starting donning his gear…
Huh… wonder what made him daze off like that.
...
Eh it isn't important right now.
As we waited for the next announcement