Story Reader / Hidden Story / 15 The Last Spark / Story
Researchers have lined up in the corridor outside the canteen. The queue is incredibly long. Lamia cannot see its end.
A researcher seems to have remembered something. He exchanges a few words with the colleagues nearby and leaves.
He leaves a gap behind, but it is almost consumed by the moving queue.
Lamia looks around. No one seems to have noticed her tiny existence.
She immediately cuts inside before the gap disappears.
Another tall researcher behind her finally notices her. He gives an exhausted look. Lamia is not sure whether it is because of work or her.
You're... the girl raised by the medical department? Didn't they teach you the rules?
Lamia cowers.
Of course she knows the rules. Colder than the sea water, but harder than ice.
Lamia shrinks into her shoulders, trying to make herself look weak. She opens her eyes wide to give an innocent look.
It doesn't always work—in fact, it never worked. The books in the library mention that humans have an emotion named "sympathy," but it is an extremely rare sight in here.
Lamia anxiously stares at the researcher's eyes. The white light reflected on his glasses sends an inorganic chill up her spine.
He finally looks up again without talking.
It isn't out of sympathy. He has simply lost the interest for further interaction.
Great. Lamia feels relieved.
The queue continues to move slowly forward. She finally arrives at the white table after a long time.
There was always lots of food here for everyone to take. The canteen used to be very noisy.
But right now, the atmosphere feels dense and heavy. A row of logistics staff sit behind the table, each of them holding a writing board in their hands.
Behind them is another line of fully-armed security guards from the admin department keeping the order.
The logistics staff hasn't even looked at Lamia. He only stares at the roster in his hand.
Name?
Lamia.
He is still not looking up.
L... La... Lamia.
His fingers run down the roster and finally come to a stop.
Calorie intake is limited to 1,164 kcals per day. These are your rations for today.
He puts two biscuit bars on the table.
Next.
Lamia gulps down some nervous saliva and tries to gather courage.
There is nothing wrong with trying. A failure can be tolerated.
Um... Excuse me...
Is there a problem?
Can I... get another biscuit? I'm really hungry...
No. Rations have been strictly calculated based on age, height, weight and daily activity level. This is all you have.
A security guard takes one step forward.
To them, children are treated as adults without any special privileges.
We only take queries about the expiry date or nutrition values. If you have other concerns, make a complaint to the admin department. There are lots of people waiting behind. Leave.
Lamia carefully wraps the biscuits in her handkerchief and leaves the canteen.
The base immediately starts to limit the food supply after the Punishing outbreak.
In the beginning, the basket containing rations was placed on top of the table. The cans and biscuits were stacked like mountains.
Over time, the basket was moved next to the feet of logistics staff. Lamia had to stretch her neck to see it.
She can no longer see it now. The rations are probably hidden under the table.
What will happen in the future?
The book says that people will die from hunger if they have nothing to eat.
When many people die from hunger at once, it's called a famine.
Will there be a famine in the base?
Am I going to die from hunger? Lamia thinks.
She has never seen the outside world.
The book also says the world outside Atlantis is much bigger.
The sea has its end, which people call land.
Compared with land, Atlantis is only a grain of dust.
There are many, many Atlantis on land with many, many people living inside.
The horizon is twisty on land because there are these things called mountains over there.
The plants she sees in the greenhouse grow together in large patches on land. They are called "forest."
Unlike Atlantis, they don't have stacks of rules on land.
Over there, a warm hug and comfort will be given to every weeping child.
Lamia curls in bed and falls asleep.
