Chapter 231 No Heaven
Lancaster set up a deep cleaning session for Lily and some students.
Warren wanted in, but Lancaster was like, "Nope, you're with me!"
Warren's face lit up. He turned to his classmates and said, "See, my dad's got some pull around here."
His classmates looked on, clearly jealous.
Warren walked over to Lancaster and Gilbert, grinning.
Gilbert whispered, "Warren, listen to your superiors. Do whatever Lancaster tells you, got it?"
Warren nodded, thinking he was in for a sweet gig.
Lancaster smiled and said, "Come on, Warren!"
Lily and the others headed down the left corridor while Lancaster led Warren away.
Everyone watched enviously. "Lucky him!"
Warren followed Lancaster through the shelter. The underground area was huge and about 44 degrees Fahrenheit.
Warren was curious about everything.
Soldiers in white uniforms with guns were everywhere, making the place look super strict. People moved quickly, each busy with their own tasks, keeping things orderly.
Lancaster took Warren to a separate room.
She pointed to the bathroom and said, "Take a shower first!"
The room had women's clothes, like it was someone's personal space.
Warren found it odd. But he didn't think much of it. He hadn't showered in ages, so he eagerly jumped in.
After a half-hour, he came out feeling refreshed.
But when he opened the door, he was stunned.
The room's lights had turned a soft pink, coming from rose-shaped lamps.
Lancaster was lying on the bed in lingerie, looking at him seductively.
Her legs, with two large chunks of fatty meat, were piled together.
"What are you waiting for? Come here!" Lancaster smiled and patted the bed.
Meanwhile, Lily and the students finished their showers and found new clothes waiting for them.
The clothes were gray and plain, but practical for moving around.
Erica Hill, who seemed to be in charge, walked over and said calmly, "Follow me. I'll show you where you'll live and work."
Two armed soldiers stood behind her.
A sense of dread filled everyone.
Life in this shelter was nothing like they had imagined.
The students felt uneasy.
Hundreds of feet underground, with dim lighting and armed guards, it felt like a prison.
They huddled together, looking to Lily for reassurance.
Lily frowned but stayed silent. She didn't know the rules here and didn't want to act rashly.
She quietly put a finger to her lips, signaling the students to stay quiet.
Everyone nodded, following Lily and Erica through the maze of interconnected corridors. Time blurred, and the shelter became a confusing labyrinth. They had no idea where they were.
The dim, flickering lights made the exhausted students look pale.
Finally, Erica led them to a massive workroom. When the door opened, they saw a 10-foot-high, tens of thousands of square feet underground cave. The sound of wheels turning filled the air.
Lily and the students were shocked to see rows of bicycles inside.
The bikes were fixed to the ground, with at least a thousand people pedaling vigorously. It looked like a giant gym.
But the expressions of the riders were numb, rigid, and exhausted. No one dared to stop.
"What are they doing?" a female student asked, stunned.
Erica glanced at them and said to Lily, "This is your new job. You'll generate electricity for the base. These bikes are generators connected to the power system."
She added, "I'll give you a copy of the base's code of conduct later."
Erica's calm demeanor was unsettling. She treated them not as survivors but as tools.
Finally, she emphasized, "Remember, to stay here, you must follow the rules completely. The consequences for disobedience are severe."
After a brief introduction, Erica sternly ordered them to start working immediately.
A girl suddenly started crying, tugging on Lily's sleeve. "Mrs. Evans, Mrs. Evans..."
The girl, Eloise Campbell, was sobbing and calling out for Lily, but she couldn't find the words.
The other students understood her feelings. They were all overwhelmed by the harsh reality.
The shelter's conditions were like a brutal factory from two centuries ago!
Life at Innovation Academy was dangerous, but at least they had freedom and Lily's care.
Erica didn't even flinch at Eloise's tears. "You can cry, but you gotta work first."
Lily quickly comforted Eloise and then told the other students, "Let's get to work first!"
With two armed soldiers beside Erica, Lily didn't dare take any risks.
She had thought this was an official shelter where they'd be taken care of. Now she realized she was naive.
A group of students, still crying, followed Lily to the bicycles.
In Lancaster's room, under the red light, Lancaster was getting dressed, looking satisfied. She finished and walked out the door.
Gilbert was waiting outside. When he saw Lancaster, he greeted her obsequiously, "Lancaster! Are you satisfied with my son's service?"
Lancaster glanced at him and smiled. "Not bad! As expected of Director Baker's son, he's quite skilled in bed. Did he learn that from you?"
Gilbert laughed, "Don't say that, and please don't call me Director anymore; that's all in the past."
Lancaster said calmly, "Clean up the mess for me. I'll make sure logistics takes care of you and your son, giving you more supplies."
Gilbert was overjoyed, bowing and scraping, "Thank you, Lancaster! Thank you! If you need anything, just let me know, and I'll bring him over right away!"
Lancaster swayed her large hips and left, satisfied.
Gilbert's eyes darkened. He opened the door.
Under the red light, the room reeked of hormones and blood.
Warren was sitting on the bed wrapped in a sheet, his eyes unfocused.
His body was covered in bruises, and the sheet had bloodstains. It was hard to imagine what he had gone through.
Gilbert closed the door and sighed. "Warren, are you okay?"
As he walked over, he said, "If you want to survive here, you have to learn to accept all of this. It's okay, you'll get used to it."
Warren looked up at his father, tears streaming down his face.
"Dad, why didn't you tell me this place was like this? Aren't you a big shot? What's going on here?" he cried.
Warren couldn't understand. He thought he would come here and continue being important.
Gilbert sat on the edge of the bed, his voice low. "This is how it is now. My title as director means nothing."
Gilbert slowly explained what had happened since the apocalypse.
At first, the people who came here were the top-tier individuals from Starlight City and their families.
Gilbert's rank in Starlight City seemed high, but his power wasn't top-level.
On the night of the snowstorm, he was notified by a friend at the last minute and rushed over.
The entire West Mountain Base was filled with high-ranking officials and their families, all untouchable.
Gilbert's status was only mid-to-low level, and he had no power to mobilize troops to save Warren.
"At first, people here got along fairly well. Experts said the snowstorm would last one or two months and then end. We thought we could go back to our jobs afterward."
"At that time, we still respected each other. After all, we needed to cooperate once we got out."
"But soon, things changed. People realized the supernova explosion's impact on Earth was greater than expected. The world officially entered an ice age, which could last three to five years, or even three to five decades."
Gilbert's voice was heavy. "This meant our past identities and statuses no longer mattered. Later, those with armed forces staged a rebellion and killed the base's leaders."
"The rebel leader then became the new leader of the West Mountain organization. His methods were ruthless, and anyone who defied him was severely punished! He also divided West Mountain Base into different levels."
Gilbert looked at his son, his tone serious. "It's just the way it is, son. You need people to provide for everyone and you need people to make the rules. That's how things work, even here, without any regular folks around"
"Today's events are your first lesson in surviving at West Mountain."
"Those at the bottom must unconditionally obey the rulers to survive. You should be happy; this might be your way out of your current status."
Gilbert forced a smile and patted Warren's head.
"Even if it means using your body and selling your looks, it doesn't matter. In this circle, as long as you succeed, nothing is off-limits."
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