The bunker was an underground headquarters—the last fortress of humanity. Due to frequent accidents in the bunker, often caused by men fighting over the same woman, someone abandoning their duties for a woman, or even cases of sexual assault, the bunker leader, Cezar, decided to divide the bunker into two sections: the worker tunnels and the nursery tunnels.
The nursery tunnel was located deeper within the bunker, so women couldn't leave without passing through the worker tunnel. Cezar argued that this was to keep them safe. In the event of a mutant breach, women and children would be protected deep within the bunker, while the workers risked their lives defending the outer areas.
These two tunnels were separated by a sturdy door that only opened once a week.
Every Saturday evening, all workers who wished to meet the women attended the "Saturday Fever"—an event they called the magic night. It took place in Dawn Hall, a large space where workers and nurses mingled, drank, had dinner, and where private rooms were also available for those who needed privacy.
This weekend, Rod and The Mentor are assigned to guard the security system during this important event. It's crucial because some men might make the women uncomfortable with unwanted advances. That's why guards are stationed here.
Music plays in the background, coming from the sound system installed on the wall. Bartenders juggle their bottles; some people have already found someone they want to connect with. They take her to the dining table to share a meal and get to know each other. Some already know each other and proceed to the mating rooms. Others bring their partners to the dance floor, and some lounge on the sofas, cracking jokes.
The atmosphere is respectful and conducive so far. A few men with body odor—either due to laziness, fear of hygiene, or the belief that cleanliness is unmanly—still linger around, eyeing the girls. They try to approach, but none of the women seem interested in them.
Finally, a scene break Rod's boredom.
A woman squeals, drawing the guards' attention. The Mentor taps Rod's chest. "Come on, let's go!"
The man causing the scene is named Nick. He's grabbing a woman, trying to drag her into a private room. He seems so out of control with lust that it takes three men to pull him off her, but even that's not enough.
"Watch," The Mentor says without hesitation, pulling out his taser and pressing it against Nick. The jolt makes Nick release the woman immediately. While the six-foot-tall man seizes on the floor, the traumatized woman flees the party. A few other women rush to comfort her, assuring her she's safe now.
"Drag him out of here, Rod!" The Mentor commands, and Rod obeys.
After the incident, the atmosphere shifts—grows colder and more grim. Even though the music still plays, it's clear the number of women is shrinking. No one can tell if it's because they've paired off or because they're scared the same thing might happen to them.
"Why do they have to hide the women? Doesn't that just make the men more freaked out when they finally see one?" Rod asks, genuinely curious.
"It used to be different, Rod," The Mentor explains. "Back then, the women weren't hidden. But it didn't work. Some were even killed after being sexually assaulted. Hiding them is the safest option."
"Why not just put them in marriages, so they don't get disturbed by other men?"
The Mentor chuckles. "People cheat. Someone even killed a man just to take his wife. It doesn't work. Living in tunnels like this… society becomes harder to control. It's easier for people to be sneaky."
"Have you found someone you like at this event?" Rod asks.
The Mentor shakes his head. "No, not yet. I've tried with some women, but I think I'm not really into that kind of thing."
"Huh? Weird. Don't you need to release something?"
"Doesn't have to be with them," the Mentor says, kissing his own hand.
"Duuuude!!" Rod freaked out.
"Yes, dude. This is called self-sufficiency," the Mentor replies confidently.
Rod scans the room, looking for anyone who might catch his interest.
Some of the girls are pretty. Rod recognizes a few from his time in the nursery, under the care of the mothers. Others he remembers from childhood—girls his age now.
And then he sees her...
A girl with long, wavy bronze hair and big round glasses.
Nathalie.
Of course she's here. She just turned 17 this year—they'd allow her to get involved in Saturday Fever. But there's no way Rod will let someone else have her. He keeps his eye on her, tight and possessive.
She's sitting on the sofa, laughing at the joke of someone way older than her—old enough to be her dad. Rod knows the guy. It's Jowstone, the electrician. He's the one who keeps the lights running in this tunnel world, always walking around like he's the most popular man down here.
When Jowstone moves to sit next to another woman, Rod relaxes, his predator-like focus fading into something less intense.
"Someone's in love," The Mentor teases, making Rod embarrassed.
"I was watching her to keep her from danger," Rod defends himself.
"What do you like about her?" The Mentor asks, ignoring Rod's denial.
"Oh, she's—uh…" Rod scratches his hair awkwardly.
"Surely you don't mind if that guy gets her?" The Mentor points toward the sofa.
Rod's ears immediately perk up when he sees a handsome, athletic boy sitting comfortably beside Nathalie, his arm draped around her shoulders.
Rod knows that guy. Mourice.
Now he can't look anywhere else.
Mourice starts touching Nathalie—and the worst part is just beginning. He leans in like he's about to kiss her, but she turns away. They talk for a while, and then Mourice says something that suddenly sparks Nathalie's interest.
The Mentor can sense Rod's tension spike again.
Especially when Mourice takes Nathalie's hand and leads her somewhere. And she follows.
Rod feels betrayed. He turns around to face the wall and slams his masked head against it, as if trying to break it open.
"Okay, what was that? What are you doing? Why are you doing that? You need to tell me, because that looks just plain stupid," the new Mentor says, clearly upset—as if Rod's actions personally offend him.
"It was Nathalie, she—" Rod chokes through tears. "She chose someone else. I knew it. She only ever saw me as her little brother…"
"Oh geez, are you serious?" The Mentor looks even more irritated now. "You like her, but just because she follows another guy, you want to kill yourself?"
"I've been with her, always looking up to her. And when they kicked me out of the nursery tunnel, I thought I'd never see her again. But she promised—she promised she'd always come to Saturday Fever Night so we could meet again. But look at her! She betrayed me! She lied!"
"Oh wow," the Mentor scoffs, his tone razor-sharp. "So let me get this straight—you're crying because the girl you like didn't act like your loyal little knight? What?! Was she supposed to be the powerful hero in the relationship? Keep showing up, chasing you, protecting your feelings, holding it all together while you sit around sulking like some delicate princess waiting in a tower?"
"What are you talking about?!" Rod snaps, turning to face the Mentor, clearly offended.
"Oh, I'm with you, sweetheart," the Mentor mocks, tone biting. "I really feel it—deep in your soft, tender little heart. Right there in your inner feminine core. She really crossed the line by stopping what? Playing your role? Being the strong one while you wait around, weep, and hope someone comes to rescue you?"
Rod stands up and roars, "You talk like that again, I'll crush you to the wall!!"
"Ooo.... how would you do that? by flipping your skirt?!" The Mentor keeps triggering.
Rod doesn't speak anymore, he got so angry he fly his punch to The Mentor, hard and raw, but the mentor evades it so easily.
"Why don't you just cry, little girl? Maybe your tears can stop me!" the Mentor taunts, voice dripping with contempt.
That's it. Rod snaps.
"I'll kill you!!" he roars, lunging at the Mentor with wild fury.
He charges, swinging, punching, throwing everything he has—but nothing connects. Every strike misses, and with each failed blow, the Mentor only laughs harder, his voice cutting like a blade.
"Is that all you've got? Come on, little girl—where's all that big, tough man energy now? Oh right, that's Nathalie's job, isn't it? Even she's manlier than you! What a loser," the Mentor mocks, dodging with ease.
Rod grabs a metal pole nearby, gripping it like a weapon. He swings with reckless passion, determined to end the fight—determined to end him.
But it backfires.
The pole smashes against the wall, missing its target. The impact destroys the pole, but Rod doesn't stop—because this crazy new Mentor just keeps provoking him.
"Oh wow, this has to be the scariest PMS I've ever seen. Do you want ice cream? Chocolate?" the Mentor jeers, infuriatingly calm.
"F*CK YOU!!" Rod roars, swinging the pole down in a vertical strike.
The Mentor dodges with perfect timing.
Instead of hitting his opponent, Rod slams the pole into a vending machine. The force knocks the heavy machine off balance—then it topples forward.
It crashes down onto Rod, pinning him beneath it with a sickening thud, combine with crunchy sound of glass breaking.
The vending machine crashes to the floor with a deafening bang, its glass front shattering on impact. The sharp noise grabs everyone's attention. A few people glance over, startled—but no one rushes in.
Rod lies beneath the tipped machine, gasping in pain. Shards of glass have broken through the edges of his mask, leaving shallow scratches across his cheek and jaw. Blood beads up in thin lines, but it's not serious.
Just enough to sting. Just enough to knock him out of his own non-sense.
The Mentor crouches nearby, arms crossed, looking down at him without flinching.
"You done?" he asks coolly.
Rod stirs beneath the fallen vending machine. With a grunt, he shoves it off his body and growls, rage still coursing through him.
The Mentor steps forward to help, but Rod snarls, "Get away from me! Fuck off! I don't need you!"
The vending machine teeters again as Rod's grip slips.
Before it can fall a second time, the Mentor steps in and pushes it aside with ease. From his position, it's effortless. Once freed, Rod rolls to his side and pushes himself up. His right knee stings, but he ignores it. He limps forward, refusing to show weakness, and storms out of the Dawn Hall, where Saturday Fever is held.
"Where are you going?!" the Mentor calls after him, brushing off the guards approaching to ask what happened.
Rod doesn't answer.
As he walks, he yanks a wooden stick off the wall—a bat that had been part of a display. He grips it tightly. He swears he'll get Nathalie back.
His eyes sharpen with resolve.
Rod sprints into the hallway, searching every direction, trying to figure out where Mourice and Nathalie could've gone. They could be anywhere by now—but he's not giving up.
He'll find her. He'll tell her he likes her.She's worth it.
No—he's worth the effort.