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Alimpatakan Short Stories Smoke rose into the air and the clanking of metal could be heard. THIS IS HOME Huge metal doors slowly pried open as the people on the other side exited through it. Clad in white body tight suits, the people seemed BY RAZE all too confused as to where they were or how they got there. Not one of them knew what they were doing or why they were holding ALIMPATAKAN somebody's hand, all they knew was that they could never let it go. Publisher \"Welcome! All of you, I am sure you are still confused about what is happening here but I assure you that you are 20 safe.\" From the distance, an old man wearing a black suit announced his greetings to the crowd. Walking towards them in slow steps, he wore a warm smile as he leaned on his cane for support. \"I greet you all a happy awakening. It has been years since you had been trapped in those containers but today, you have been released!\" Ah, I remember. Chleax voiced to herself. She had been frozen in a cryo-container back in 2039 in hopes of awakening to a better and non-apocalyptic world. 21

2039, the year of the Earth's death. China, Russia, and the The Garden stayed true to its purpose. Even after the nuclear United States had been fueling wars left and right. Many countries had catastrophe, it stood proudly still, along with the Himalayan ranges where been wiped off the map due to the chaos they had brought. Sea levels had nothing could touch it. The sturdy walls had protected the sleeping people risen and along with it the disappearances of cities and islands. Animals inside from the deadly radiation going on outside. Thousands of years later had slowly gone extinct and with the ongoing war, more were killed. The in 3023, a few thousand people were released from their slumber. They United States ended the war by bombing both Russia and China with their would become to be known as the Alpha generation, a group of the most biggest nuclear bombs ever created, \"Bloody Empress\" and \"Salvation\". essential people in society. Doctors, nurses, engineers, scientists, chemists, police, priests, politicians, and more. The whole of humanity was wiped off the face of the Earth. But Little by little, these people had constructed a civilization within The before the bombs were dropped, the several remaining countries joined Garden. And with their short human lives faltering as they reached their forces and built themselves a place that could protect and shelter them for olden ages, they released more and more of the slumbering people inside the upcoming disaster. They called this \"The Garden of Eden\", named the containers, passing on their knowledge onto the newly awakened ones. after the garden God had created for Adam, Eve, and the animals to thrive This continued many years into the future. This year would be the last of in. The people in charge of taking care of this sanctuary were the the final generation to be released, the Omega generation. remaining presidents and along with what little remained of the scientists and engineers, they created and perfected the cryo-container. \"You, our beloved Omega generation, we have been waiting for you.\" Bowing as he went, the old man continued to speak. \"I am Each cryo-container would hold a single organism, keeping them Representative Iroa. The Knights of Eden have sent me here to formally frozen but alive, in hopes that they would rebuild the Earth thousands of greet you. We hope you enjoy your stay in the renewed world inside The years from now. The remaining population was placed inside these Garden. Take your time and look around. Make yourself at home.\" containers and hidden away, where not one soldier could find or touch them. 23 22

He gave one final smile before turning to leave. With that, the Slowly as her eyes adjusted, she could see the tall towers' lights then bewildered people, having recovered their suppressed memories, glowing against the night sky. There were skyscrapers and buildings started hugging and crying in each other's arms. Children hugging their everywhere and yet it didn't seem cluttered at all. Instead, it looked like parents, lovers to their partners, and friends to one another. Lucky them, a beautiful painting, no doubt the planning behind the city was thought huh? Chleax thought to herself while looking at her hand. She had no of very carefully. To Chleax, it seemed like she was seeing the old one to hold, no one to hug nor anyone to smile at. Her parents and Earth all over again but this time, it was more peaceful looking. No friends had died in that war and she, the only survivor, barely made it wars or death. out alive. The officers had led them towards a white building. Inside, chairs \"Everybody, please follow the police officers. They will lead you had been placed where they could sit while they waited along to what to your waiting rooms.\" The sound of the intercom snapped Chleax out would happen next. All of them were still so clueless about what to do. of her thoughts. She had only noticed that that the crowd had moved They had been asleep for so long and the daze of waking up still towards where the officers were and she was the only one left behind. distorted their minds. Along the back row, Chleax found a quiet spot Quickly, she's chased after them tailing behind the crowd, trying not to away from everyone else. bring attention to herself. \"Please wait here until your names are called. You will be choosing In front of them, was a huge gate plastered upon the top of it was a your dormitories soon.\" The Chief of Police announced with his golden sign engraved 'The Garden of Eden'. Different colored lights booming voice. With that, they walked out of the room leaving the seemed to pour through it for it led to the main city, the center of the people inside questioning and chatting about what he was talking about. new world, Ancewell. Chleax squinted her eyes as she passed through Even she was confused. Dormitories? the gate, the bright city lights flashed on her like a blinding beam. 25 24

Minutes passed by and the intercom inside the building called \"I am so sorry about that. Dormitories are places onto the first person, it was an elderly man. Two nurses accompanied that people without families can stay in. Once you enter here, you are him along the way, leading him to an alleyway located at the right of recommended houses based on your interests and aptitude for certain the room. Chleax could only wait and wait as she heard the names of things.\" the others being called. An hour passed by, and finally, finally, she was up. \"Wait, but how did you gain that information?\" Standing up from her seat, she followed the nurses down the \"We looked into your minds before all of you were released. We alleyway just as others before her did. The hall was the same, painted in know it's an invasion of your privacy but it is needed and the information white and with the only decorations being the dwarf palm trees, planted is kept secret.\" in the biggest pots she had seen, placed around each corner of the place. Out of the hall, the nurses sat her down on a stool in front of a woman Chleax sighed at the information she had heard. So, they actually who seemed to be a clerk. have the power to do that huh? The woman handed her a piece of paper containing the dorms she had been recommended to. She thanked her \"You are Ms. Killan, yes?\" The clerk smiled as she stopped typing before exiting the room. down on her computer. Chleax responded with a nod as the clerk continued with her typing. \"Aha! Here we go. It seems that you are Now, all she had to do was pick a dorm to stay at. The first on her recommended with three dormitories you can stay in.\" list was the most popular and high-class dorm of all time, The Golden \"Excuse me, but what are the dormitories for?\" Her puzzled face made the woman giggle. Dormitory. It was said that only the elite could enter the dorm. The second 26 one contained the wittiest and intellectual people in the New World, The Clematis Dorm. The third one, however, did not equate to the first two and is said to be a miserable place, The Azalea Dorm. 27

28 You are given three days to stay in each of the dorms. \" Well, are you ready for your makeover, milady?\" A maid wearing Whichever suits you best you will be the judge of that.\" a different colored dress than the others came forward and took Chleax \" by the hand, dragging her to a room filled with hanging clothes and the like. She remembered the words of the clerk earlier now that she was standing in front of a huge golden gate. The officers had dropped her off \"Huh? What do you mean?\" here and promised to pick her up if ever the place wasn't to her tastes and would take her to her next option. Pushing the gates wide open with a The maid sat her down on a stool in front of an elegant vanity deep breath, she walked in holding the folded paper in her hand. mirror. Placing her hands on Chleax's shoulders she said, \"You will be taught the lessons and lifestyle of the royal life during your three-day \"Welcome to the Golden Dormitory. Please, make yourself at home.\" stay here. That said, you must first look the part.\" A dark-haired boy greeted her as he opened the doors to the house. Chleax blinked and rubbed her eyes for a second, she wasn't sure if she had And thus, started her worst nightmare. The first few hours were entered a house or a castle. The walls were painted in beige, tapestries spent styling her hair into a bun and putting makeup on her face while everywhere, a red carpet rolled out amongst the floor, and a golden the rest was trying to get her to wear a corset and a heavy pink dress. staircase. They say first impression matters and just at first glance, Chleax After that was all and done, Chleax looked at herself in the mirror. She wanted out. barely recognized herself and she hated that. This isn't me at all. \"What is this?\" She made sure no one heard it except her. Truly, what On her first day of staying at the Golden Dormitory, she was a weird place. As she continued to explore the castle-like dorm, she had taught the essentials of royal life. Dancing, etiquette, manners, and how found out that, indeed, they did live like royalty here. Women dressed in to talk. \"That's it, one two three. One two three...\" The instructor frilly and gorgeous gowns and men suited up in the most beautiful suits. babbled as the two of them danced across the floor. This has been her Maids frantically ran around, wearing navy blue dresses. You would think third time trying to learn the steps but every single time, that this lavish lifestyle gave them any sort of joy but as she stared at their she kept stepping at the instructor’s toes. faces, they weren't happy at all. 29

\" Hold the teacup this way, milady. No, no! Why can't you At the end of the third day, all the activities made her body ache just get it right?\" The woman sitting across her yelled furiously, and sore. She could barely stand nor walk. All she could ever do was lie in bed and stay there for her body couldn't move at all. She lied there disdain evident on her face as she tried teaching Chleax how to hold the staring at the ceiling of her room with one hand covering her eyes. This teacup. They had spent hours now trying to teach her the ways of the wasn’t home at all. This was just a pretentious nightmare. royals but the girl's 'barbaric' ways just couldn't keep up with their standards. \"Do it again!\" Not liking the place was the least of her worries. What worried her more was the fact that she had to pretend to be something she was not \"You must bow when you meet someone of higher importance than just to adhere to the rules of this lavish life and she didn't like that. That you, like this, you see? We call this a curtsy.\" The young woman the night, she fell asleep wondering if the next dorm would give her more same age as her, bowed to her in such a soft manner. She looked than this sick royal life. absolutely flawless doing it while Chleax' was in a mess. She could barely hold the position at all. \"Welcome to The Clematis Dormitory. Please come inside.\" The For the past three days, all she ever did was train, eat, sleep, and repeat. voice of a woman spoke through the doorbell. When Chleax opened the door, she was met with a humble home. Grey walls and brown wooden Train. floors. Unlike the last dorm, this seemed much simpler and more \"Do it, correctly will you?!\" welcoming. She breathed a sigh of relief. Finally, something not grand. Eat. People wandered around with either books or gadgets in hand. She \"Hold the fork properly like this.\" seemed invisible among the bustling atmosphere. \"Excuse me, where should I go?\" She asked a girl passing by. Sleep. \"You must never sleep in such an unfashionable manner.\" 31 30 And repeat.

\" I'm busy, please ask another person.\" And with that, the girl ran Chleax entered her room smiling. Maybe this was the place she could off into a room. She tried asking a few more people but to no avail. No call home. Aside from the snobbish people here, the atmosphere wasn't like one wanted to answer nor guide her to her room. They were all too the one back at the Golden Dorm. Her room was simple. A bed she could busy. sleep in, some clothes in her closet, a bathroom, and a shelf full of books, and a little window where she could enjoy the outside view from. It was all too \"Oh my, we're so sorry for our rudeness. We forgot that a visitor good to be true. would be coming over today.\" An old man in a lab coat came down from the staircase, smiling at Chleax. \"You came at the busiest time. Sitting down on the bed, she grabbed the booklet and scanned through We are terribly sorry.\" the pages. What is this? She thought to herself after reading the first few of the booklet. There was barely any time to eat or sleep at all! Everybody had to \"It's alright. I'm still new so I don't know what's going on.\" She get up at 5 am and do the chores and after that, they went straight to work or bowed as the man stepped foot in front of her. Looking at his clothes, to their studies. Eating was optional to them and so was slacking off. The he must be a doctor or a scientist of some sort. The man told Chleax to dorm even had mandatory aptitude tests every day. I guess I could deal with follow him to her room and handed her a booklet. \"This should guide that.Once she was done changing into a new pair of clothes, she went straight you on what the dorm does.\" to the library to study for the upcoming test that was to be held at 8 pm. There she found teens and adults reading their way through stacks and stacks of \"Thank you, Dr. ...\" books. Writing down notes on one hand while the other flipped and flipped through the pages. She shuddered at the sight. Is this what they do all day? \"Clint. Dr. Clint. And no worries. We hope you enjoy your stay Just read? here.\" After looking through the shelves and finding the books she needed, Chleax sat down on a table beside a girl who was also studying. 32 33

\"Hi.\" \" Please wait for your results.\" The tablet's automated voice spoke as it loaded her test scores. After a minute, the screen displayed a \"Not now. I need to pass the tests tonight. Leave me alone.\" remarkable score of 78/80. Should couldn't have been happier with the results, considering it was the first time she had ever done a test after Well, that was rude. To escape the awkward silence, she instead thousands of years just sleeping inside the container. She exited the turned her attention to her books and studied the day away. She didn't room giggling happily, there was absolutely nothing that could ruin her even bother to eat or drink anything. If everybody was this serious mood now. about passing that test, then I'd be afraid to fail. \"You are a disappointment, Abigail. This is the third time this 8 pm. The hour came too quickly for everybody including Chleax. week that you have given us scores below the passing of 90%.\" The Her stomach was rumbling but there was no time to eat. The tests had voice seemed to be coming from beside the testing room. Inside, a girl's just begun. Everybody had been led to a room. Each desk had a tablet sobs could be heard and it was getting louder by the minute. Chleax of some sort where the questions would appear. She sat herself down to peeked inside the room and there she saw the girl who had been where she was assigned and started answering immediately. studying beside her in the library earlier. All this scolding, just because she couldn't reach 90%?! The air in the room was tense and nobody dared to speak or even make a sound. Only the sound of their styluses clacking against the \"Leave the dorm. You are a disgrace!\" She couldn't believe it! screen and the pings of the tablets could be heard. 30 minutes passed by How could they do that to her? It's just a little mistake, she could and finally, Chleax finished the test in a breeze. She wasn't the first to redeem herself in a few weeks, so why? The crying girl, Abigail, came pass the test but she wasn't the last to do it also. rushing out of the room and went past Chleax in a hurry. Her face was swollen in tears and her sobs didn't die down not one bit. 34 \"Hey, are you alright?\" 35

\"No! Don't look at me. I'm a failure! Leave me alone.\" In her And repeat. frustration, Abigail stomped her way to her room and came back rushing with a bag in hand, heading towards the door and slamming it On the night of the third day, she laid down on her bed feeling shut as she left. She was getting exiled and there was nothing anyone empty and tired. Although she wasn't physically tired, her mental state could do about it. started to collapse under the extreme pressure the dorm was giving her, and she hated it. Chleax slumped down on the bed with her head raging with thousands of questions. She came to understand that this dorm was full She wondered how anyone could ever live like this. Maybe she of perfectionists and that failure could never be an option. She once just wasn't as dedicated as them but she didn't like the idea of living up again shuddered at the thought. This wasn't home at all. This is hell. to an unreachable expectation. That night Chleax slept with tears in her eyes, hoping that the final dorm would give her peace. For the next two days, all she ever did was study, take the test, hear people getting exiled and repeat. \"This is the last place, little missy. We hope you choose wisely.\" The police officers dropped her off at the last dorm with a smile. At Study. least they made my week better. \"Ughh! This isn't making any sense at all!\" The place wasn't as big or as grand as the last two dorms but it was Take the test. cozy and warm. Pushing the gate open, she held onto the now crumpled \"What was the formula for this again?\" paper, praying that this place was different than the last two. Hear people getting exiled. 37 \"Get out of our sights!\" 36

\"Welcome to the Azalea Dorm! We're so glad you could stop \"No training?\" by!\" The upbeat voice of a woman could be heard as the doors opened. There, in the middle of the hall were a group of people smiling and \"Nope.\" holding up a banner that said 'Welcome to our humble home!'. The place was neatly kept with sky blue colored walls and white tiled floors \"No studying either?\" to go along with it. \"No! Of course not!\" Cherry giggled. \"I don't know what \"I'm Cherry! And the people behind me are my family.\" The experiences you may have gone through with the other dorms but we group behind Cherry waved at Chleax excitedly and greeted her with a don't do those here.\" warm smile. She took Chleax's hands in hers and smiled her sweetest smile. She couldn't be more thrilled than to see another person come Chleax breathed a sigh of relief and smiled. \"So then, what do all over. The dorm rarely got any visitors because it wasn't as popular or as of you do?\" high class as the others. Cherry stopped for a moment to think. What do we do? Hmmm. \"I'm Chleax. It's very nice to meet all of you.\" She managed to \"Well, we do hobbies if we have some. The adults including me go out say even through her stutters. Smiling, she waved back at the group to work every weekday and you kids stay here all day playing or doing almost tearing up at the warm welcome. It was more than she could ask stuff you love. You’re free to do what you like. After all, this is your for. A warm and welcoming family. home.\" Tears fell from Chleax's eyes as Cherry said those words. This is home. Her smile was still there but tears kept flowing down her face. One by one, the group introduced themselves to Chleax. Each Cherry worried that she had done something wrong, took the crying child in her embrace, asking her what was the matter. time, they gave her a hug or a pat on her head, treating her as if she was 39 already a part of them. Cherry guided her through everything that needed to be done around the house, such as chores, cooking , gardening, and games. 38

\"I can't believe it; I finally found a place to call home.\" Was all Art time! Chleax could say between her sobs. Cherry, touched by her words, \"Let me see!\" teared up and hugged her even more. The others took notice of this and \"I said no. It looks like poop!\" came over to comfort the crying girl. \"Wait, Fifi. No, it doesn't. It's beautiful.\" In just one day, she had been captivated by the life they had lived Storytime! inside their warm home. All-day she spent her time eating delicious \"Deep in the mines of the mysterious town-\" snacks made by Aji, learning how to code with Horzta, finishing up \"Lived a chicken named Tanya.\" savory meals by Eden and Mad, painting and drawing with Fifi and \"Hey! I'm not a chicken, Mango!\" Night and listening to music and telling stories all night with Frey, \"But what if you are?\" Arch, Tanya, Mango, Lucas, and Sam. \"Not you too, Archsel!\" Snack time! And Chleax couldn't wait for the next day. \"Here you go, banana pancakes for our dear friend!\" That night she plopped onto her bed, hugging her pillow, Coding! reminiscing over the wonderful memories she had in just a day of \"So, this will be the first thing you'll be learning today.\" staying here. Lunchtime! She didn't need a lavish life. Or one that kept her brain awake. She just needed a family. And she found it here, with her newfound \"Eat lots of food, kid. Here have some of this cheese, it goes well friends. Just thinking of the events today made her bubbly and tingly all over. It's been a while since I got to be so happy like this. with the pasta.\" 40 \" You should try the shrimps too, little sis. They're delicious!\" 39

The smile that the dorm had brought her today didn't fade and so it stayed with her even in her slumber. That night, Chleax fell asleep with a smile on her face, waiting and dreaming for another wonderful morning to come where she could talk with them again. This was home. THE END “Chleax Killan. 42 Time of death: 11:33 p.m.” 41