"Here and Now"

“Gus?... Gus!”

I heard a snapping noise as soon as I recognized my name. I didn’t jump or flinch to attention, like you’re used to seeing in the movies. Instead, I just raised my head and turned my gaze slowly to discover the deep green eyes burrowing deep into my own.

Pallas reached over and gently placed one hand on my shoulder and softly asked,

“Are you okay?”

I nodded my head slowly, even though I knew she wouldn’t believe me.

“I’m fine,” I lied.

She narrowed her gaze, her head cocked slightly to one side - her long-observed signal of disapproval. But instead of saying anything, she simply slid her hand down into my, weaving her long, warm fingers into my balled up fist. The muscles in my arms relaxed even before she gave my hand a little squeeze.

“If you need to leave, just give me one of these,” she whispered near my ear. Again I nodded silently then, took a deep breath through my nose.

I closed my eyes and held the humid taste of the summer storm approaching.

It’s just a feeling. It’s not real anymore. It’s not real…

I exhaled deeply through my nose, then, our fingers still intertwined, led the way into the depths of PANDORE's newest little hutch. Though the steps I took were bold and solid, I trembled uncontrollably deep within my core as I prepared myself for their latest exploitation that still waited deep below the soil.

***

“Ugh! This place is disgusting!” Pallas squealed, shining her flashlight around the dank hallway.

“Well, what’chu expect from maniacal pricks?” Finch answered, leading them slowly and carefully through the abandoned facility.

“From a what?” Tony questioned. The scrawny 14-year-old followed his paramour closely, but paused long enough to raise one eyebrow at the new word. Finch, still walking through the darkness, thought for a moment before answering,

“It’s a funny little insult where we come from.” Then she blushed before adding quickly, “it’s not something we’re supposed to say in mixed-company.”

“It’s not ‘lady-like,’” Pallas explained with air-quotes and an eye-roll. “Something my mother likes to remind me on the regular.”

“Is this the place?” Finch suddenly asked. Her friends turned and quickly saw that she had stopped in front of a heavy metal door, completely rusted solid. Tony shined his light up and down at the door, his lips pressed together in uncertainty.

“It might be, but honestly, I can’t say,” he replied. “Dad mentioned a big heavy door - one that they all had to push on together. But…” he looked around in the dark, as if suddenly afraid his father would appear at any moment.

“He, um, never let me come here before,” he added bashfully. Pallas put her hands on her hips and saucily cocked her head to one side.

“Wait a minute, does he even know you’re here now?” she asked spitefully. Tony looked down at his feet and didn’t say anything.

“Seriously?” she groaned, “You mean to tell me you brought us here without telling anyone where we were going?”

“Elles, come on, back off,” Finch defended, turning to them both. “We did ask him if we could see this place, after all. He’s just helping us out.”

“But he doesn’t know his way around here, Dee!” Pallas blurted out. She then looked him up and down and added, with spiteful slyness, “I think he was just trying to impress us about this place.”

Finch shot her friend a look, and though it was enough to silence her, Pallas simply shrugged and added,

“Look, I think we need to head back. We don’t know how to get around here, or what’s even on the other side of that door. What if they, like, left a monster behind when they abandoned this place? How are we supposed to get help if something goes wrong?”

“She does have a point,” Finch agreed, turning her bright blue eyes back to Tony. “If your mom and dad don’t know we’re down here, it might take them a while to find us if we get in trouble.”

“But if we don’t check this place out, you’ll never be able to finish that book of yours,” Tony argued. Then, he glanced between them urged,

“Look: these guys, PANDORE or whatever, they abandoned this place decades ago- just after dad and the elders escaped. We’ve been watching it for years, and in all that time they’ve never come back. Ever. If I didn’t think it was safe to explore I wouldn’t’ve suggested coming here,” he stared deep into Finch’s corn-blue eyes.

“I would never let anything bad happen to you - I promise.”

The girls said nothing, exchanging only a quick, knowing glance with each other. Finally, Pallas rolled her eyes again and said,

“Okay, fine, I guess. As long as we keep it quick.”

“We will,” Finch agreed, turning back to the door. “I don’t think we’ll need to be in here long to figure out what these guys are up to.” She then stuffed the flashlight under her armpit freeing up both hands as she gripped and turned the rusted handle.

Metal screeching pierced the darkness around them and echoed painfully through the young ears. Though the handle managed to twist itself open, the door remained firmly in place no matter how hard Finch pushed and pushed against it.

Pallas slammed both hands against its crusty surface, her teeth clamped tightly over her own small flashlight.

“Ugh! Is a heffy son-uh-a-witch!” she grunted.

Soon Tony joined the fray and slammed his shoulder against the cold metal. He heard the slight tearing of his shirt as he pushed his entire weight against the door.

“Whatever's in here will be worth it!” he panted, just as the door started to give way.

Suddenly all at once, they fell on top of each other as the door fell open to reveal the bunker’s secrets.