Chapter 29: The Process

They were escorted deeper into the building, the air colder and more sterile the farther they went. The hum of machinery and the distant voices of soldiers filled the silence, but Evelyn couldn’t shake the feeling of being on display. She was acutely aware of the weapons they carried, the way the soldiers’ eyes followed every movement they made.As they moved down the hall, Harris, who had seemed so quiet and withdrawn since the town, now walked with a sense of quiet purpose. The hesitation in his steps had lessened, replaced with a reluctant acceptance. His once-skeptical eyes, the ones that had always questioned their every move, now scanned their surroundings, noting every detail with an almost analytical focus. Evelyn could sense that he was weighing the same question she was—was this real? Was this the place they had been searching for?The soldier who had led them through the doors glanced over his shoulder, his voice gruff. “Stay close. We’re taking you to the processing room. Don’t try anything stupid.”Evelyn nodded without speaking, her mind racing. She had to stay calm. They all did. This could be their chance to survive. To find some semblance of normalcy in a world that had lost everything.They entered a small, brightly-lit room, walls lined with cold metal tables and empty chairs. The air was sterile and smelled faintly of disinfectant. The man in military uniform who had been waiting for them was now joined by two others—both carrying clipboards and looking far too businesslike for Evelyn’s taste.The leader of the group looked them over with sharp, calculating eyes before speaking.“Sit,” he instructed. “We’ll start with the basics. Names, backgrounds, and why you’re here.”Evelyn sat first, the others following suit. She met his gaze without flinching, her fingers tapping nervously against her thigh. She hadn’t expected this—expected a fight, maybe, but not this cold, clinical approach. They weren’t asking if they were good people. They weren’t interested in their pasts, only their ability to prove they belonged.She spoke first, her voice steady. “I’m Evelyn. We’re just survivors. We’re here because we need food, shelter, and safety.”The man nodded, scribbling something on his clipboard. “You didn’t answer why you have weapons. You’re not the first group we’ve had come through here. Most of them are here to take, not to ask.”“We’ve been on the road too long to be defenseless,” Evelyn replied. “We don’t want trouble. But we’ve seen what happens when you trust the wrong people.”The man stared at her for a long moment, his expression unreadable. He didn’t seem satisfied with the answer, but he moved on, writing something down. He turned to Liam next.“What’s your story?”Liam leaned forward slightly, his voice low but clear. "We’ve been through hell to get here. We need rest and supplies. No games, no tricks. We’ll trade what we can.”The man nodded, as if he’d heard the same answer countless times before. “How about you?” he asked, turning to Jack.“We’re all in the same boat,” Jack said, his voice steady. “We’re not looking for handouts, just a chance to survive. We’ve got supplies to trade, and we’re willing to do whatever it takes to keep going.”"Uh... huh" the man said blankly, "What about you?" facing Mara next."T-the same as the others" she answered hesitantly.Harris was the last to speak, his voice quiet but firm. “Harris. Former cop. I’ve seen more than my share of people trying to exploit others. I’m not here to cause trouble, but I don’t trust anyone. I just want a shot at making it.”The man with the clipboard nodded, taking note of each of their answers before meeting Evelyn’s gaze again. “We’ll need to run a background check on you. It’ll take a few hours. In the meantime, you’ll be given some food and water. If you pass, you’ll be allowed to stay. If not…”He didn’t finish the sentence, but the meaning was clear. Evelyn didn’t need to hear the rest. They didn’t have a choice but to play along.The door behind them opened, and a soldier stepped in, carrying trays of food and bottles of water. The smell of fresh bread and warm stew made Evelyn’s stomach growl—she hadn’t realized just how hungry she was until that moment. She reached for the tray, grateful for the momentary relief, but her mind remained focused. They still had to pass whatever test the military had in store.Mara, who had been unusually quiet throughout the process, finally spoke up as she took her tray. “How long do we have to wait? I don’t trust that we’ll just be allowed to settle in if they check us out. No one ever gets to just walk in without a catch.”Evelyn met Mara’s eyes, her expression a mixture of understanding and caution. “We’ll get through it. We don’t have a choice.”Mara nodded, though her face remained guarded. She had always been the most wary of the group, never fully trusting any situation that seemed too good to be true. Even now, after everything they’d been through, she couldn’t let herself relax. And Evelyn couldn’t blame her.As they ate, the tension didn’t dissipate. Every bite felt like it might be their last chance to prove they weren’t a threat. They ate in silence, the clatter of metal trays on the table the only sound in the room. Evelyn watched Harris closely as he ate. For the first time in days, he didn’t look quite as burdened as before. The edge of doubt that had marked his every word and action had softened.When they finished eating, the man in charge returned, his expression still unreadable. “You’ll be staying in the barracks until we finish the checks. We’ll let you know when it’s time to move on.”He gestured toward the door. “Follow me.”The group stood and filed out of the room, following the soldier down another long hallway. They were led into a large, open area filled with rows of beds, some occupied, some empty. The barracks had an odd mixture of comfort and coldness—there were clean sheets, a few personal touches here and there, but everything felt temporary. Like they were being given just enough to make it through the night.As they settled in, Harris turned to Evelyn, his expression unreadable. “This place... I didn’t think we’d find anything like this. I thought it was all just rumors.”Evelyn met his gaze. “I didn’t either,” she said softly. “But we’re here. We have a chance. We just have to get through this.”Harris nodded, his shoulders relaxing just a bit. For the first time in a long while, he allowed himself to believe that there might be hope, even in this world that had taken so much from them.Mara, sitting on the bed across from them, sighed deeply. She ran a hand through her hair and gave Evelyn a wary look. “I’m not sure what to believe anymore. This place—it doesn’t feel real. But maybe... maybe it’s worth a shot.”Evelyn glanced at her, her voice soft but firm. “We’ll take what we can, Mara. For now, we just have to survive. That’s all we can do.”As they lay down on their beds, the sounds of distant voices and the clatter of metal echoed through the barracks. Evelyn closed her eyes, allowing herself a moment of peace. They had made it this far, but the real test was still ahead. She knew that nothing was ever truly safe anymore.But for tonight, this—this fragile, uncertain hope—was enough.