Home & Hope

"Anna! Light another torch! I'll go down and see; maybe this is some military facility! Let's check if I can find their emergency food!"

The young girl nodded, holding the torch obediently. Under Anna's illumination, Dan slowly descended into the depths.

It didn't take long for Dan to reach the bottom, finally making his way to the lowest level of the facility.

But once he was down there, even with the torch in hand, the illumination was limited. It was then that Dan realized the importance of the torches provided by the system; metal buckles on the walls allowed him to secure the torches, ensuring better visibility. It allowed him to search for emergency lighting equipment within the facility.

"In there, it's something good!"

Anna nodded. She sat at the entrance of the hole and replied, "Okay, Dad, I'm coming down now!"

The little girl placed the torch on the ground and, using her small arms, carefully crawled down.

Before Anna could descend entirely on her own, Dan lifted her high under her armpits, placing her firmly on the ground.

Held high by her father, Anna's face lit up with joy. She giggled and scanned the facility illuminated by the torches, asking curiously, "What is this place, Dad?"

"This should be a military base. As for its purpose, I'm not sure. However it appears to be a nuclear weapons defense facility constructed during the war. Let's keep exploring," Dan explained.

As Dan ventured inside, he noticed the abundance of dust, creating a thick layer that almost blocked the way. "Let me have that," he requested to Anna the torch, and the latter complied.

With the torch in hand, Dan attempted to read the words on the door, but they appeared indistinct. He spotted another door inside, unlike the others, this one had double leaves. However, the door number was entirely unreadable.

"Did you bring water?" Dan asked urgently.

"I did!" Anna held up a leather pouch with both hands.

After taking it, Dan opened the pouch, finding two glass bottles of rainwater inside. 

He considered not using it since this was such a valuable resource, but in the end decided to use it to rinse the dust. If they needed more water, Dan felt confident that the system should be able to provide for them.

The recklessness was foreign to Anna.

Dan poured some water onto the door without hesitation. Anna seemed on the verge of tears, distressed by the use of their drinking water.

This water had sustained them for days!

After Dan poured the water, two words, or rather a word and a number appeared on the door panel: "Outpost 72."

"Come here!" Dan exclaimed excitedly to Anna. She quickly held up her torch to illuminate the door. With both torches lit, words became visible on the door.

"It's a kitchen! If there's a kitchen, there must be food!"

Dan was thrilled, but Anna seemed puzzled. Tilting her head, she asked, "Why must there be food in the kitchen?"

"Because the kitchen is where food is cooked and stored!"

"Really!?" Anna's eyes lit up as she heard the prospect of something to eat.

Unable to contain his excitement, Dan pushed open the door with all his might. Again, reckless. Knowing what could be lurking in the dark shades, he should do with a little more discretion. 

Rather than a lack of common sense, Dan's mindset was to blame. 

Though the 21st century where he came from was not really 100% safe, it certainly had lulled his sense of self-preservation.

Once inside, Dan found the room to be dirty, covered in gray netting and dust.

However, there were indeed supplies in this small room!

While most items were broken, there was still an intact cardboard box in the cabinet, which Dan eagerly tore open.

"Compressed Cookies!" It was an entire box!

"Anna," he called. "Come here!"

Although these had long expired, the vacuum packaging had preserved them, making them potentially edible. Dan guessed they wouldn't taste good, but they were certainly better than bitter roots!

After setting the box down, Dan continued searching and found a bottle of honey, a box of rock candy, and a box of salt in the cabinet above.

Seeing these items, Dan's hands shook with excitement. Without hesitation, he opened the honey jar first; honey would never spoil.

Dan dipped his finger into the honey, finding it still soft, and placed it in his mouth.

A wave of sweetness filled his mouth, and for the first time, he truly appreciated the taste of honey!

Dan quickly ushered Anna, saying, "Look! It is honey!"

The little girl approached, and Dan dipped his finger into the honey, feeding it to Anna.

Dan's hands were free from dirt since opportunely and simultaneously washing his hands while rinsing the door with the water awhile back.

Anna obediently licked Dan's fingers. As the honey melted in her mouth, its fragrance spread and her little hand instinctively grabbed Dan's hand, savoring every drop.

"Ouch!"

Her small mouth bit down subconsciously.

Dan winced in pain. He scolded, "Don't bite me, you little rascal!"

Tears welled up in Anna's eyes. She stared at Dan, asking, "Dad! What is this? Why is it so delicious?"

"This is honey. Is it delicious?"

Anna vigorously nodded, her eyes filled with greed for the honey. She wanted to eat more but seemed hesitant to ask Dan.

Dan could see her desire and said with a smile, "Wait a moment, we'll savor this honey slowly. You can't finish it all at once; we need to save some for later."

The little girl nodded reluctantly and replied cautiously, "Dad, I understand. I'll be good."

"Anna, let's check if there's any water. If there is, we can live here!"

Obediently enduring hunger, Anna watched as Dan continued searching. However, most of the food in the room was broken and inedible.

While searching, Dan spotted a faucet!

Taking a chance, he attempted to turn on the faucet. It had been out of use for far too long, and it was difficult to turn.

However, thanks to the effects of the medicine, Dan's body was significantly stronger than before. In the past, he wouldn't have been able to open it, but now it was different!

Using all his strength, Dan managed to turn the faucet. Anna could hear the metal grinding noise.

Then came the sound of gas flowing through the water pipe, and something seemed to be rushing upwards.

Puff!

A blackened slurry gushed out into the pool, gradually turning yellow-brown before finally becoming transparent.

"It's water! Groundwater!"

Dan exclaimed excitedly. He took a sip.

As expected! It was a deep underground water source, cool and sweet!

This was water free from radiation! It was as good as liquid gold!

Dan looked back at Anna excitedly and said, "There's groundwater! You can drink it! Taste it!"

Lucky. Blessed. It was truly something so rare in this post-apocalyptic wasteland, that in Dan's inherited memories, he had not found anything resembling something like this… 

No, this was not simply luck. Dan was lucky to have the 'System' helping him. 

Anna rushed over and took a sip with her small hands. A cool sensation filled her mouth, and she drank several sips before filling a bottle. She called out to her father, "Quick, Dad! Get a bottle. Hurry, let's find more bottles!"

Dan patted the little girl's head, feeling both distressed and proud. "No need, just close it. This facility likely has its own underground water source. If I'm correct, this place was probably a military observation post built during the apocalypse. Anna, we have a new home. Let's eat first. After we're full, we can start packing!"

This was not luck.

This was hope, and perhaps someday a home. 

Dan looked around, lifting the torch high and admiring the dark grey corners imagining them to be something. "Yes, this can be home…"