The Forest was never still

*Azure’s POV*

Sometimes I wonder if I can be normal.

And no, not normal like the other children in the group. In reality, they are not normal either.

I live in a bunker, I’m completely in danger.

The first thing I was told over and over again is that I am 'lucky' to have a roof over my head, but in reality, it was better to live on the street or directly die.

My life in the bunker is not the best, every day I risk my life. I wonder which day I will die, in a painful way? Of infection? On drugs?

Dying from being shot in a shootout? I usually go on missions, absurd missions. The shootings are present, more than once I found myself in them. I was obviously terrified, but I was in hiding most of the time. Everyone at the bunker pointed out to me like it was a huge problem. it is logical that I did not want to face, I am trying to live and going in the middle of a shooting is not one of the best ideas.

I still remember my first shooting mission:

During training I got scared trying to shoot the immovable spout in front of me, which to my eye, seemed to tremble more than I was doing. When Dan grabbed my arm to help me I yelled in surprise and shot him in the foot, causing him to growl in pain.

Infections? It's normal. The bunker is definitely not a clean place, it can be understood from the classic conditions similar to abandoned houses: The bunker is large, being almost underground it is constantly humid and therefore stinks. Mice walk around in corners like cockroaches, sometimes they end up in the kitchen, especially in pots. My curiosity led me one day to see Cleo get angry because a dead mouse was in the soup, she just took it out and served the soup on the plates. I didn't want to eat that night, I was disgusted, but Dan forced me to eat. I felt really bad the next morning.

Dirty clothes are piled up in a closet, every time you open it shoots a strong odor in your face that can penetrate your nose and set it on fire. This is why I often wear comfortable and short clothes, so as not to spoil them immediately and for fear of running out. In winter it's a grace, I don't sweat, so I can make them last longer.

Many got sick for these reasons, and the worst thing is that we don't know who; So we can get infected easily.

Or worse; We don't always have the opportunity to take a shower. In fact, many of the children have head lice. Adults do not sweat much in the summer because they do not play like children, but we often come back dirty and sweaty, many times adults scold us for this. But unfortunately, the free moments are few. But I managed to find a more practical way to ward off the bullies: Scratch my head often, so they think I have lice and they stay away from me.

Drug dealing has advantages, money. But is it very risky if they catch me? Will I spend all the years of my life in prison? Similar to a bunker? Many of the missions include drugs, Dan and Poke have advised me not to bullshit with it. Because the 'merchandise' is our only chance at life, but in my opinion, it is enough just to survive the best you can with or without money. Yet that's it, money is salvation, but are pieces of paper really enough to make a world go on? Sometimes I wonder if it is worth living in a world like this.

One day Dan and I were in a van, I had to help him get some drugs. I lightly rubbed the eyes of my 'guy fawkes' mask, Dan always said that enough of the drugs in the car and we would be arrested.

But he himself hides pounds of drugs behind the van. Cretin.

Every day is a Russian roulette.

I usually play with Charlie, where we are inseparable. I don't even remember a time where he and I didn't go to the nearby sewers to catch rats.

All the kids bully me, everyone does it. But Charlie doesn't seem to care, he's actually scared. But I have more of it, but also anger.

Why do I have to be his friend if he doesn't help me? But I have to, or I'm left alone.

Mud had formed around the manhole, without bothering me too much I bundled it in my palm and threw it at Charlie.

“Azure!” He said angry, but chuckled.

He did the same, soiling my white sweatshirt.

"Hey!" I said angry, but with a playful smile on my face.

We started beating and insulting us, but a bell caught our attention.

There are normally two bells: One is the longest, which means we have to go back inside for missions. The second is in pieces, which means it's time to work so wash the weapons...But this depends on the day.

But this one seemed much longer, it almost rang twice. What did that mean? I knew Hannah came up with this idea, but I didn't think she would go that far.

Charlie and I looked at each other in confusion, but reluctantly pulled up the tunnel hatch and entered.

The usual stench of metal hit our nose, stinging it bitterly as usual.

Adults are already looking down on us.

"Fuck, why are you so dirty?" Poke waved his hands in anger, as if he wanted to slap us.

"Calm down, they're children." Jessy intervened as she motioned for us to sit on the floor with the others.

Poke snorted, we stuck our tongues at him to annoy him and to make him tremble with rage.

I sat on the sidelines, but not too far not to see in the front row. Charlie sat down next to me.

Dan cleared his throat and began in a toad tone:

"Today I have the honor of introducing you to your new companion."

When he finished speaking, he motioned on his side to come. Someone near him approaches.

My eyes went wide.

A very tall man with black hair hidden by the hood of his lightning sweatshirt looking at all the adults present. Cursing them with his eyes.

"This is Jake." He said as he put a hand on the shoulder of the man next to him. He walks away in disgust.