Humanity

The outside world was unknown to her, but she could see a glimpse of it through the window in his room. His room is the only room in their whole subterranean with a window to the outside world. He was the mastermind behind its construction and he selected every detail, including which people to bring down there with him. He gathered the people he felt best to start over and create a new world. She is a part of the first generation to be born below ground and she is his eldest daughter. As she sat staring out his window, he started the painful meeting by asking her who she is going to select to breed with. She just sat there quietly as he went on about how this whole place was designed to save humanity and how she is the next in line to lead them all.

She stopped listening as soon as he asked who she wants to breed with. Her insane desire to smash the window in front of her and break free from her father’s questioning is all she could think about. Even if it would have meant instant death, it would still be freedom. She understands what is expected of her. She understands her father is trying to do what is best for humanity but deep down she feels like it's all wrong. She feels like if she did smash the window and run free, she would find more of humanity out there! She just knows it in her bones. For now, she snaps back to her reality and asks her dad if they are done.

Feeling defeated he motions for her to leave the room. She heads back down the long corridor towards the library where she spends most of her time. She has read a fair amount of the books available but certainly not all of them and she couldn’t wait to dive back in. The truth is she hated everything about her existence. She has always been enamored with the stories from before her parents came underground. She couldn't read enough about the sun, trees, grass, rivers, ponds, lakes, and oceans. She wanted to experience the breeze in her hair and salty water all around her or to sit under a tree.

Ranaan called for Zera’s mother Ordell. The moment his door slides open he begins his pleading with Ordell to influence their daughter. “She’ll listen to you,'' he starts.

“Ranaan, we are not getting into this again. Besides, if you want her to get to know anybody you should simply send them to the library. She’s always there.” Ordell seemed bored with such a sentiment as finding her daughter a mate. “What are today’s readings?”

“They’re the same as always Ordell. Please focus. We will not live forever and the whole point is to keep humanity alive and well until we can resurface. That means the next generation needs to procreate. Plus, Zera needs to take her role seriously. She will need to take charge one day.”

“Ranaan, why must you insist on Zera being humanity’s leader? She is not you! She doesn't want anyone following her. She wants to be left alone or set free.”

“Enough Ordell! I will not hear another word about Zera being set free. It's ridiculous. She is a miracle. All of us are one giant miracle and we made it all happen, Ordell! Zera simply needs to do her part to push the miracle of life forward!”

“You have forgotten what love is. Ranaan, she wants love and she doesn't even know it. Give her a chance to find love on her own or at least someone she would be willing to breed with. Give it more time.” Ordell finishes her statement as she walks back out of Ranaan’s room.

There is no lost love between the two of them. Ordell and Ranaan found each other through a mutual circle of colleagues. Ordell jokingly mentioned at a dinner party one night that she wished she could be the one who starts our world over. She went on about how she would select the people who will survive and how she would need to eliminate the rest. Ranaan listened intently, sharing her excitement. He too wanted to be in control of humanity's destiny. Ordell’s dream became his own and he spent years making it all possible. He was born of wealth and had almost no problem bringing all the details together.

Ordell came from a family as powerful if not more powerful than Ranaan’s. Being born of such power came with great pains. Ordell was abused by the very people who were supposed to love her. She had every opportunity that physical wealth could buy, everything but freedom or peace. Her hatred towards humans grew deeper each day of her life. What Ranaan didn't realize is Ordell had spent all these years working on the best way to wipe out all of humanity. She never once considered being able to start the world over as a responsibility but she was certain she could take the whole world out, including herself.

Ordell ran her father’s kingdom’s most advanced weapons facility. She spent her entire educational experience desiring more information. She was a perfect student and never spoke out of line. She had decided, at the tender age of five, that she would play their game obediently until she could win!

When Ranaan approached Ordell with joining him in his subterranean world, to start humanity over, she didn’t hesitate. Her maniacal desires to destroy her world left a void in her where love could never reside. She may have once known love but truly had no idea what it was until Zera was born. Zera was the beginning of Ordell’s and Ranaan’s new world, and although Ordell’s actions were initially fueled by her hatred for her fellow human, they are now fueled by her love for her daughter. She could no longer operate with zero compassion which left Ranaan confused about how to move forward. It was Ordell who destroyed the outside world without any remorse and now she wants him to wait on love.

- Thank you for reading my submission to Behind the Last Window challenge. Feedback is warmly appreciated. - Felista