Survivor

by Raul Catargiu, class XII
"Grigore Moisil" Theoretical High School Timișoara

Since time immemorial, human existence has contributed to the destruction of the planet, bit by bit, but nothing has been more devastating than an atomic bomb. On December 19, 2024, following conflicts between the great powers, the only "solution" was the detonation of a Tsar Bomb near the Balkans. My parents were lucky enough to find shelter in a cave system they called "catacombs." I was born and raised underground, and for a good while I didn't believe all the stories my parents told me until today.
"Revolution Day", as they called it, was the day people dreamed of reclaiming the surface. According to the calculations of the intellectuals underground, December 19, 2077the atmosphere above should have been habitable again. It was curiosity and stories that convinced me to volunteer. I thought that few would be willing to risk their lives for a forgotten world, but to my surprise, dozens of people had the same desire to see the surface for themselves.
We were divided into groups of two, and I was assigned next to "Crazy Raul", an old man with weathered skin, discolored eyes, and barely able to stand on a stick. Even though he had been born on the surface and lived part of his life there, he was the only one of the 'Survivors' who shared nothing of life above.
We were placed in a semicircle in front of the gate separating the known world from the forgotten. The commander of the operation was a boy about the same age as mine, but much more confident and proud, as if he had discovered the surface. The gate opened and a fierce, blinding light flooded the room. Each group was given a pair of "tinted" glasses, as Crazy Raul explained to me, the first word he had spoken since I had known him.
The commander pulled a huge map out of his pocket, a map of Timișoara. I knew it, because we have one underground, but not as big. Each group had to choose an area to explore, and thanks to Raul, being a survivor, we had the privilege to choose first. Almost instantly, Raul chose "The Sun Zone."
Along the way, I began to discover Raul. He wasn't as crazy as people thought. As we passed by a building, he would start to talk about what had once been there. The first huge building we passed was a bank - the place where, he said, people kept their "money," a concept rarely mentioned underground.
We continued on, noticing a colorful wall covered in "graffiti," as Raul called it. In the distance we spotted a store and headed toward it to get supplies. A few letters remained on the frontispiece - "<m r e." Raul told me that there had once been a place called "Carrefour," with a logo depicting a smiley face. Inside, the shelves were nearly empty, but I found a few canned goods. The explosion had really left deep marks.
As we exited, we came to a large gladiator-like arena, but here people were playing a game called "soccer." Raul explained it was a ball that the players tried to kick into the opponent's goal. From above, from the arena, the city seemed to stretch on forever, but instead of buildings, all I could see were ruins and empty ground - many houses had been completely razed to the ground.
It was getting dark, and the Commander said we were not allowed to stay above ground at night, but I didn't understand why. So the senior and I set off underground, and on the way we passed a one-story house, a white garage, and a partially destroyed yellow gate. Raul's eyes began to come to life for the first time - the expression on his face I couldn't tell if it was one of happiness or sadness. He fell to his knees and began to cry, but when I tried to console him, I noticed he was smiling. He told me that this had been his home, where he had lived before the explosion. He told me how his cat would always come to him when he left the house and how his dog was the happiest when he returned.
I asked if he wanted to stay a little longer and we went into the house together. Everything was destroyed, but Raul seemed happy. He asked me to explore the upstairs while he explored the downstairs. Climbing the stairs, I found a room with a plateau that offered a view of the world above. I returned to the stairs and climbed higher, where there were some slippers that seemed to be in good condition, picked them up, entered another room where I was struck by the clutter around me, but among all the clothes strewn everywhere, I came across a photograph - a chubby kid with glasses and an interesting hat. Looking closer, I noticed he looked strikingly like Raul, so I hurried downstairs and asked him if he was in the picture. I searched the first two rooms and finally found him lying on the bed. I tried to wake him up, thinking he was asleep, but he didn't move at all. There was a letter on the table. With a heavy heart, I looked to see what it said:
"If you're reading this, my plan has come to fruition. Unfortunately, I don't know your name, as I wrote the letter before the groups were done, but I apologize for dragging you here. I hope you at least learned something from the experience. I have wished, ever since I grew old, to die at home...". When I read "die at home", I feel sick and I want to throw up. I try to pull myself together and continue reading: "People call me Crazy Evil just because I don't talk much about the outside world. I was never sociable, didn't get out of the house much, didn't do anything exciting. If you even give a damn about me, close my eyes if I left them open. Thanks for everything, you, Crazy Raul."
After finishing the letter, with tears in my eyes, I look at him and see that his eyes were closed. When I turn to go out, I see a net prepared with food, clothes and water. I take them and leave for the underground, but upon arrival I realize that I was the only one back. The commander and the families of those who had left were waiting with hope in their eyes for their loved ones to return, and I couldn't disappoint my own. Unfortunately, the other groups never returned.
I am writing these lines today, ten years after the first expedition. Timisoara was too beautiful for us underground. Although there have been other successful expeditions, the city remains for us a mystery and an untouchable treasure. I too became a Survivor.