S01E02: The Arrival

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Bunker 8 is a horror and sci-fi audio drama that explores disturbing themes and intense moments. Some content may be unsettling for certain listeners. Listener discretion is advised.

The Midnight Mystery presents Bunker 8 Season 1 Episode 2 The Arrival The slow grind of the elevator's gears was the only sound I could hear. It was like a constant reminder that I was moving further away from the surface. I looked up and the entrance... Hang on, the entrance? It's now just a tiny dot. How... How deep does this elevator go? Finally, what felt like a couple of hours, the elevator finally stopped.

As I stepped out, the silence was even more intense. I had arrived at an underground chamber that was dimly lit and spacious. The air was cool and had a faint earthy smell. Stone walls surrounded me showing signs of age and the space was empty and yet very quiet, making it feel even more deserted. I began to walk through a long hallway that stretched out before me.

Dim lights lined the corridor barely illuminating the path. After walking for a few minutes I reached a wooden door. I opened it and entered what looked like my bedroom. The bedroom was plain, just a bed, a desk, a locker and a treadmill, some weights in the corner. I guess that's going to be useful. And there, and there was this smell of fresh paint and bleach.

They really cleaned up in here. Then I discovered a small greenhouse. It was filled with herbs and a few flowers with a sprinkler system attached above. It was probably set to an automatic timer. It was odd to see something like this down here, but I thought it might be a good opportunity to learn gardening. It should keep you busy. Next, the medical bay.

The shelves were lined with bottles of, let's see here, we've got vitamin A, B, C and D. Great, my daily cocktail to keep the scurvy and the dark moods at bay. Then the bathroom. All you needed. It was complete with a shower and toilet. The storage room was next. It had rows and rows of cans and packets, chicken and rice, beef and carrots.

Great, no menu variety here, just sustenance. But wait, tucked at the back, a box of coffee and some really cheap whiskey that was in a plastic bottle? Really? It wasn't much, but I guess we'd have to do. The kitchen was basic but equipped. I couldn't make do. It was the communications room that really caught my attention. A bank of monitors, a maze of cables, and there, the communication intercom system. It looked ancient, but I was pretty sure I knew how to use it.

Above the monitors was an odd-looking clock. It was electronic with big red numbers. 12.32pm. Christ, it's already been three hours. Man. As I inspected the computers, the reality set in. This was it. This was my world for the next six months. Monitor, report, survive, get paid. Easy. Alright, I guess it's time to check out the cell blocks. This was where things started to get interesting, depending on how you really looked at it. Three of them. A, B and C.

Huge metal doors. Really made you wonder what needed such heavy guarding. I noticed there was rust. Not just a spot here and there, but trails of it. especially along the sides and a good amount on the ground leading into the cells. Great. Good for them for leaving me something to do. Jesus Christ. Alright. I guess I should get started. Hmm. So block A, B, and C. Each one locked up tight. Not that I was expecting a welcome sign, but this level of security, this secrecy, what was I doing?

I shouldn't have been thinking about these things. I just need to just follow your orders and do your job. When I was in the military, we were trained to observe, to see beyond the surface. And right here... The surfers were screaming that whatever was behind these doors was something big that they didn't want out. But curiosity was getting the better of me. I don't know, it was that soldier's instinct, I guess.

The need to know your environment, to understand the potential threats and assets. These cells, they were a part of the job, part of the bunkers, mystery. I was going to have to open them eventually to see what was inside.

What the hell is that? Jack? Can you hear me? Oh shit the communications room. Yep, yep, yep, sorry. Yeah, I can hear you. Wait, is that a woman? I thought I'd be talking directly to David. Even through the distortion, her voice was clear. Who's this? Where's David? Oh, David didn't tell you? That guy I tell ya. I'm Violet. You'll be reporting to me.

Whatever questions you have, you can direct them to me. Oh, okay. I'm calling to make sure you're all settled in. Uh, yeah, everything's looking good, I guess. Great. You should be able to see a handbook on the table in front of you. It has all the basic instructions on how to keep the bunker running nice and smoothly. Think of it as your new Bible. Oh, you're not religious, are you?

Uh, no, no, no, I'm not. Okay, good, I guess. You're going to be hearing an alarm at around 3.30pm. Follow the Bible, and you'll be completely fine. Can you see it? Uh, let's see. Just give me a minute. Uh, yeah. Yeah, I've got it right here. Well... This is just a quick check-in to make sure you're doing alright. You'll be stuck in here for the next six months, so get comfortable and keep busy. The loneliness can sometimes get to a few people. Yeah, thanks for that.

But I think I'll be okay. Fair enough. You're also going to be hearing a few things too. Machines, lights flickering, all that type of stuff. Being alone. Your mind is going to play a few tricks on you, making you hear things that aren't actually there. I understand. It's like what I said before. I think I'll be okay. You're not really the talkative type, are you?

No, I'm here to do my job, get paid and leave. We'll see about that. I reckon I can get a few things out of you. I'm going to be here just in case you need someone to talk to. Alright? Yeah, okay. Sorry, but David gave me orders that I can only use comms for reporting and emergencies. That's about it. Don't worry about that. Think of me.

as your new best friend. Um, yeah, listen, I don't want to be rude, but I kind of prefer to just stick to my orders and just keep to myself, okay? Well, I'll leave you to it then. I'll be expecting your report at 4pm. Copy that. Violet, huh? Why didn't David tell me I'll be speaking directly to someone else? He should have told me this. Shit. Alright, well, let's just have a look at this Bunker Bible and see what's going on here. Welcome to Bunker 8, the fortress of solitude and survival.

This manual is designed to ensure your stay is manageable, safe and as comfortable as possible given the circumstances. Within these pages lies the knowledge needed to navigate the complexities of underground living, from the mundane to the critical. Chapter 1, Introduction to Bunker 8. Chapter 2, Daily Operations. Chapter 3, Health and Wellness. Chapter 4, Security Protocols. Chapter 5, Communication Systems.

And chapter six, the unexplained phenomena. Wait, what? The unexplained phenomena? Unexplained phenomena. Bunker 8, like any complex structure with its history and depth, may present resonance with occurrences that fall outside expected norms. You may hear sounds with no discernible source. Observe light anomalies or experience sensations that defy immediate explanation. Okay, great. So they have a do and do not list. Okay.

Record and report any such incidents using the provided log in the communications room. Remain calm, many of these occurrences have unknown explanations or are harmless quirks of the bunker's infrastructure. Okay, do not investigate sources of these occurrences alone. Always inform central command of your intentions. Panic or spread concern, mental health and moral are paramount for extended stays. Damn, I guess people really do go crazy in here. Alright, let's check out this computer.

Okay, let's see here. Cell A, unlock and lock door. Cell B, unlock and lock door. Cell C, unlock and lock door. Okay, pretty basic sofa and a map too. Hang on. Wait, there are two doors within the cells. One that I can access, but then there's another leading the opposite direction. Okay, looked like I could just open my door, but... How did that other door open though? That's probably why the clock is there. It's probably set to a timer. Jesus Christ, what the hell is that?

That must be the sounds that Violet mentioned. Man. I checked the time. 2pm. Alright. Looked like I had some time to spare. Hmm. Was I a bit of an arsehole to Violet before? I'm sure she's dealt with this a lot. There's nothing to worry about.

I walked into the greenhouse and it felt really strange seeing this little green paradise under all that concrete and steel. The air was warm and damp, smelling like fresh herbs and with a hint of flowers. It was a nice change from the rest of the bunker. I moved between the narrow aisles, inspecting the small green world around me. It was a welcome break to the depressing grey off the rest of the bunker.

My hand brushed against the cool leaves of a basil plant and I couldn't help but pluck a leaf, crushing it in between my fingers. The sharp, refreshing scent was a stark reminder of a world far beyond these walls. Carefully! I made my way to the back of the room, intent on examining the setup of this little ecosystem. That's when I noticed the sprinkler system fixed above, a network of pipes and nozzles designed to mimic rainfall.

Curiosity got the bed off me and I reached out to adjust one of the nozzles that seemed out of place. That was a mistake. As soon as I touched it, there was a crack. Shit. Shit. A fault line in the plastic, perhaps already weakened by age and use. It gave way under my clumsy handling. Water began to jet out uncontrollably, splashing all over the plants, the path and me.

Great jack, you idiot. I stepped back as the water kept spraying everywhere. Some drops hitting the electrical fixtures and causing a small but alarming fizz. Shit, what have I done? It wasn't just a mess I made, but the potential disaster it might have started in this important part of the bunker. Shit, I needed to fix this and fast. I quickly ran towards the communications room.

I fumbled at the intercom button, pressing it hard. Violet? It's Jack. Come in. Violet, we've got a problem in the greenhouse. The sprinklers, they're going haywire. Okay, Jack, stay calm. Let's tackle this together. First, can you locate the main water valve? It should be on the wall right behind the ferns. Uh, yep, yep, yep. Just give me one second. I'll be right back. I hurried back to the greenhouse, brushing against the damp leaves. Ah, there. There was the valve.

It was rusted but functional. Uh, yep, got it. All right, turn it slowly. We don't want to break it. That would be a whole other level of trouble. Okay, got it. I'll be right back. Oh, thank God. It worked. It worked. Oh, thank you so much. Great job. Now for the tricky part. You'll need to reset the system. There's a control panel near the back wall. Do you see it? I moved over to the indicated wall, spotting a small dust covered panel.

I opened it and revealed a series of wires and buttons. Ah, yeah, yeah, I found it, but this looks ancient. What do I do now? See the blue wire? Disconnect it, wait for 10 seconds, then plug it back in. That should reset the timer. Okay, done. It looks like it's rebooting now. Perfect. Sometimes the old tech just needs a quick reset to get back on track. Ah, good. Yeah, I guess a good reset is all it takes to fix the problem. Oh, you have no idea.

Yeah, thanks for that, Violet. I couldn't have fixed it without you. As you can tell, I'm not really a tech guy. I'm more of a hands-on type of a guy. You're proving to be quite the quick learner. I'm impressed. I'll let you get back to it. We'll talk at 4pm. No worries. Thanks again for the help. I'll talk to you then. I looked up at the time. 3.30...

PM? Wait, already? That was quick. Okay, let's see. Cell A loaded. That is new. Right, we got this. Just needed to lock the cell door and that is it. The red clock in front of me, I noticed that it had changed. Instead of a normal clock, it was now a timer counting down. Then with each second that passed, the alarm blared louder. I watched the computer screen and I guessed I was right when the other door at the other side of the room automatically opened at 4pm.

The red lights surrounding me were still going strong. Then, out of nowhere, it just stopped. I looked at the computer and a big pixelated green success appeared. All right. That wasn't so hard. First day done. This is Jack reporting in. This is Jack reporting in. Uh, Violet? What's the report? Uh, yeah, it was a success. Copy that. Uh, yeah, and Violet? Oh, okay then.

The comms device clicked off. I guess that's it. This job, it seems simple enough. Alright, I guess now it's time for the cleanup. But when I glanced back at the computer, the success message was gone, replaced by a glaring red light on cell A. So, I unlocked an open cell A, curiosity nipping at me about what I would find.

With my trusty mop and bucket in tow, I'm kind of funny, I had a feeling this mop and bucket were going to become my new best friends. The thought of those earlier noises lingered in my mind. Buried deep underground here, what on earth could have made them? As I neared the corridor to cell A, it wasn't sight or sound that greeted me first. It was the smell. God, the smell. Hang on. The smell was...

was familiar in the worst possible way to remind of something I'd hope I'll never encounter again. As I walked up to cell block A's entrance, I couldn't ignore the dark stains by the door. Feeling a mix of curiosity and just a little bit of fear, I looked inside and realised what had happened. The whole room. The whole room was covered in blood. Great.

My eyes drifted to another door in the cell, noticeably larger than the one I had just come through. There were these strange markings on the top and the side. I've never seen these type of markings before. They seemed... Ancient, in a way. Were they keeping something in there? Something that needed to be fed? I don't know, my mind raced with possibilities, but none of them were good.

I searched the room wondering if perhaps they were keeping animals in here. Maybe like a pig or a cow maybe, but my theory was shattered when I spotted something out of place in the corner of the room. Oh, great. Just what I needed. It was a human ear. Bunker 8. Written and edited by Dean Smythe. Story by Dean Smythe. Starring Laura Hamilton as Violet and Dean Smythe as Jack. If you enjoyed Bunker 8... then please leave a review and follow The Midnight Mystery for more.

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