Salacity~~♠️Michael Langdon♠️

ii

The group had returned to the sitting room where familiar old music normally played on repeat. The plush purple couches and satin love seat glimmered in the fire light that came from the fireplace just opposite of where everyone was sitting. The same thought was running through everyone's minds. Was this the end? And were they ready to die? While everyone thought it, no one had the courage to say it. The breach wasn't the only irking event to take place that day.

Earlier when Emily had been changing, apparently snakes had been summoned out of her wardrobe. No one really knew how considering all lifeforms outside of the bunker had been supposedly killed in the blast from the bombs. Anything unlucky enough to survive was eventually killed off by the radiation that lingered in the environment afterward. While the thought of these living and slithery creatures finding their way into the outpost put everyone off, most of the guests in the bunker were even more irked to hear these creatures were dinner.

Saoirse had too much on her mind. She wished she had her earbuds and her phone right at this very moment. Classical music was her way to cope with her overactive mind. Even if it was just symphonic or choral. She loved it all and even had taken up learning to sing in her spare time at Robichaux's (a past-time Cordelia encouraged). With the hysteria her mind created, she yearned for the sweet sound of music in her ears.

"Dinner," Ms. Mead had peaked her head into the room and spoken.

Everyone looked up from their somber looks at the ground towards the doorway where Mead stood. Saoirse was the first to stand and make her way towards the dining room. The rest of the group followed behind her in silence.

As Saoirse followed Mead towards the dining room, she couldn't help but get a sense of another energy in the bunker. One that didn't feel like the energy Saoirse felt from Ember. One that felt mysterious and almost... dangerous.

"Sirsh," a voice called out her name, only she could vaguely hear it.

"Saoirse!" The voice rang out again, this time louder and more clearer.

Saoirse snapped out of her thoughts and back into reality to see Ember standing in front of her waving her hand in front of her face.

"Sirsh, you good?" Ember frowned slightly, seeing the dazed state her best friend was in.

Saoirse looked back at Ember a bit confused for a second, like she forgot where she was, "Y-yeah, I'm fine," Saoirse shook her head as she took a breath.

"What was that?" Ember tilted her head, "You just stopped walking out of nowhere and ignored Coco calling you a slow fucking snail bitch as she nudged you out of the way. It's like you left your body, what happened?"

"Nothing," Saoirse lied, "I just need to sit down. I think going down to just one meal a day is making me nauseous, I think once I get some dinner in my system I'll be fine."

"Alright," Ember spoke unsurely as she took Saoirse by the arm and led her the rest of the way towards the dining room.

When they entered, all eyes averted to the two youngest members of the survivalist clan. Coco still glared at her like Saoirse had set her favorite pair of Louis Vuitton pumps on fire. Gallant looked questioningly at Saoirse but didn't bother to utter a word to her either. Saoirse took a seat next to ember at the table and the waiting game had begun.

They all knew someone was coming. Why else would the alarms go off like that? Venable hadn't said anything to the group about the sirens at all. No answers. No explanation. Someone was here, but no one knew who.

The grays were beginning to dish out the soup made with the snakes from Emily's close encounter earlier into the silver bowls that were saved for special treat meals.

"I have a rule against eating thing with no legs or too many legs," Coco commented with disgust as she watched the grays. Saoirse had rolled her eyes at the comment, but kept her mouth shut knowing better than to argue with Coco.

"Jesus fucking Christ," Ember muttered.

"What?" Coco frowned.

Andre had saved the two some arguing when he gave his input, "Oh right, but you're fine eating something with two legs."

"For the last time, we didn't eat your fucking boyfriend," Saoirse glared back at Andre.

"Eat it or don't," Mead bartered peace, "No one's gonna force it down you."

"Adversity makes strange bedfellows and worse dinner companions," Dinah intervened.

"It's food, and we're starving. We should be grateful for the fruits of the Earth," Saoirse added.

Evie chuckled, "Well, steamed snake soup is actually quite delicious. It was quite the centerpiece of a dinner that I attended at the Royal Court in Kuala Lumpur with Gina Lolabrigida," adding in her two cents, earning a groan from everyone around the table.

The group sat in silence as they waited for their food for a minute or two before the peace was broken by Emily, who looked to Venable with curious eyes, "So, who's in your office?"

Saoirse saw anger in Venable's eyes look questioningly to Emily, "I beg your pardon?"

"The alarms went off before. Someone came inside."

"Who else is here?" Timothy wondered as well, looking to Venable as well.

Saoirse kept her gaze on Venable, who briefly met the brunette's gaze, "All questions will be answered in due course. Eat."

Saoirse kept her eyes glued to Venable as the grays served out the dishes of snake soup. She wouldn't break eye contact from the woman as she tried to read her. But, Saoirse couldn't help herself from breaking the stare when a loud hissing noise came about. She looked down at her bowl of soup to see snakes slithering out of her bowl, along with everyone else around her. Saoirse quickly stood from her chair our of shock as every muscle in her body tensed up and her breath hitched. How was this possible?