The two weeks after the bunker's completion became the busiest days Mia had ever experienced.
Every hour had a purpose.
Every task had to be done carefully.
And most importantly, everything had to remain completely unnoticed.
Only six people knew the full truth.
Mia and her parents.
Luis and his parents.
No one else.
Not the workers from Alps Builders.
Not the employees from Aetherion Land & Holdings.
The fewer people who knew, the safer they would be when the world finally collapsed.
The first priority was food.
Inside Mia's section of the bunker, several storage rooms had been built specifically for long-term supplies.
Shelves lined the reinforced walls from floor to ceiling.
Boxes, containers, and sealed barrels slowly filled the rooms as the days passed.
Freeze-dried meals.
Canned goods.
Rice sealed in oxygen-free packaging.
Beans, flour, sugar, salt, powdered milk, cooking oil, and dehydrated vegetables.
Luis carried another crate inside and placed it on the metal shelving.
"That's the last shipment of canned food," he said.
Mia checked the inventory list on her tablet.
"We're aiming for at least ten years of supply," she said calmly.
Luis glanced around the storage room.
"With the size of this bunker, that's actually possible."
The bunker had been designed with large storage capacity from the beginning.
Mia had planned every square meter carefully.
Nothing was wasted.
In another section of the bunker, Helen, Mia's mother was already working on the hydroponic garden system.
Rows of hydroponic racks filled the brightly lit chamber.
Water tubes and nutrient lines connected each layer of plants.
Leafy greens had already started growing under the LED grow lights.
Helen smiled proudly as she adjusted one of the nutrient pumps.
"These will grow much faster than soil plants," she said.
Mia nodded.
"The system can recycle water continuously."
Helen touched one of the young lettuce plants.
"With this setup, we can grow vegetables all year."
The hydroponic area included tomatoes, spinach, lettuce, herbs, and several other crops.
Even if stored food eventually ran low, they would still have a renewable source of fresh vegetables.
On Luis's side of the bunker, preparations were slightly different.
Near the secondary storage tunnel, Luis and his father were setting up containers filled with seeds and farming supplies.
Several large boxes held carefully labeled seed packets.
Corn.
Potatoes.
Beans.
Carrots.
Tomatoes.
Luis checked the labels while placing them inside temperature-controlled cabinets.
"These should last for years if stored properly," he said.
His father nodded.
"We may eventually need to plant outside again."
Nearby, a small enclosed section had been built specifically for raising animals.
Luis carefully carried a crate inside.
Soft chirping sounds filled the room.
Inside were several young chicks, resting under a heating lamp.
"They'll grow fast," Luis said.
His mother smiled.
"Fresh eggs will make a huge difference."
Between hydroponics, stored food, and small livestock, the bunker could support long-term survival.
Vehicles were the next priority.
Hidden inside a reinforced underground garage were several machines chosen specifically for harsh conditions.
Two heavy off-road trucks, modified for durability.
Multiple motorcycles, easier to maneuver if roads became blocked.
Luis ran a hand across one of the motorcycles.
"These will be perfect if we need to move through narrow roads," he said.
Mia nodded.
"And they use less fuel."
Fuel storage had also been prepared carefully.
Several large underground tanks had been installed in a sealed chamber.
Luis checked the fuel gauges.
"Gas reserves are full," he said. "Enough for years if we ration it."
Mia crossed her arms.
"We only use vehicles when absolutely necessary."
"Agreed."
Weapons were another matter entirely.
Luis had handled most of that part.
One evening, while checking supplies, he spoke quietly to Mia.
"I know someone who can help us," he said.
Mia looked up from her inventory list.
"With what?"
"Weapons."
She studied his expression.
"Legal?"
Luis shrugged slightly.
"Let's just say… discreet."
Within days, the bunker's armory slowly filled.
Handguns.
Rifles.
Shotguns.
Boxes of ammunition.
Hunting knives and survival blades.
Even crossbows and compound bows.
Luis placed several bows carefully on the weapon rack.
"These are for you," he said.
Mia raised an eyebrow.
"For me?"
"You're good with precision weapons," he said.
She examined one of the bows.
It was lightweight but powerful.
"Silent," Luis added. "Useful if we don't want to attract attention."
Mia nodded slowly.
"That's practical."
Protective gear was also stored in large quantities.
Heavy boots.
Thick gloves.
Gas masks with extra filters.
Protective suits.
Medical kits.
Luis checked a box filled with respirators.
"Better to have more than we need," he said.
"Exactly," Mia replied.
The bunker's water system had already been installed, but Mia insisted on testing it again.
Luis and Frederick joined her in the utility room.
Pipes ran along reinforced walls, connecting to filtration systems and underground reservoirs.
Luis turned the valve slowly.
Clean water flowed from the faucet.
"Pressure is stable," he said.
Frederick checked the filtration monitor.
"Filters are working."
Mia nodded.
"Good."
Electricity was also fully off-grid.
Solar panels hidden in the forest canopy fed power into large battery banks underground.
Backup diesel generators were ready in case sunlight became unreliable.
Luis checked the power system screens.
"Energy reserves are stable."
Mia allowed herself a small breath of relief.
Despite the massive amount of work, they still had to continue their normal routines.
During the day, Luis managed operations at Aetherion Land & Holdings.
Mia supervised projects with Alps Builders.
To outsiders, everything looked completely normal.
But every night, the six of them continued moving supplies quietly into the bunker.
Boxes arrived in small batches.
Different delivery routes were used to avoid attention.
Everything was done carefully.
No one must remember them when the apocalypse began.
Two weeks passed quickly.
The bunker was now fully stocked.
Food.
Seeds.
Animals.
Weapons.
Fuel.
Medical supplies.
Everything they could possibly prepare.
One evening, Mia sat in her office reviewing company reports.
She had barely spoken to Kevin in weeks.
In fact, she hadn't contacted him at all.
She had simply focused on work and preparations.
And surprisingly, Kevin hadn't called her either.
Mia leaned back in her chair thoughtfully.
Tomorrow, she decided.
Tomorrow I'll end it.
There was no reason to delay any longer.
Just then, she overheard quiet whispers from two employees near the hallway.
"…I saw them again yesterday."
"Really?"
"Yes. Kevin Blackwood and Chelsea Hale."
Mia remained silent, pretending to focus on her computer.
"They were leaving the hotel near the building," the employee continued.
"Seriously?"
"They were kissing in the parking area."
The two employees lowered their voices, unaware that Mia could hear them.
Mia closed her eyes briefly.
She felt… nothing.
No anger.
No heartbreak.
Only quiet confirmation.
She had expected it.
Before, she had ignored the signs.
Late nights.
Excuses.
Chelsea's constant presence near Kevin.
She had chosen not to see it.
Back then, she was deeply in love with him.
Now things were different.
Her eyes were open.
And the truth had been obvious all along.
Many people around her had probably known.
They just never said anything.
Because Mia had been blind with love.
She opened her eyes again and continued working.
Tomorrow she would break up with Kevin.
And after that…
She would focus entirely on surviving the future that was coming.