Chapter Text
16 years later (Bunker)
26 year old Angel was looking at her reflection in only mirror as her fellow bunker mate and best
friend Sara put the finishing touches on her blue and white polka dotted dress. Usually Angel wore her
blue puritan dress, but today was a special day, the day she got married to Rev. Solomon.
"I still don't get why Angel gets to be his bride, I devoted just as much as she has to the lord" Rose complained from the top of her bunk bed.
Sara rolled her eyes as she finished putting little flowers that they were able to keep down there, into Angel's hair.
"If only she could learn to stop complaining so much" Sara whispered to a smirking Angel.
Angel happily turned around to see Pam putting the finishing touches to the bunker. Since the bunker
was small, with only 2 sets of bunk on opposite sides and a large vanity mirror in the middle, as well
as some pots to cook the food Rev. Solomon would bring them, so there really wasn't much there to
decorate.
"Sisters, I can't express my gratitude for all that you have done for the past 16 years, and I hope you all of you will still be apart of my life once Rev. Solomon takes me to surface" Angel said as she took a seat on one of the stools.
"By the way where are you two going to even live, with the surface all dried out from the hell's of fire" Rose asked.
"Come on now, Rose you can't truly believe that everything above was completely wiped out" Sara asked.
"Well if that's the case then why won't the Reverend let us go up and live in a bigger house than this crappy little bunker, you and Pam are both old enough to remember all the frenzy surrounding Y2K" Rose countered.
"Now girls, please. While the surface may have been destroyed during Y2K, there's always the possibility there are other survivors" Pam said as she continued to decorate their little bunker for the wedding.
Angel nodded in agreement and said "Pam's absolutely right, even though god got angry with humanity again and decided instead of a flood, he would use missiles to wipe out humanity, I don't truly believe everyone perished, but the Reverend did promise me if I behaved well enough he'll let me come out of our little cabin we're suppose to live in and go look for survivors."
"But what I want to know is, if the Reverend has had 16 years going from down here to up there looking for anymore survivors, with no luck. What makes him think he'll ever find any" Sara asked questioningly.
Angel got up and knelled down at Sara and took one of her hands while smiling softly "You just got to keep your faith Sara, remember the quote from Hebrews 11:1, Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen."
Before Angel could say anything there was a huge bang coming from the one and only entrance to the bunker, causing all 4 women to stand up in a panic.
"What was that, the Reverend?" Rose asked in a panic, knowing that the Reverend would just casually walk in when he came down here.
The banging came again, causing all four girls to scream and back towards the wall with Angel holding onto Sara and Rose holding onto Pam, who was trying to shield the other girls.
"Girls just stay calm, don't panic" Pam warned.
All of a sudden the door broke down and what appeared to be about 5 or 6 men, wearing helmets and vests that said S.W.AT. on them, barged in carrying guns.
"LET'S GO LET'S GO" one of them screamed
"WE FOUND THEM" Another one screamed.
Suddenly there was another loud noise from the above, causing all four girls to look above. The hatch
suddenly opened and there came a bright light with a silhouette appearing with his hand extending.
Angel didn't know what was going on, but all she knew that for the first time in 16 years she saw bright
light, so she quickly grabbed the hand and slowly started to climb out out of the bunker.
When she reached the surface, Angel was shocked by what she saw, not only was the sun out, but the
entire surface of the earth was just as she remember it, the grass was green with flowers and trees
growing all around them, not surrounded in the scorching fire of hell she was lead to believe it had
become.
"It's all still here" she said amazed.
"Y2K Never happened" Sara said with Joy in her voice as she was brought up from the bunker.
Both Pam and Rose both just stood in surprise and shock as they took in their surroundings, even as
the police officers started to lead all of the girls away into awaiting ambulances, while they ignored all
the cameras and press around them.
"It's a road" Rose exclaimed as she tried to bend down and embrace it, but was pulled away by the
officer trying to get her into an ambulance.
As the ambulance carrying Angel drove away, Angel watched out the window taking in all of the
passing objects wondering what exactly has happened to her beloved Reverend.
CNN- Breaking News
CHRIS CUOMO: This is Chris Cuomo coming to you with breaking news. Earlier today 4 women were
rescued from an underground Y2K cult in Phoenix, Arizona, where they were allegedly kept by self-
proclaimed Reverend Christian Solomon for the last 16 years. Authorities apprehended Solomon late
yesterday for unorthodox behavior in a public restaurant, where he allegedly admitted to keeping the
women in this bunker. We can confirm the names of each of the young women kept captive for 16
long years. Pamela Cornelious, who went missing in Janurary of 1999 at the age of 24, Rose McGuire
who went missing from her dorm at the age of 20 only a few weeks after Pamela, Sara McMillan who
went missing at the age of 18 in June of 1999, and finally the youngest of this group of Women, Angel
Taylor who was abducted on her 10th birthday of August 1999. I think I speak for everyone
watching are amazed that 4 of the biggest nationwide searches of 1999 all ended up being
interrelated to each other. We will keep everyone updated as new information becomes
available to us.
St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center
When Angel was brought in the hospital, she was so perplexed about all of her surroundings and the
people around her, she could barely answer the doctors would ask her. After doctors took some blood
from her, she was escorted into an empty room, that only had one big table and a few chairs. All Angel
could think of, was how big this entire room, no the entire hospital was and how everyone in it could
fit so perfectly. After all Angel herself lived in a small bunker with 3 other women, so it was an odd
concept that one room could have so much space.
Suddenly the door opened and Angel saw an older women with light brunette hair, who appeared to
around her 30's walk in with an older gentlemen appeared to be around the Reverend's age walking in
sitting down in the two chairs.
"Hi Angel, my name is Detective Robins, and this is child psychologist Dr.Robert Warren, we're just here
to ask you a few questions" she said as extended her hand to Angel for a shake.
Angel shook her hand and despite her hesitations said "Ok."
"Now first off, can you please state your full name and date of birth as well as your current age" she asked.
"Angel Natasha Taylor, I was born on August 16, 1989 in Garfield, Arizona and I believe I'm going to be either 26 or I am 26 by now." Angel replied.
"Do you not know what year it is" Detective Robins asked.
Angel shrugged "I know it's 2015, but living in a bunker as long as I have you sort of lose track of the days and months."
"It's August 16" Detective Robins carefully said, while carefully observing Angel for any reaction.
"Really it's not a big deal, I haven't celebrated my birthday in years" Angel said.
"What I'm about to ask maybe too sensitive for you to answer at the moment, but please try to the best of your ability to explain the circumstances the night, Christian Solomon abducted you" Detective Robin asked.
"Abducted" Angel asked disbelieving as she sat straight up, while she stared at Detective Robins and Dr. Warren like both of them have gone completely crazy.
Angel's reaction caused Dr. Warren, to look at her like she just said something that completely interested him.
"Where is he, where's the Reverend at, I need to talk to him" Angel asked starting to get real worried once she started to realize what was going on.
"Listen Angel, you have to realize what he did to you and those other girls was not right" Detective Robins tried to expalin, but was cut off by Angel.
"He did nothing wrong, in fact if it wasn't for him I would probably be dead by now because of my mother. Yes it appears he was wrong about Y2K and he was probably just afraid to tell us the truth and I forgive him for that just like I forgive you for these accusations against him, he has done me no wrong to nor the others and if you ask them they'll tell you the same thing I am. The Reverend loves all of us, especially me the most since today is suppose to be our wedding day" Angel angrily informed them.
Dr. Warren throughout Angel's outburst continued to write in his little notebook, while Detective
Robins looked troubled.
Detective Robins sighed and took a picture out an envelope "I want you to look at this picture, it was taken on New Years Day in 2000.
Angel took the picture and saw the Reverend and what appeared to be a young women around his
age when this was taken, as well as a teenage girl and young boy who couldn't be no older than 10.
They were all wearing party hats with the year 2000 all over them, blowing into little party whistles
and banging pots and pans.
"Those people in that photo is Christian Solomon's wife and children celebrating the year 2000, while you made you and the others believe the world was ending" Detective Robins stated.
"What, there's no way he would do such a thing, he's a Reverend, a spokesman of god it's a sin to lie" Angel said, mostly to herself, while starting to panic.
Detective Robins puts her hand on top of Angel's which causes her to look at the detective with
worry written over her face.
"Angel, Christian Solomon is not a Reverend, in fact we have several statements from close relatives
that confirm he was an atheist"
Angel just sat there in total disbelief letting everything the detecting sink in, and for the first time in
forever, Angel felt her faith being shacking.
(Crisis Center- Late Afternoon)
After each of the four women were interviewed, they were immediately taken to one of the local
crisis centers, where they were expected to be reunited with their relatives.
"What's wrong Angel, you should be happy the world hasn't ended, now we can start all over" Sara said as hugged Angel, who in turned gave Sara a small smile.
"Of course I'm happy, it's just the Reverend I'm worried about" Angel said.
"He lied to us about Y2K, and because of him we missed out on so much of our lives" Sara said hoping to convince her.
"He probably had a good reason though" Angel countered without much thought.
Sara decided to drop the subject on him and decided to speak of something else "So are you nervous about seeing your parents again after all these years."
"They probably won't even show up, actually I know they won't" Angel said with a solemn face.
"How can you say that, of course they'll show up, they want to see their little girl again" Sara said not understanding why Angel feels they'll not show up.
"SARA" a middle aged women ran into the room crying followed by several others.
"MOM, DAD" Sara screamed as she got up and immedatley ran into the arms of her crying parents.
Soon the other girls families arrived and were greeted by the same sight of crying. As Angel stood and
watched the reunions going on all around her, she could not help but be jealous. After all the years
they spent together in the bunker, it felt like her whole world was crumbling around her. Sara, Pam,
and even Rose, they were all what she considered to be her true family and now it was like she was
losing her family all over again. Sara, Pam and Rose would soon leave and she would be left all alone
again in this world.
"ANGEL" a voice screamed out her name. Angel turned around and saw a young women around her age run up to her and embraced her.
"I can't believe it's really you" She said with joy in her voice.
"Um, who are you?" Angel asked uncertain as she tried to get this stranger off of her.
"Don't you remember, when we were in 4th grade you used to help me stuff toilet paper under my shirts so it seemed like I reached puberty before anyone else in our class" she said as she just smiled at Angel.
For a second Angel was confused then realization took over "Emma." The brown hair girl just nodded
and Angel's face turned into complete Joy.
"EMMA" Angel yelled as she threw herself into her, and the two just stood there in an embrace for who knows how long.
When they finally broke apart, Angel looked at Emma and was shocked to see how much she has
changed since they were little. Emma's brunette hair has grown out since the last time they saw each
other and her figure was curvy, but just right for a girl her age.
"You look amazing" Angel said thrilled.
"Please, have you seen yourself, you defiantly live up to the name Angel" Emma said wiping away her tears before giving Angel another hug and telling her how much she has missed her.
After a tearful goodbye with Sara, Pam, and Rose, with them promising to meet up again, Angel
sat with Emma in the Crisis center just talking and catching up. Emma told Angel about her crazy
adventures in high school, which included getting detention for skipping school to go out
with her much older boyfriend. She then told Angel about her job as a teacher's assistant at a school
that cares for the mentally handicap and about her roommate Ariel who she met in her freshman year.
The girls were then interrupted by an officer approaching who looked worried about something.
"Mrs. Taylor we are still currently trying to reach your parents, do you perhaps know of any other relatives we could possibly contact" he asked.
Angel huffed and said "I told you, they aren't coming, they probably didn't even care that I've been missing."
"If someone doesn't come soon and pick you up, we're going to have to place you in a women's shelter until we can locate someone" the officer informed looking very uncomfortable.
Emma watched as Angel's face fell into a solemn expression, but suddenly she got a brillant idea.
"Why don't you come live with Ariel and me, Angel" Emma said excitedly.
Angel immediately looked over at Emma in shock "Live with you, are you serious."
"Deadly serious. I mean this is a new beginning for you to start over, and you need someone to help you navigate the real world, after so much has changed in the last 16 years" Emma said with a wide smile.
A new beginning Angel thought almost not knowing what those words meant. Then Angel
remembered the verse Ephesians 4:22-24 that said "To put off your old self , which belongs to your
former matter of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit
of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and
holiness". To Angel that means that even though, she longs to go back to the bunker with her fellow
sisters and free Reverend Solomon, she shouldn't completely retry living in modern society because
it seems god wants her to become a stronger women by putting her through these present obstacles
that will occur in modern society,as well as trying to free Reverend Solomon from public scrutiny.
Angel smiled back at Emma and said "Ok I'll do it."
"To a new beginning" Emma said.
"A new beginning" Angel repeated with confirmation.