expire

Chapter 12

Chapter 12

My hand opened and closed uselessly on thin air, as is the feel of Tine's silky clothes still flowed freely within my clutched hand. My last chance of seeing, or even just knowing where my family were simply slipped through my fingers.

It took a minute for me to realise I must look totally odd, standing hunched over with an outstretched hand. Slowly, trying slyly to make it look casual, I straightened up, contracting my arm as I did so. I took a peep over at Solstice. She was not fooled.

“You ready? We're already three minutes late, y'know,”

“We are?”

“Uh-huh. The corridors took too long, and you've been stood like that for the past minute or so. I was wondering if you'd fainted or something, but I guess not...”

I rolled my eyes to the heavens and stepped into the room, the feeling of claustrophobia fading rapidly. There was a large, intricate skylight right above me, way up high, which was split into several small segments like a dragonfly's wings. A strange sense of calm and serenity slipped over me, and I took a deep breath, in an attempt to ready myself. Paranoia came next; what would they be like; would they like me; would I fit in? I felt my nerves stand up on end.

A cool hand rested on my shoulder, and I looked over it to see Solstice's face fixed into a  sweet smile. Maybe she felt the calm too?

“Don't worry. Everything will be fine.” She looked me in the eye. “But please stop panicking, you're making me nervous.”

I ignored her advice and continued to fret, looking anxiously at the door in front of me; Sector 24, Bi-sector 2 was engraved in that same azure blue on the door's smooth white surface. I swallowed.

“Well then. I see no point in waiting any longer. Prolonging the inevitable and all that...” My voice quivered like a jelly, inaudible but obvious. I stepped forward, my feet sinking into the deep but soft carpet. Then I took another tentative step forward, the door looming ahead. Then another. Then another. Was the door supposed to loom like that?

“Go on then. Open it!” Solstice nudged me forward, her palm against my back, and I felt my hand close around the door knob, it's texture cold and hard. Knowing she was slightly impatient already, I looked at her as I turned it.