THE HIVE

Chapter 4

From the door on the other side, an automated machine distributes the food to everyone as it traverses the length and breadth of the hall. Food is automatically piped into a brown bowl and transperant glasses are filled with water simultaneously. The food provided is unlike anything we had imagined. It's...goop, looks like poop.

But despite the appearances, it has a nice smell, and after daring to taste it by licking, I discover that in fact, it is a kind of semi solid gravy. It probably has all the nutrients required to keep us alive and healthy and in working condition.

But too bad, we won't be getting any real food. Well, sooner or later we had to find out the disadvantages of this change so I can't say a thing like this is totally unexpected. And what else? As far as I know chickens don't randomly hop on alien worlds and lay eggs so, real food is a long way home. Unless of course, they brought them alongwith us. Seems unlikely. That'd be too thoughtful of them.

We use our fingers to create balls out of the goop and quickly put them in our mouths before they break apart. No cutlery, but that's okay I guess.

"What did you have on yourself to remember who you are? Or, am I the only one suffering from amnesia at this scale," I ask Sally and immediately after, I look at the boy who can't remember his name. "Ah right. Probably not."

"For the most part, my memory is as clear as day," she says as she puts another ball of goop into her mouth. "I remember everything I did before I went to sleep: college assignments, watching shows, speaking to my friend over the phone, even taking out the laundry. The only thing that puts me off is somehow I managed to do all that in one day. It is pretty natural though, but it's rare. After all despite how I might come across, I am a bit lazy." She smiles shyly. "Maybe I got scolded by my mother to get my ass up and move and so, I did." She laughs.

"Haha, I can relate to that," I say. "Though I can't recall many instances yet, I do know how furious she gets at times. If she is in a particularly bad mood and I am not awake when I should be in the morning, I am awarded with a bucket of cold water."

"Oh, that sucks." She grimaces.

I laugh nervously, while scratching my head.

I turn to my side when I sense someone's gaze on me. I find myself looking at Fiona who is smiling sheepishly, while Diana is shaking her head in amusement.

"Hey, Fiona. Tell us something about yourself," I request. Yay! Brave first move!

Her mouth opens in surprise. She is taken off-guard by my sudden mentioning of her. Now it's her turn to be shy! Haha!

"I like your hair," Beth comments.

I subconsciously nod. Yeah, me too. I daydream of me going over to her side and stroking those pretty locks.

...

What?! No! I shake myself out of those thoughts. Am I really that much of a pervert? Come on, me!

But my desire is not unwarranted. I just can't help it. Fiona is beautiful.

"Now where do I begin," she clears her throat for dramatic purposes and looks at the ceiling to ponder on her words. "I have two brothers. Both are elder to me." Her eyebrows tense as she speaks the words. Yeah, she misses them as much I miss Helena.

"It was a normal day at school. I was taking a walk by the footpath with some of my friends. My brothers both play football so, I never got to know what happened to them. But anyways, it's a lot like Beth's story. We saw the giant 'frisbee' in the sky. Next thing I remember is a blinding light, and then, it's waking up here. Well, no not here, like in this building, but here on this planet."