Sunshine On Earth

Chapter One

“Welcome back, Sunshine.”

My eyes blink a few times to get them to focus. There’s a sharp pain on my wrist. I look down to see a metal bracelet. When I look back up, there’s a face right in front of mine. It’s a boy’s, probably no older than twenty-five. His hair is greased back, allowing me to see the freckles that are splattered on his cheeks. His brown eyes search my green ones, but I’m so tired it’s hard to keep them open.

“Hey, what’s your name?” he asks. I notice he’s wearing a guard uniform. That’s probably why he looks older.

“Shouldn’t you already know?” My voice is hoarse from being asleep. “I mean, you guys are the ones who knocked me out, right?” I feel more awake know. My eyes wander around to see everyone strapped to a seat, in a small room. There looks to be another floor or two, and there’s at least fifty kids around my age where I am.

A deep chuckle breaks me out of my thoughts. “Oh, Sunshine. I’m not actually a guard. I’m only going to ask you one more time; what’s your name?” His tone is low. Even if he isn’t a guard, he looks to be pretty intimidating. I haven’t learned his name, so why should he know mine?

“That’s none of your fucking business!” I snap. The whole room shakes for a moment, causing me to nearly jump out of seat. The only thing that holds me back is the stupid red belts. Is the Ark breaking?

“Relax, we just hit the atmosphere,” the ‘guard’ explains. I give him a panicked look: why would we be hitting the atmosphere? My knuckles wrap around the seat belt holding me in place. The guy lets out a small laugh. “Do you even know where we are?”

I shake my head, still panicking. I don’t show it, though. Over the years, I’ve gained an impressive poker face.

“Well, Sunshine, we’re on our way to Earth.”

I feel my breathing hitch. “W-what?” Since there was a nuclear war on Earth nearly a hundred years ago, we’ve been living in space. Earth has been unlivable, as the radiation would kill us. Why are they sending us down now?

“You really don’t know anything do you?” He sighs.

“Look, I already said, some guards came in and knocked me out. Next thing I know, I’m here.” I run a hand through my hair. It’s down for once, instead of in its usual high ponytail. The ‘guard’ turns in his seat slightly, so his torso is facing me.

He breathes out a large breath before explaining everything: how Chancellor Jaha is sending one hundred of us down to earth, to see if it’s livable. Also, how the people he is sending down are ‘expendable because of the crimes we have committed.’ It’s total bullshit that we are the guinea pigs. I lean back into my seat, letting my head fall back.

“So that means that you did something. What did you do, Sunshine?” I shoot him a glare as he twirls a piece of my black hair between his two fingers. “What’s your name? I’m not asking again.”

“Blade, my name is Blade,” I say between gritted teeth. That’s not my actual name. No one knows my real name, and I plan to keep it that way, too. It’s a nickname some punk kid came up for me. I guess it stuck.

“So you’re the one who-” he starts. In all honesty, he’s really starting to get on my nerves. Hopefully the radiation will kill us before I have to deal with him.

“Yes, now back off,” I snarl. He puts his hands up in defense, and turns back to his original spot. My hand subconsciously goes to my back pocket, where – thankfully – my pocket knife still is.

It’s quiet for the most part. The constant sound of machines fill the air, along with the chatter of my fellow cell mates.

Before I can stop myself, I blurt out, “So why are you here? I mean, it’s obvious you’re older than eighteen, and you said yourself you aren’t a guard. So why are you voluntarily going on a suicide mission?” If I had the choice, I personally would go down to Earth instead of being holed up in the Sky Box to end up getting floated.