The Meteors

Chapter One - The Legend

My name is Mark Atkinson. I'm 20 years old. Now, I live as one of the few human beings that survived the legendary 2212 disaster. I live with my Mother and Grandfather in the New Life City. Maybe you are all more familiar with the term 'South Pole'. That's where I live. My Mother's name is Lucy. She is a beautiful woman and a kind and loving mother. My Grandfather's name is Richard Brown. Wondering why I live in the coldest area in the world? I'll tell you the story about it.

This terrible event started on 19 June 2212, when I was 12 years old. I was sitting with my Grandfather in the field behind my house, watching the beautiful night sky. My Grandfather was an astronomer. He likes to study the things in the outer space. My home is in a small town in the Great Kingdom, the place you once called UK. The night was silent and the air was cold even though it was summer.

Suddenly, there was bright light shining in the sky. I recognize it as a meteor from one of my Grandfather's book. More of them started falling from the sky. How beautiful, I thought. My Grandfather once told me that a meteor shower is really beautiful and he was right. I glanced at my Grandfather. I was surprised to see My Grandfather's face was troubled as I imagined him to be happy to see such a beautiful view.

He stood up and muttered, "It's happening, it's really happening." I was confused, so I asked, "What is happening?"

"There is no time to explain. Hurry! Go home and tell your mother to be ready," he said in an urgent tone.

"Ready for what?" Maybe this has something to do with those meteors, I thought.

"Hurry!" he shouted as he ran towards home.

I quickly followed my Grandfather, hoping he would stop and explain what's going on. But he didn't do that.

He opened the door and went inside. He was in such a hurry that he forgot I was there and slammed the door right in front of me. I stop dead in track to reopen the door and went inside.

"Lucy! Hurry! Pack your things! We are moving!" My Grandfather said.

"What?! Move? But--" My Mother said in disbelief, but it was too late, my Grandfather has gone to his 'Space Room'.

My Grandfather's 'Space Room' was a jumble of mess. Books on the floor, books on the table, books everywhere. There were so many things in the room that it was hard to walk, but my Grandfather knew the room like the back of his hand. There were stuffs from a map of stars to old computers to a giant telescope to broken typewriters to things you couldn't describe if you tried.

I went to my own room and packed my things. If my Grandfather said that we would move, I probably won't be able to see the things I left here anymore. So, I bring the most things I could carry.

My Mother did the same. She didn't want to argue with her Father.

We went to the living room to wait for my Grandfather. He emerged from the 'Space Room' a while after we went to the living room. He put his things in a backpack like us.

"Where are we going?" I asked.

"I'll tell you later," my Grandfather answered.

He signaled us to get into his car (or you can say truck). I took my cat, Panthera with me. My Grandfather didn't mind Panthera was in his car. In fact, he seemed not to notice that Panthera was there.

Panthera was a cat I took from the street. He has a black fur with some white spots. I took him about a month ago.

After all doors in the car has been closed, I, again, asked him the same question, "Where are we going, Grandpa?"

"South Pole," he said.

"What?! South Pole? Why in the world are we going there?" My Mother asked in panic as my Grandfather started the engine.

"There is a code in the book 'All about the Space' that I deciphered accidentally that states that there will be disasters everywhere in the world seven days after the meteor shower today, but there is a safe place in South Pole and we are going there. I have researched that it is impossible that a meteor shower will appear tonight and I promised that I will go to the South Pole if it really happens and it really happens," he explained as he drove to the airport, "And also, my friend and my partner, Wilson, have agreed to go together along with his son and his 12-years-old granddaughter, Mary."

"Are you saying that you believe in legends like that?" my Mother asked.

"It's not a legend. It's-"

"Do you believe or not?" my Mother cut him in the middle of the sentence.

"I believe."

"You really believe? I thought you can't possibly believe in-"

"No! I didn't say that! Really!" Now it's my Grandfather's turn to cut her in the middle of the sentence.

"What?"

"I said that."

All eyes turned to Panthera.

"I believe in that legend. And it's actually not legend. It's the truth," Panthera repeated.

"You... you..." I can't finish my sentence. I was too surprised.

"Yes, I can speak," Panthera answered the question in my mind.

"Why didn't you tell us before that you could speak?" I paused; a question has just appeared in my mind.

"Does all cat speak?"

"No, I am one of the ten Master Cats that can speak in both human language and cat language. Meow. I was given this ability after I pass so much training and competitions and finally the final test by Tigerclaw, the leader of all cats around the world, even he is better than the Master Cats are. We are devoted to protect our secret. We can only tell our secret once to a human or a family that will be our loyal friend forever. Some of the Master Cats chose to live freely in the wild and not tell anybody about this secret, but others, like me, chose to tell someone my secret, but their human companions are free to tell anybody about this secret, even if they are mean and wanted to take advantage of me, I must obey them," Panthera explained.

By now, we have arrived in the airport.
"Wait! Panthera won't be able to fly on an airplane, especially a more than 1-day trip," I said, worried that Panthera will be left behind and die in the disasters.

"So, I chose the right person that will be my companion forever," said Panthera with a smile, pleased that I have defended him.

"Oh, yes. I've just remembered that!" My Grandfather said.

"Okay, I have an idea," said Panthera.

"Wait, I will find Wilson and you can explain to all of us about your plan," my Grandfather said.

"Okay, hurry up!" said Panthera.

My Grandfather got out of the car and scanned the busy airport. There wasn't any familiar face. He continued to walk toward the airport door. He caught a glimpse of Wilson buying a ticket, probably to the South Pole. My Grandfather hurried toward him, but the airport was too crowded that by the time he got there, Wilson was nowhere to be seen.