THE HIVE

Chapter 12

Why does life exist anyway? It just complicates the universe more.

I wish I knew.

We both sigh.

Lying here on the ground of an alien planet, looking up to see the rings up in the turquoise sky, like an unreachable race course beyond my grasp has got to be the most exhilarating sight I've ever seen. It's beyond what mere words can convey. This feeling.

A little breeze is wafting against my white robe. My mum would have had a stroke if she saw me lying on the ground with white clothes on, but she can rest assured it's not as dirty as she might think. Whatever the green layer is that envelops this field, it doesn't get on the clothes or come off the ground that easily. It's not grass, that's for sure, but it's even too tough to be moss. Some alien planet this is.

So for that matter, what little dirt I've got on me, is plain old dust which would come right off with a bit of smacking.

I close my eyes and breathe in, the mixture of strange smells stimulate my nostrils; and all inclusive, it smells a bit sweet.

But it can't beat the best smell I had smelled when I first came here.

Thinking about the bath bomb, I smell myself again. I mostly don't reek. They must have washed me regularly.

Okay, enough with the spiralling thoughts. Aren't you hungry, brother?

"So much so, that I'm finding it difficult to move."

Great. We'll be dying of starvation on an open field, because this lazy ass lacks any kind of resolve.

Wow, that was harsh. I turn over and push myself up. I wonder if I've ever felt this weak before due to hunger.

My joints ache and my muscles are heavy. I also feel tired and sleepy because of that, even though I just woke up like a few hours ago.

Somehow I jog my way back into the building. I do a quick look around once the doors close shut automatically behind me. Usually, the hallways should have some aliens roaming about. But there's nobody when I enter.

They're still not back yet.

_____________

Since I was able to escape just fine, I should have no problem getting myself a meal right? Right?

Still taking no chances, I sneak inside the open dining area like a secret agent. I jump, I do vaults, and I tiptoe for the most part.

I'm starving for something edible. Haven't had the feeling of chewing food for so long. It's making me mad. Even if it's slop, it's still food, and it's still gonna keep me alive.

I hear him grunt. We're getting there, space buddy. Hold on.

I am.

I smile, looking at my mutated hand. Then I clasp it tightly. I'm holding you right back.

_____________

I find the machines. They are all placed in a laaaarge room which I find after I come out of the back door of the dining room. The same one through which they first handled me through to finally go up to the lab.

Eeeesh. Scary memories.

So anyway, the machines. They are all stationed together, kept in rows. There're about twenty of them in each row.

Sweet pineapples, that'd feed quite a few mouths.

About thirty thousand.

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