After Earth.

Chapter 14

Ndeshi

Screams, blood, and dismembered body parts. I relived that day for two consecutive years and it tormented me every single night. I had to force myself to avoid the memories that tortured me when the sun would set. I tried my best and eventually, it worked. The screams became vague and I forgot the face of the woman I saw split in half.  The memories were there but they were hidden deep within me.  It was like a pandora's box chained and buried deep within the memories of my mind.  

I know what I saw, I'm not crazy. The other side of the train was smashed to bits and it was hidden underneath the debris of large stones and metal. Nothing could survive that and no one was supposed to.  That was what I saw and that was what Sarah told me. 

If that was what I saw and heard why did my eyes deceive me? Have the events that occurred over the past few days finally drawn me to madness? I lived all these years thinking that anyone I knew in the old world was dead. That thought left an unbearable feeling of loneliness and hatred within me,  it's what kept me going and it kept me alive. It was the reason for my tenacity,  the reason I could resist the Zephonians and their reformed society. 

I stood there wide-eyed as I stared into Jun's eyes. The sound of my heart pumping filled my ears blocking out any other noise that was around me. The room fell silent and it felt as though it was just the two of us. His face had changed so much, all his features appeared more masculine and his slanted eyelids were more defined. He resembled his father so much more compared to when he was younger. I took in his features and felt tears forming in my eyes. 

His eyes once carried a youthfulness and joyfulness to them, that was nowhere in sight. Behind his sculpted face there seemed to be a dormant fire, a light that was put out and left to die. Seeing that made my heart ache. What had he gone through and what had he seen for him to look so lifeless? I wanted nothing more than to hug him and tell him he wasn't the only one. I wanted to talk to him about all the years that had passed us by and the things we did to survive. What killed your light Jun? Just what was enough to make those once bright eyes appear drained? His eyes left my gaze and our staring contest had come to an end. 

Before looking away he twitched his eyes as if he were trying to tell me something. I stood there confused not understanding what was happening and what he was trying to tell me. I saw his gaze shift to beside me and then I finally understood. Astras. It was him, wasn't it?

Jun's gaze had hardened and his eyes shifted to the floor. I did not think my reaction through. The shock overwhelmed me and I had forgotten whose presence I was in. Astras was not stupid I know he had seen our interaction. If he knew who Jun was and what he meant to me he would weaponize our relationship and use his existence to torment me. I cursed myself for being so foolish and careless. How long was I going to act like this? I was always a step behind my emotions.  I did not need any more people dying because of me. Every time I acted this way I said I would change but I found myself in a never-ending cycle of emotions. I knew that if I wanted to survive, I would have to abandon feelings and adopt logic. That was the only way I could see myself living through this nightmare.

I had to think fast and try to direct the attention towards something else. I could not have him being suspicious of Jun and who he was. I knew time was not on my side and I found my one leg moving before the other and soon I was striding towards Jun. He looked at me in shock unable to anticipate my next move. I could see him slightly panic at my sudden actions but I had to remain firm.

Smack

My hand found itself on Juns' cheek. His head was slightly whipped to the side from the impact of my slap. He looked at me confused not understanding the reason for the slap I gave him but he did not dare touch me. The tall Zephonian woman beside him scoffed in amusement before she spoke "I thought this thing was coming after me" She turned to Jun and observed his face while her tongue pressed against her cheek "Looks like I was wrong" she said as she deviously chuckled, she slowly clapped her hands in amusement before walking out.