Apollo Zero

'✵•.¸,✵°✵.｡.✰ 𝕀'𝕧𝕖 𝕞𝕒𝕕𝕖 𝕞𝕪 𝕔𝕙𝕠𝕚𝕔𝕖 ✰.｡.✵°✵,¸.•✵'

I lie in my bed, restless. I haven't technically had real sleep or rest for years, but that isn't the thing bothering me.

My dad gave me this room and is still in the laboratory. The room is dark since he turned out the lights and no matter how much better or safer I feel after getting out of that- thing, the way he keeps reassuring me that everything will be fine makes me uneasy.

Will snores from the bed across the room. He must have been tired of living the same thing over and over. It must have been lonely too.

I shift and roll over, trying to shake the thought that there's something I'm missing.

I'm not scared of Will anymore, and my dad, I'm happy to be with him and it makes me feel safe but I still feel like there's something he's not telling me.

I sit up, giving up any hope of even trying to sleep. Looking over at Will who's still fast asleep, I peek out the door. It's silent and I don't see anyone nearby.

I tip-toe past the door to the main room in the laboratory and grab the handle next door. My dad's office.

"Come on..."

The door doesn't budge. I sigh and head back to my room.

"Apollo?"

I turn and see my dad's head poking out the door. He looks me up and down.

"Dad." I let out a sigh of relief. "I couldn't sleep."

He nods.

"I figured. Do you need something?"

"No, but something was bothering me about this plan of yours. Are you sure you have everything straight? Is there something you're not telling me?"

"No, Apollo. I told you, everything is going to be fine-"

He gets cut off by static over the phone.

"Professor, we are prepping the rocket. Are you sure you're ready for this?"

"Yes, Owen. Give me a second. My son is- Needing my attention."

Ready?

"Ready for what? Wait, are you-"

"Apollo, I think it's best you go back to bed. Your brother is still sleeping, right? Go check on him."

"What? Dad, I thought-"

"It's fine. Just go back to sleep and we can talk in the morning."

"You're going on the rocketship? Dad, even you said it's dangerous! You can't do that!"

"Apollo, now is not the time, would you please go back to bed."

"How am I supposed to sleep knowing that maybe in a few days, I won't have any family left? Do you really think this is what Mom wanted for us?"

"Your mother isn't here, Apollo. Go back to bed."

His voice is getting louder and it's nearing a shout.

"You said she would always be with us! What does this mean for our family?!"

"You have Will! Will is your family. I'm not willing to put anyone else in danger again. I only want what's best for you two. I've already made my choice."

"Having a family is what's best for me! You just said you don't want anyone else in danger, how is that different from ruining someone's life? I just want my dad back!"

Tears roll down my cheeks from my sleep-deprived eyes. I hear footsteps from down the hall.

"James? Is everything alright?"

"Gregory, take Apollo back to his room. You can let him out after the rocket launches.

"Yes, professor."

My heart drops. After seven years all I wanted was my family back and he just took away the one thing that could make that possible.

A/N

Man that took way longer than it should've but I have been too lazy to write lately so I just didn't post it anyways bye