PAST

6-Into The Past

I LET OUT A SHUDDERED BREATH. I lay back into the firm chair, and rest my arms on the arm rests. The room I was place in had black painted walls and small monitor lights spotted in random areas. It smelled like old milk.

Lucas' reassuring voice came from my right. "I'll be next to you in the simulation. Just close your eyes right now."

After a moment's hesitation, I squinted my eyes close. That's when the simulation started. Stray colors and lights were the only thing I could see. But all a sudden, pictures formed, and I had my five senses back.

A breeze blew into my hair, hints of summer in it. Above me was a big sign which read, "Six Flags Over Georgia." Shrill screams came within, people screaming in cars on a giant metal tracks. A shiver crawled up my spine.

"Those," Lucas said, approaching me. "Those are called roller coasters. For people seeking thrill. Today, we're going to ride some."

Was he crazy? Why would anybody ride that? "What? Why?" I stammer, watching people being pulled up the track, and horrifically dropped. People were all over the place, pushing me and Lucas.

Against my protest, in thirty minutes, we were sitting in a car to the Goliath roller coaster. "This is going to be fun!" Lucas yelled, waiting for the cars to start moving.

I just stared at a fan on the ceiling, blocking out the loud chatter of hundreds of people. "I thought odd days were supposed to be the good days."

The cars lurched forward, and I temporarily felt sick. The sounds of the chains moving did not settle my stomach in any way. Trees nearby swayed in rhythm.

Lucas hooted, smiling brightly, and faced me. "Trust me, this will be fun." He covered my hand with his, as if offering protection. That may of looked strange else where, but I was mostly focused on the top; the top I can't see!

After counting, I noticed that were we riding in the third from first car. "Yay! We are all going to die." I joked around. "Just kidding."

"Who are you trying to convince?" Lucas smiles at me.

I smirk, trying to block out the fear inside me. We were almost at the bloody top. "I'm trying to convince every innocent soul on this horror machine."

People let out a holler and we curve over the top and face the drop. Then we drop. The ground zooms up on us, and I let out a short scream.

Lucas raises his arms, and hollers as we go up the third hill. He was right, this was kinda fun.

In almost no time, the ride ends, and we are walking to the second roller coaster. Then the third. Forth. We stopped when I bent double and released a wave of chunky liquid. GROSS! People nearby closed their noses, some gagging.

Lucas smiled when he saw my half smile. "Had fun? Now it's time to visit Atlanta!"

My puzzled look explained clearly that I didn't know what Atlanta was. Hopefully, there were no more thrill rides, or vomiting involved. It was funny...but too much is too much.

"It's a city with big towers, just like Mars. But, not as advanced." Lucas looked over at the setting sun. I looked to.

It was unlike anything I ever seen. The white stuff in the sky called clouds were turned orange. The sun was mostly gone in the horizon, many colors surrounding it. "Wow," I awed.

It was completely dark in the city except for the lights everywhere. Cars zoomed by and people walked in crowded groups on the side walk. The smell of food filled the air along with the singing and laughter.

"How do you like it?" Lucas asked as we stepped off the bus into the imitating city.

"Pretty...cool." I shrug. Mars also had giant cities and towers, but this felt more...welcome and warming.

Once we walked around some in the big city (I had my first hotdog!), Lucas coughed. "Are you ready to head back?" His shoes were untied and his facial features said he was exhausted.

I was positive my face looked the same. "Yes, I'm ready." I sat on a nearby bench and rested my head on my hands. "Really ready."

Lucas pulled out a smart phone and turned it on. He then pressed a button. "Here we go!"

Like before, everything blurred and I lost my senses. Soon, I was awake on the simulation chair. Lucas was still to my right. I slowly slid out of my chair, and my bare feet hits the cold floor. Lucas does the same.

"How was that?" He asked me, smiling again. "That's planet Earth for ya."

"Cool," I respond, "Why don't they have roller coasters on Mars?" I watch Lucas press a button on the wall, and a section of the wall splits open, spilling in light from Asect.

"I don't know. Follow me." Lucas winks, walks into the hall bare foot, and I follow.