The Core

Confusion

Chapter 3

When I get home, I make myself some spaghetti, and after I eat it, I sit down to watch CSI.

I think about today, everything happened so quickly. I’m leaving the day after tomorrow, I don’t need to pack. What can I bring? A dress? Jeans? I don’t think so. I’m perfectly fine with just the normal spacesuit. That should keep me from dying or combusting into flames. I guess all I need are a few leggings and t-shirts to go under the suit.

I go into my bedroom and get a small suitcase ready to take immediately if necessary. I pack some comfy leggings, and a few plain tops. Great, they can just stay there unless needed. I put the suitcase at the bottom of my closet and get changed into my pyjamas. I crawl into my nice warm bed and close my eyes, thinking of the amazing day I had. I take deep long breaths…Who am I kidding. I’m way too excited and happy to sleep. I stumble out of bed and drag my feet all the way to the bathroom. I fling open the mirrored cabinet above the sink and pull out a clear brown bottle with a white lid. Desperate times call for desperate measures. I open the lid and shake two on to my hand, it’s plain white. After I’ve thrown it in my mouth, I get a handful of water from the tap and drink it to wash it down. I go back to my bed, waiting for the sleeping pills to kick in.

I drifted away, it was all black. The sleeping pills didn’t work as well as they were supposed to because I still dreamt. It was a nightmare. Well it wasn’t exactly a nightmare but it was one of those eerie dreams that creep you out. It felt so real yet I knew I was dreaming. It dragged on for hours even though not much happened. It questioned the fact that dreams last three seconds.

In my dream I am running through a long corridor and I come across a huge, grand door. I slowly push the door open and peek through the opening. The first thing I notice is the stone floors. Cream, smooth, shiny stone floors that I would imagine finding in a palace. The next thing I see is the tall walls, same colour as the floor but a shade lighter, the very bottom has a few inches of white skirting boards and so does the top. The ceiling is plain white but a big crystal chandelier hangs over the golden bed that is covered in purple sheets. There is a shimmering dressing table with a mirror framed in golden leaves. I don’t know how I know, but I know everything is made from pure gold. I walk in, and go towards the open window, there are purple silk curtains being blown around, I go to close the window. I get a glimpse outside and I see a billion stars, and a collection of big white circles that I know to be moons. I stick my head out the window and look up. There are many more moons dotted around the sky. I start to wonder where I am. There is a humming noise and I look down to the ground outside; there is a big ring of white smoke that glitters. But inside the ring is a night sky. A black ground with millions of sparkling dots. It looks incredibly bold with beige sand outside the ring. I feel someone grab me from the back and I try to scream but all that comes out is air and suddenly I can’t breathe. I feel myself getting pushed and the next thing I know, I’m tumbling down the side of the building, maybe 4 levels. I fall straight through the black hole in the ground as my insides feel all weird. I squeeze my eyelids tight and I awaken in my nice comfy bed in my apartment. I stare at the white ceiling, processing what I’ve just seen. I know it’s just a dream but it’s still creepy. I turn my head to look at my clock. 5.54am. There’s no point going to sleep for another 6 minutes. I get out of bed and remember that Jupiter’s tomorrow. That’s weird. No David banging on the roof today. Maybe for once he hasn’t woken up before me.

I leave the house at 6.30 and arrive at work at 7. As soon as I get out of my car, David runs across the parking lot to meet me. I smile at him but he doesn’t smile back. He stops a few inches away from me, grabs my wrist and starts pulling me towards the building.

“You’re late. Everyone is waiting for you.” He says, not bothering to look at me. I twist my hand free and stop. He turns to face me.

“No, it’s only 7.” He laughs at my statement as though I said the dumbest thing in the world.

“You were meant to be here at 6.15. You only have 30 minutes before we leave-“

“-leave for where?” I cut him off.

“Are you serious or are you joking because I think I deserve some respect as you didn’t wake up and I had to get a cab to work.” Oh. I was meant to drive him. Now I feel guilty.

“David, I’m so sorry-“

“-Don’t worry about it.” This time he’s the one to cut me off. “Just be quick, we board the shuttle at 7.15.” We start walking.

“Shuttle?”

“Yeah. You know, to Jupiter?” My legs go numb in anxiety.

“That’s today!?” I half scream.

“When else is it gonna be?”

“I thought it was tomorrow,”

“Well you thought wrong.” We walk to the control room and I am greeted my Mr Dawerton. As usual, he has a big smile on his face. Even though he’s probably going mad inside for my tardiness.

“Ahhh. Miss Hyde. Nice of you to join us.” He says in a happy tone. I laugh innocently.

“Yes, sorry I’m late.”

“Oh, doesn’t matter!” he says, his smile broadening. “You can give your bags to Larry over there.” He says pointing to a middle aged man with black hair who comes running over. He’s wearing a blue NASA t-shirt and black trousers. He smiles at me but he looks out of breathe. What Mr Dawerton said finally sinks in.

“Oh, sir, I forgot my bags at home.”

“No problem! Larry, you know where Kayla lives right?” he nods and turns to me his palm out. I place a pair of keys in his hand.

“It’s a black bag in the bedroom next to the closet.” He nods and runs off.

“While he’s getting your bags, you must get ready. What your wearing is fine to take off in but you need to put a space suit over it.” Mr Dawerton says. Then he snaps his fingers and a lady with red hair tied back in a bun, wearing glasses runs over and hand a bundle of white clothes to me. A space suit, I gather. I take off my blazer in the middle of the control room and slide my legs into the jump suit, followed by my arms, and then I zip it up. Mr Dawerton looks at David.

“You must get ready too boy!” he says in his usual witty manner. The lady runs back and this time hands a suit to David. I notice her doing it in a flirtatious manner this time. Smiling and fluttering her eyes. Her cheeks start to flush when David smiles before she runs off. I chuckle in a way to say ‘I can’t believe that’ and David turns to me and shrugs. Mr Dawerton is too busy signing papers that are being held to him by 2 men next to him. David gets into his suit and Mr Dawerton finishes the signing.

“Right, follow me.” He says as he leads us to the aircraft.

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Hi guys! Thank you so much for reading, you don't know how much it means to me. Please comment and tell me what you think of this story. BTW, things are gonna get exciting!!! xxxx BTW, this is dedicated to Purpleninjax because she is always confused about everything :~)