The Core

A Shock in the Control Room

Chapter 5

A few hours later, we are all called to dinner. Yum, canned food. All 50 of us sit at the dining room on the second floor and sit at the grey chairs and eat out of our cans. It’s not the best dinner in the world, but eating it in space makes it a thousand times better and more appealing.

I have just finished my can of vegetable soup and am sitting calmly, waiting for Michelle to finish, when I see. It is over by the stairs. David’s making out with Jessica Fisherman. I can’t see her face, but I know it’s her. I can’t mistake her fire engine red hair. I don’t know why, but I felt weird about it. It isn’t a particularly good feeling. Am I jealous? Why would I be jealous? It’s fine. David can date whoever he wants to date. He can kiss whoever he wants to kiss. Why am I jealous of her? I’m not jealous. I can’t be. Can I?

About 10 seconds after I’ve seen them, David catches my eye. A look of worry spreads across his face and he breaks away from Jessica. He smiles at her and says something incomprehensible from where I am and he makes his way towards me. He looks as if he’s about to give me an explanation.

Just then, Michelle finishes her soup. “Hey Kayla, let’s go to our beds.”, I smile and give a, what is supposed to look like, eager nod. We walk past David before he has the chance to reach us.

Michelle, who has been in an aircraft before, probably knows where all the rooms are situated. I follow her through a corridor of twists and turns and we walk into a room with dozens of bunk beds. Some of the beds are already occupied, girls sitting on them, reading magazines, talking and sleeping. Probably the girls’ room. Michelle finds a bunk free and I immediately throw myself on to the bottom bunk with a sigh. It’s then I notice some clothes neatly folded at the end of the bed. I observe the other beds and realise every bed has some.

Michelle, who is standing by the bed smiles. “Sleep attire” is all she says. Confused, I look at the other girls. Some are wearing the blue clothes, some are putting them on. I do as they do and put the blue jumpsuit over my t-shirt and leggings, replacing it with the space suit.

“I’m just gonna sleep, Michelle.” I breathe, realising how tired I actually am. I have a hard time keeping my eyelids open.

“Yeah sure babe.” She says in her usually bubbly manner. “We are on the first group so we sleep now. When we wake up, the second group will sleep.”

“Michelle, I really do not give a shit.” I say. It’s true. I’m too tired to figure things out and talk. I don’t usually like swearing but I can’t hold it in tonight. Michelle doesn’t mind. She just chuckles and climbs up to her bunk after grabbing her sleep wear and putting it on.

I get under the duvet and let myself sink into the mattress and pillow. It’s not the mist comfortable bed in the world but it’ll do. I think over the past days events. I got up pretty early. But I was late…And I skipped a day…

How did that happen. We weren’t supposed to leave today. I know we weren’t. David said that it was in two days. That’s tomorrow…Did I sleep through a whole day. I don’t even know the date. Maybe, I misunderstood David. Or maybe they rescheduled the trip. David. I remember him kissing Jessica. They way he looked at me when he saw me notice them. The way I felt…

I fall asleep thinking about David. A loud crashing noise wakes me up. The room is dark and every bed is occupied with a sleeping body. Curious about the noise, I get out of bed and walk towards the light streaming in from the cracks of the door. I turn the handle and step outside. Maybe someone from the other group can tell me what happened. It wasn’t quiet and I doubt it was something very minor. How did it not wake others?

I walk over to the control room, where a pilot should be. What I see widens my eyes and sends a cold shiver down my spine, making the tiny hairs at the back of my neck stand up while my heart feels a burning sensation. I go to scream but no voice comes out. I just stand there, looking at Trent’s body. Alone in the control room, passed out. Blood trickling down his forehead. He is sitting at the pilot’s seat, his head has fallen to the side and there is a steel pipe on the floor. Matching blood on the metal too. I finally catch my breath and I can’t help but let out a scream. It’s not too loud but not quiet either. David and Jack come running in and freeze when they see him. David swears under his breath and Jack runs to Trent.

“Is he dead?” I ask, my voice trembling. Jack quickly changes the shuttle to auto pilot and gets Trent out of his seat and lays him on the floor. He checks his breath.

“Almost.” He concludes. 4 other people run in, obviously also having heard my scream. They all curse quietly then some go to help Jack carry Trent to the medical room. David stays with me, stunned. I sit down at one of the available chairs. David breathes deeply then sits at one opposite me.

“Did you see who it was?” He asks, never making eye contact.

“No.” I mutter, “I came in when I heard a crash and he was on the floor, someone must have hit him round the head,” There’s silence for a few seconds.

“Why would anyone do that?” He gets up and starts inspecting the control panel.

“Don’t you have security cameras you can check?”I ask, still staring at the floor

“Yeah but checking those require calling back to NASA and getting the right time then getting it sent and it’s a lot of work and costs quite a lot at this period of time.” All I manage to say is “Oh”. He presses lots if buttons and opens a few draws. I just sit there watching him. I look at my hands that are still shaking.

“I’ll be goddamned…” he mutters standing upright and taking a step backwards towards me.

“What?” I half shriek. He just stands right where he is not moving. His hand move into a fist.

“Go get Jack or Bradley,” He says. Never moving anything apart from his lips. I go to question him. “NOW,” I’m taken aback by the harshness in his tone. It’s different from his usual seductive tone. I get up and find Bradley, Jack and two others walking to the control room.

“David wants you back in the control room. He says it’s an emergency,” I say looking at them. Bradley briefly looks at Jack beside him, his black ponytail swinging as he does. Jack nods at me and us 3 go to the control room whilst the others turn around and go who knows where.

 

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I hope you enjoyed this chapter :))) Please comment and tell me what you think, dont be scared :D Thank you for reading, much more is on the way :))) xxxx