Finding a New Earth

Chapter 3: Dreams

The sound made us all jump back from the window and wait for the oncoming announcement. I prayed it wasn't another person to be Extricated, where everyone would be forced to view as an example. A monotone female voice boomed through the room.
"On the left of the Ship Pluto is about to collapse The effect of the radioactive energy will be blinding so all of the windows are going to close for the next twenty four hours while the process takes place. Have a good evening and enjoy the flight."
A beep signalled the end of the message and I looked to the window to get the last glimpse of such a beautiful sight before the dark covers lifted up over them.

We were silent for a moment before Dad left to his room his back slouched with age. Having been weighed down by the burdens he has carried leaving his eyes too dull when they used to shine. I snatched my tech band from my room and lolled on the sofa. The tech band replaced the mobile phone in 2030 it is able to tap in to your brain waves and pick up on thoughts. This allows you to control the device with absolutely no effort or movement. I closed my eyes and as soon as I thought about Raven my band was calling her.
"Tell me everything!" She picked up instantly and I laughed knowing her nosiness. We talked through our minds and to anyone else it would look like I was having a nap.
"Well... I was only there for half an hour." I commented.
"Why?"
"Well I kinda made the teacher cry..." Raven burst in to laughter and I smiled smugly remembering his face. Should I feel guilty for making him feel bad? Nah. 
"How?"
I quickly told her what had happened and then began doing my prep. Food arrived at the door after that having been transported by hover drifts. It was the same as usual on a Monday evening. Beans on toast. At eight o'clock all the lights dimmed.
"We are entering twilight." The same female voice said through the tannoy. At ten o'clock there was night mode. All light were off and there was no movement but the distant vibrations, a hum of the engines below us. That night as I lay on my bed in the darkness I stretched out my hand. Nothing I couldn't even see the vague outline of a shape in front of my face. The darkness was complete.

Just before I was about to drift in to unconsciousness I heard the noise of a gas being released. It was a sleeping gas that allowed us dreamless good sleeps. Not once have I ever felt a need to miss the sleeping gas, but tonight was different. I quickly put my hand over my mouth and held my breath for as long as possible until the gas had dispersed. Then closed my eyes. My mind prying with curiosity in to a box of unlocked dreams.

Fear. The fear conquered everything, the fear for our own lives and others, the fear for the future and now I remembered the fear in the past. Smoke was rising everywhere and I choked on it coughing again and again. It stung my eyes so left me blind to stumble through what used to be my home town. I tripped over something and put my hands down to save myself from the impact, they came in contact with something hot and sticky. Turning around I recognised the face of the boy I tripped over. His lips were puckered as if sleeping peacefully but his eyes were wide open. They were hollow and glassy staring eyes, that accused me of a thousand things. As I tried to scream another wave of coughs racked my body. I remember the feeling of my palms hardening with dry blood, Adams blood. He was just a little boy age five.

I have to get to the ship. Get to the ship.

It was my only hope now, everyone was desperately sprinting towards the helicopters that would take them there and I could see mothers pleading with the soldiers. Begging for them to save their babies. Billions of innocent lives died that day...

I jumped up in bed the sweat sticking to my hands like blood. My body was shaking in fear and I cursed myself for not taking the gas. More memories came flooding back to me as I cried. Cried for all those who were not as fortunate as me, like my little baby brother Adam. I can't believe I forgot about all those things... When we arrived on the ship everyone picked new names to start a 'new' life they had said. I choose sky because it reminded me of a piece of home and I never wanted to forget it. The way the sky would burst with dazzling colours subtle and powerful, bold yet detailed all in one. Never staying the same. Also my eyes were a sky blue which taunted me every time I looked in a mirror.

It took another hour to fall asleep but when I did the dream transformed. Instead I was in a class room and Alpha came in. His black eyes looked at me confused at first but then he came to realise something. He didn't slow his pace as he came close and closer.... I kept taking steps back, shaking my head, suddenly my back hit the wall and my breath hitched. He stopped centimetres away from me his hands on the wall by my head caging me in.
"Alpha."

*****

"What's happened Sky?" Raven stopped me from walking and turned me to face her. She probed  at my body checking to see if I was injured.
"I'm fine. Just a rough night sleep." I whispered. The corridor was filled with people heading back from breakfast everyone their usual cherry self. Well apart from a few exceptions, my eyes narrowed at the stony faced Alpha. Raven gasped in shock.
"There's no such thing as a bad night sleep unless....You didn't breath in the gas did you!" She practically screamed.
"Shhhhhh! I don't want people hearing. But yes and it was a bad idea I remembered everything I just can't believe I hadn't really thought about it since then..."
"Thought about what?" She asked.
"You know the day we got on the ship the fires, bombs, just death." I shuddered and Raven looked at me like I was crazy.
"What are you on about there were no deaths we just got on and left." She shrugged her shoulders like that was all, my mouth fell open.
"No. There was total destruction from the war I remember! My brother died."
Raven laughed and flipped her hair. "Hun, you never had a brother. I think something's messing with your head. Everything was fine." As she told me this I searched her eyes to find the lie she was putting on but all I saw was honesty.
"Oh my god you really can't remember...."