Finding a New Earth

Chapter 5: Two Corpses

I didn't tell anybody about the assault for a couple of reasons mainly because it would lead to questions and some questions I can't answer. I frowned at the window that was still blocked, it made me claustrophobic although I knew this ship was massive. Just not being able to see outside gave this feeling of being a prisoner. I gave a long sigh and went to check on Nemo. He was currently under the artificial light I tried to make to give the plant energy for photosynthesis. There was said to be a whole forest somewhere on the ship just to produce oxygen. I tapped my pencil against the desk and began filling in the table of progress I have made.
"Hi sweetie." My Dad smiled kissing my forehead and re filling his coffee.
"Long day at work?" I asked him. My dad works in the navigating room where they have a tough job: trying to find the all important New Earth.
"It was alright. A bit tricky when you can't see and all we have is sonar and heart sensors." And it was true he looked exhausted like he hadn't slept in weeks. Thinking about sleeping reminded me of the dreams, the memories. The fact nobody understood what I was saying. Was I different from other people for some reason?

There was a loud alarm before the woman on the intercom told us the windows were to be opened. I jumped out of my seat to watch it happen and my jaw dropped at what Pluto had become. The planet was no more but in its place a dark space of clouds of star dust. I felt a piece of sadness in my heart as I watched the corpse of the beautiful planet drift by our window like a ghost. That night I got out my journal I have been writing in most of my life and started a new page. I didn't want to forget this feeling of confusion about what's happened because I felt more human. Like before I was numb I needed to remember--I must remember.

That night I again held my breath and the same dream replayed in my head about running through the fire and tripping. About Adam. Then I was back in the classroom with Alpha his hands caging me in, his body pressed against mine and I could feel every place we touched. He leaned forwards and whispered in my ear.
"Don't forget."
I was about to say 'don't forget what' when his lips touched mine gently like it was the most natural thing. Suddenly I froze. Why was he doing this I hated him.... Didn't I? All thoughts and questions were forgotten as I responded by kissing him back...

When I woke I sat up, my hand subconsciously brushed across my lips where his had touched mine. I smiled to myself and dropped my hand shaking my head- it was just a dream. But why did it feel so real?

Walking in to school today I was more nervous and my body was on full alert. A hand touched my back and I jumped in fright, I was that tense.
"What's up?" Twist smiled to me and I noticed a ginger boy beside him. "Oh yeah this is Carrot." He introduced me and I smiled still relieved it was just them.
"Hey I'm Sky." I greeted him, his cheeks turned an instant shade of red, Twist instantly began teasing the poor boy until we parted ways at the door to class. Raven met me in English where I sat beside her next to her was Carrot and behind him Alpha. I pretended to not notice his constant gaze on me, but it was starting to get on my nerves. I turned around and looked at him daringly as if to say 'what do you want?'
Alpha looked away ignoring my look and I sighed. He's definitely bipolar.
"What's up with you two?" Raven wiggled her eyebrows at me and I rolled my eyes.
"Absolutely nothing."
"Is that why he keeps staring at you?" She smirked and I slapped her arm hissing at her to look away. Our teacher handed us out a short story to do and I began writing, my thoughts flowing. The title of it was Ordinary to Extraordinary as I wrote memories of the fire came back to me. I didn't really think about anything other than the pain, the smell, feeling of that fire. The fear.  There was suddenly a crash and I turned to see Carrot on the floor having fallen off his chair. I gasped in shock as I watched helplessly. His hands were contorted in to claws and his skin was drawn tight across his bones as he screamed silently. There was a gurgling sound coming from his throat,  he arched his back writhing about. No one moved. No one knew what to do as we watched foam falling out of his mouth, his ginger hair began falling off his head. Then it was over as quickly as it started and he lay still. Too still. There was a deafening silence and I could smell something terrible coming off Carrots corpse making me want to puke. The door suddenly swung  open and men wearing all white picked up his body and carried it out the room. My hand clenched on to the desk tight until my knuckles turned white.
"Right listen up." One of the men said. "If you could all remain still as some calming gas is going to diffuse through the vents above. Thank you and have a nice day." With that he left. The sound of gass hissing through the panels above made me tense. I had to wait for the right moment when the gas was about to reach me, but no earlier otherwise I will run out of breath. Three, two, one. I took a deep breath in. I held like that for a minute maybe longer until the room began chatting and laughing as if nothing had happened. My lungs were screaming for air when I finally let out the breath my eyes were wet with unspoken tears.
"What's wrong?" Raven asked me smiling in a way that made me sick. She couldn't remember anything.
"Nothing." I responded my voice breaking as I tried to contain the pain. A boy I had just met died in front of us, he looked so sweet so young. I remembered the way his body had transformed before lying still. I began thinking about how many deaths I could have seen in my life time and remember absolutely nothing.

The bell rang and I hurried out. Catching eyes with Alpha as I entered the hall way his eyes were also filled with the same fear that I recognised in my own.
"Follow me." He mumbled in a deep voice brushing past my shoulder. My heart raced as I spun after the mysterious scary man. The muscles on his back were tensed as I followed him down some more empty corridors, not knowing where he was going. He turned a corner and I did the same. As I went around I was pushed up against a wall: dark eyes searched my own.
"What do you know?" He seethed the darkness in his voice making me shake.
"I.. I know we are being drugged." I swallowed my breath, the tension between us increasing with our close proximity.
"They couldn't remember him." He pointed out. "He died and they can't even remember his name." I nodded. "How long have you known for?"
"About two days when I stopped breathing in the gas. Then I started getting these dreams..." I muttered remembering how the dreams has always started bad but then transformed. I tried controlling the blush that threatened to expose me. His mouth opened slightly but then shut again.
"And.. Uh... These dreams. We're they Night Mares?" I shrugged.
"Something like that." 
He stepped away from me running his hand through his dark hair. What should I do? Should I comfort him?
"Look whatever this is we have to keep it a secret. We are going against the rules here so have to be careful, as we know what happens to those who break the rules." He looked at me pointedly and I agreed with him.
"It isn't right." I said in a small voice looking up to him as he towered over me.
"I know. I. I used to have a Mum..." I could see it was hard for him to say that and I nodded.
"And I a brother."
"Tell me if you notice anything strange." He whispered and glanced around the walls probably looking for cameras.
"Okay I will do." He strode away from me without another word.

Something bad was happening on this ship and suddenly I was beginning to see this place was actually a charade hiding the true terror everyone had hidden deep in their hearts.