The Myth called Earth

Chapter 2

The train's interior was very demeaning. It was not too spacious or comfortable. The walls and the ceilings were a metallic silver color that had been recently polished I could see myself in them. There were rows of grim leather benches on either side with a long aisle in the middle. I suspected it lead to the engine room. But obviously it was only an assumption. I had no past experience in travelling. The tube lights that crowded the ceilings flickered which made it harder to like the place. It was odd in a way. The lights worked on solar power and that was one thing we could never run out of.

It felt like that they had been tampered on purpose to give the train its desired sad demeanor. We were too pumped with excitement back then and nothing could bring us down. I looked up in awe at every minute detail. The part I liked, I noted in my mind, the part I didn't, I noted it too. It was all so new to me. I could not believe being anywhere except the hallucinating white corridors of cocoon. That must have been the general feeling for nobody settled down until the train boomed with an announcement.

"All passengers please sit down for departure" a male voice repeated monotonously. We all fumbled in synchronization. Everyone rushed to regroup with their friends.

I followed Falcon as he hunted for a window seat. I knew he would look for it. That was a common trait we shared. Curiosity. Luckily, we got one and huddled in. Falcon let me sit beside the window. I did not hesitate. I was about to see the world.

"Passengers please put on your seat belts. Departure in 10" the voice repeated. I foraged through my seat to find the seat belt. There could not be a creature clumsier. I struggled to set the clasp right and when I finally did, I felt an indescribable sense of satisfaction. I looked up towards the back of the front seat and flashed a victory smile. If I could pause time, I would do it that moment, get up and do a somersault. Even Falcon could not refrain from smiling.

The countdown began. My heart matched pace with it. With every number announced my heart pounded louder and louder. I was afraid I would get a heart attack. But even if I did, I would not have died without looking outside. I would use my last breath to draw open the shutters. The countdown reached one. I did not know what to expect. Maybe a loud bang or a deafening sound. Instead I was greeted with a sweet female voice.

"Have a safe journey" she wished. A few boys and girls whistled and cooed. I felt a ridiculous urge to join them and throw up my arms in the air. But I could not bring myself to do it. I sat there giddily in my chair, smiling broadly to myself.

This was the best day of my life, I decided. I did not care what opinions others held.

The train darted forward unexpectedly. I leant back on my seat. It was scary initially. I grappled for something to hold but the benches had no arms. My hand skidded against the metallic wall as the air was sucked out of me. I felt a hand beside me. I gripped it with all my strength. The next few minutes, I did not dare to respire. I had never felt anything like this. It was alarming. Maybe it was because I had never felt pace. All my life I had only walked and cycled. This was different. In one of my textbooks I had read about meteors. Among other details there was an intriguing fact. It was mentioned how the meteors rammed into the oceans at lightning speed. I had forgotten the exact figure but that was not the point. When they had first taught me this I had taken a great deal of time to actually understand that speed. I could not. But now it appeared to me that it would be something like this. But maybe I was overestimating everything. After all I had never been on anything mobile. After sometime my body adapted to it. I let go of the hand I was crushing cautiously. It had to be Falcon's. he caressed his pale wrist, then cursed me and directed a stern look. I did not pay attention. I had a vital task at hand. I tugged at the shutters.

To my disappointment it would not open. I tugged again.

"Help me!" I asked Falcon. He sometimes had no manners. Sitting beside a piece of twig like me, seeing me struggle with a window and promptly ignoring the situation. He extended his muscular arm covered in a jet black jacket and pulled at it. I waited impatiently.

"Look" he said finally tapping the blind. I squinted at what he was trying to show. A little strip of text was printed.

"opens at destination" it said. Some other teenagers had tried it too probably. I heard common complaining groan from behind. But I knew pretty well, it won't matter to them as much as it would matter to me. I hated the whole train immediately. My mind raced towards our destination when I would get to peep through my window. My body crept behind.

When the ease had resettled in the passengers and chattering was heard again, the sliding doors at the end of aisle opened. We all looked in awe. Falcon thrust is head outward to get a clear view. I jutted out my head too but could not see past the horde of people. My enthusiasm dismissed all my determination to stay gloomy and flowed right back in. A fancy tick tock sound resonated. A woman walked upto us. She wore a long dress that fell over her body edgily and a belt at her waist which looked like broken glass. Her hair was black with a few grey streaks swept aside stylishly. But it looked so artificial I could not make out if she was young or old. She handed out pamphlets to each one, her eyes transfixed on the end of aisle. She showed no interest in explaining to us what we were supposed to do. She had come in just to walk out again. She had no eagerness to see who were the people she was talking to.

"What is this? Magazine for passing time?" someone asked her.

"Well, then I don't want mine" the girl sitting before me stood, her seat belts still taught around her waist, pulling her back. She was called Ollie. Reading had never been her favorite thing to do. Plus, she was not me, she had her large group of friends to keep her entertained. Why would she want a book? The lady turned towards her. I saw for the first time the tall tacky shoes she was wearing through the slit on her dress. It must be sheer hard work to be standing on them.

"Survival Guide!" she replied, showing no emotion. She flatly held out her hand for the Ollie to deposit it. Ollie snatched back her copy and sat down apologetically. The lady acted like Ollie did not exist and walked away. A lot of people immediately bent low into their laps, profusely reading the pamphlet. I was not too keen on starting it. I eyed Falcon. He was already too deep into it. His messy brown hair fell over his fair face as his blue eyes widened at the content. I stared into my own reflection on the walls for some time. I had fiery red choppy tresses that came down to my shoulder and slightly hazel eyes. I had olive skin and i absent-mindedly noticed that my green jacket was not going too well with it. Also i was small. i looked like a kitten that constantly had to be petted. I can't express in words how much that bothered me.

I looked up at Falcon hoping to start a conversation. But he just shooed me away.

So, I was forced to read my survival guide. At the beginning it got really violent. I completely understood why everyone was staring dumbfounded into it. As I turned a page or two, it began looking familiar. It was a summary of what we had learned in the Cocoon. Only that the word 'death' was mentioned and highlighted on every second line.