Isolation

Chapter 2

I desperately wanted to talk with my parents and know what is going on, but as I started to turn around I spotted a familiar face among these crowd, Kat! I would know those wavy black locks anywhere. I screamed "Katie!" And pushed myself through the crowd. As I neared where I had last seen Katie, she was heading down the steps down to another level. I started running after her again on a mission to give my best friend a bear hug. When I grabbed her shoulder and spun her around to give me a hug she pushed me away and growled, "What the hell—Nikki?.........Nikki!" She pulled me up from the ground and we both crushed each other in hugs. "You're awake! Finally! It's about time you join the party!" She laughs at me as we both pull away.
I question her, "Wait how long have you been awake?"
"About a year" she responds tiredly. She seems worn out, like she's been alone for one entire year.
"Kat where is everybody else? Like Natalie or Anni or Alex? You must've seen them in the entirety of the year?  Or at least a few times?" I ask hopefully, not just for my sake but for Kat's as well. 
"No I haven't seen them. You're the first recognizable face I've seen in awhile. I have my parents yes, but nobody else." Her voice seems to break, and a pained expression appears in her eyes. Her face remains strong though, she gives the illusion of strength in her face and truth be told she is a strong person, but her eyes give her away. Although not many people can read her like I can.
"I'm so sorry Katie, but why haven't you seen them?! Are they ok? Did they make it on this ship? What if they are still back on earth? What if they're hurt or—"
"I don't know!" She rawred as I fell silent, my worry for Natalie, Anni and Alex receding in voice, being replaced with concern for Kat. She looked angry and close to tears. She was clenching her teeth and balling her fists. She had exceptionally long nails so I'm certain she must be drawing blood. Her shoulders are hunched and she looks like a wild animal ready to strike. Slowly she calms down and all that rage is replaced with sadness. She releases the tension in her shoulders and face. She lets her fists uncurl and little drops of blood fall down her fingers. Her shoulders slouch and her hair falls to shelter her from pain. Her eyes are sad and I'm in pain seeing her once strong aura be replaced with a gloomy hue. "I don't know." She repeats again, this time her voice does break and her face looks a ghostly pale. I grab her shoulders and bring her into a side hug to help her walk back up the stairs. We exit the glass doors and walk back to my room. Nobody pays us any attention as all their attention is directed at the rally and speeches going on. I sit on my bed with Kat next to me. She slumps her shoulders and rests her head in her hands after we had bandaged them. For a few minutes she doesn't speak, then she straightens up and looks me dead in the eyes. Her brows furrowed and a stoic and fierce look over takes her.
"So, what do you want to know?"