Isolation

Chapter 3

   "What happened? To the earth, I mean. Why are we in space?" I questioned.
"It became uninhabitable. The glaciers melted, sea levels rose, fresh water became polluted. Plants could no longer grow, the government just destroyed itself basically. And then well we just left. I haven't been given many details of what exactly happened." She looked over her shoulder and then quietly said, "There are rumors that the leaders are withholding information. That something else happened that people weren't told. And there are other rumors that there were specific people selected and not everybody was taken from earth." she paused .
"In other words we are here for a reason, and that there are still people on earth." I clarified.
"Yes, that's what I think happened to everybody else. Either that or they are on the opposite side of the ship, that I haven't been able to explore. The doors separating each section close at night. There are guards at each door. During the day they are open but even if you start walking down the flight of stairs you never reach the very bottom before you have to go back to your section. Or else you'll be stuck in the stairwell and then the guards find you, and that's not fun. Besides we have lessons during the day and can only skip if we are sick, and if we're sick we have to check in with med bay. Otherwise they send out an APB for us and alert our parents and just about everybody in our section." She groans and rolls her eyes.
I chuckle and crack a smile, "Sounds like you know from experience?"
"Don't get me started." She groans again and rubs her eyes.
"What are lessons?" I question.
"Well since you've just woken up you're probably going to go through initiation this week." She explains.
"What's that?" I ask again.
"You spend each day with a different captain of each team. At the end of the week they assess you and your abilities in each field. Then on Saturday when there are no classes they debate on who wants you, and then place you in that group. Don't worry I'm one of the captains. If you're not good at anything I'll pick you." She finishes smugly.
"Oh gee thanks Katie that really warms my heart!" I scowl at her but laugh a bit at her joking nature. That's the Katie I remember.
"Don't worry knowing you, you're going to want to be in each group, and you probably will be good at more than one skill as well." She states.
"Thanks Kat." I smile at her. "It's good to see you." I tell her sincerely.
"It's good to see you too." She responds. We hug again. Just then my door is slammed open, my first question is how. But it's my mom and dad!
"Mom,! Dad!" I jump off the bed and give them a hug. I can feel the Cheshire Cat smile Kat has on her face. We don't call her Kat for nothing.
"It's so good to see you!" My mom cries.
"You too mom, dad." I almost felt like I would cry. I don't care how stupid that sounds I'm allowed to miss my parents.
"When did you wake up?" My dad asks
"About an hour and a half ago I guess." I respond.
"Well why didn't you try and see us?!" My mom gasps.
"You weren't home, trust me I knocked!" I defended myself. My dad chuckled and just hugged me. My mom slightly pouting that she wasn't the first to meet me. "Well I'm assuming Kat has been informing you on missing information. And has she also gave you the tour yet?" He asks.
This time Kat stepped in, "I was just getting to the tour, Nik you wanna go now?"
"Sure." I was reluctant to leave my parents but my dad pushed me towards the door. That was his not so subtle way of saying, go. I turned to my parents, "I'll see you guys later." As I walked out the door I turned and said, "Love you!" And waved.
"Love you too Nik." My dad said.
"Love you sweetheart." My mom said, then the resumed a conversation on my bed. I closed the door and saw Kat leaning against the wall about 15 feet down right at the corner. I braced myself for more overwhelming information, but was slightly excited to see what was in store for me now.