Different Skies: The Bird & The Star

Asav Mellilot

*This is among the most complex stories I have ever attempted to write and to be honest, the scale of it intimidates me a bit. Here's hoping I am able to do justice to my vision for it.*

A rugged bus was making it's way up the hills, the setting sun bathed the face of a young boy looking out of the windows in an ethereal golden light.

A faint smile appeared on his tired face as the wind blew gently outside. There were dark circles below his eyes but his eyes were alive with light.

"Shut the windows, boy! It's getting cold." Someone called out and the boy turned around.

A porky man dressed in formals looked at him, with raised eyebrows. The boy's face fell but he did it anyway and leaned on the window glass, closing his eyes.

"What are you doing, travelling in the evening all by yourself, boy?"

A bit annoyed at the man who wouldn't let him be, the young boy took a breath and asked,

"What do you mean? Why can't I be travelling by myself?"

The man looked at the boy as if to ask if he was dumb or what.

Then, the man looked around the bus sneakily, apparently checking to make sure that he wasn't being overheard.

"The rebellion, of course! Aren't you afraid of the rebels?" The man whispered.

"Why would I be afraid of them when there are security forces everywhere?"

"Keep your voice down, boy!" The man hissed. The man seemed to give up on the idea of trying to talk with the boy and scowled, folding his hands.

The bus halted to a stop. An old lady boarded the bus and stood near them.

The man pointedly ignored the lady, his eyes fixed downwards.

The boy saw this and stood up offering his seat. She made her way past the man's seat and smiled thankfully at him.

He placed his bag on the luggage rack above their seats and leaned against a pole connecting the floor with the roof.

The boy could see the check post on the suspension bridge that marked the entry into the hills and took out his Identity card from his pocket.

Noticing this, the man became fidgety and started glancing everywhere. His eyes kept darting below the seat and up again towards the bridge.

When the bus came to a halt, a tense silence overtook the bus and the boy looked around uneasily.

A tall, blonde security personnel in olive camouflaged uniform boarded the bus and started inspecting the carriers.

The boy stared at him, his eyes noticing the ripped physique and assertive posture enviously.

When the soldier suddenly looked at the boy, he quickly averted his eyes, embarrassed at being caught staring.

The soldier walked towards the boy who appeared very interested in staring at the floor now.

"ID?!"

The boy handed his ID to him without lifting his eyes but from the corner of his eyes, he saw the soldier looking pointedly at his photograph in the ID and a red twinge appeared on his cheeks.

"They clicked it two years ago when I joined the institute----the photograph I mean---that's why I---" the boy launched into an explanation

But then he noticed that the soldier's eyes crinkled in amusement and his mouth was twitching from stopping himself from laughing.