The Box Paradox | ✅

Chapter 8

Sorry that this will be such a short chapter! :)

***

The rocket tried to propel itself into the air but the engines didn't work. My button had disabled the whole network. One more press and the rocket would be shooting to the sky again.

People were staring at each other in utter confusion. Others were uttering things about what a whole waste of time and money this was. Some were almost in tears, because something that would prove so good for them had swerved in the opposite direction.

In the frenzy and confusion, I took Dora's hand and together we barged through the crowd to the centre square where the rocket was trying again and again to launch itself up. The propellers were spluttering in effort.

No one noticed the door open and two children step inside the aircraft.

Inside it was dark. Not completely black but it was a big difference from the bright sunlight outside. The lights in here were dim and I could hear the murmuring of confusion from the pilot and all the people about to embark on a journey of a lifetime.

I was here, among them.

I pulled Dora to what seemed like a cupboard. With a turn of the knob, I saw all the tubes and tanks hung from hooks. The oxygen cupboard. Excellent, if we got to a place with zero oxygen, Dora and I were surely not going to die first.

I closed the door shut quietly behind us and we watched through the slits in the door as someone came through—the pilot—and was talking hurriedly to someone else that I couldn't see.

"It's not working! Nothing works! We're going to have to abandon the aircraft!" his voice was laced with anger. "Tell the crew that we must evacuate!"

"Not for long," I muttered to no one in particular.

My fingers slammed down on the button again and the engines roared to life.