Terra Novus

Chapter Three

I saw my childhood home, or at least, the details I remembered of it. The rest of it was blurred and distorted, as if part of a surrealistic painting. Distant birdsong lulled me into a peaceful, dreamy mood. I smiled up at the warm sunshine. Our house sat in the middle of an empty, open field, with nothing but green grass surrounding it. I stood on the path leading to the bright green door, admiring my house, soaking in every memory I could. I saw my parents standing in front of it, eerily still. My parents' faces were blurred, but I clung to the image of their linked arms and peaceful demeanor. This was broken abruptly by a blinding light. I opened my eyes to see my house engulfed in dark flames. Screams echoed in my ears, ringing through the air around me...

A deafening crack splits through the air. I clutch my hands over my ears, screaming. I awoke suddenly, shaking and hyperventilating. My eyes darted about the cramped room. Just another dream. I told myself. I leaned my head back taking in a deep breath, trying to calm myself. Breath in, two, three, four, breathe out, two, three, four, in, two, three, four... I forced my jaw to relax and unclenched my fists. "I'm fine." I whisper to myself, still shaking as I begin to talk myself through everything. "Pants... put on pants... where are pants..? Hair... fine... time- what time is it?" 5:33. Dinner should be served by now. I can do this.

Stumbling out of my dorm, shoes half on, I rushed to the spiral staircase. I scanned the eating hall for rest of my team, who was waiting for me there, along with Evan Adlawan, our team's advisor and organizer. Alex waved across the room. I nodded as I grabbed a ham and cream cheese sandwich and a glass of dirty water. The others looked up at me, chuckling at Alex. 

"What?" I asked, half-annoyed, and half-amused. Alex smirked. I could tell he was about to tell a god-awful pun. 

"You ok?" He said with a half smile. 

"I just woke up." I mumbled, shoving another bite of sandwich into my mouth. 

"Go on, tell your joke." 

"You're wearing your pants from yesterday." Alex said, his voice strained from trying not to laugh. I nodded, looking down at the dirt on my thick jeans. 

"They have dirt all over them." I nodded again. 

"You could say you've... soiled your pants." Alex smirked. I sighed heavily, shaking my head. 

"Seriously?" 

"I  think it's hilarious." He responded, still smiling. 

"Any news yet?" I asked Evan, completely ignoring Alex, who was still basking in the glory of his joke. 

"Someone's claiming this and that against us. No one has bothered to tell us." He shrugged. 

"Don't you just love being the little pawns?" He added, swallowing the last of his sandwich. 

I squinted back at him, "Really?" Evan shrugged, giving me a clueless look "It's true. All we do is talk to people who don't want to listen. We're just numbers to make Novus seem bigger." 

I couldn't argue with him there.

"We are making a difference." Jade said softly, looking up at him. 

"How? How are we making a difference by giving flowery speeches to a bunch of stubborn Greenpeace-ers? They don't need us, Jade."

"We're giving them a chance." She replied gently. "Our goal is to make them think rather than blindly following one side or the other." 

Evan shook his head and laughed dryly. "Then our goal has ultimately failed." and with that he stood, and left the mess hall. 

"Wow." I scoffed. "Someone needs to grow up." 

Jade shifted in her seat. "Well, at least we know he's wrong. We are making a difference... Right?"