The Last Rose Pedal

Chapter One

I remember home like it was yesterday, my creaky stairs, my messy bathroom, the aroma of my favorite scented candles like this was all yesterday. But today, the story is different. I find myself reminiscing of home, how my life used to be like. I'm far away from home and all I could think about is going back. The human population was forced to evacuate Earth because of this deadly virus, at least what was left of the human population. It killed nearly half of us. First, you feel nothing at all and the next your skin is purple and green, it obviously wasn't normal. It took years of research, attempting to find the cure. But nothing ever worked. By the time they have given up, we had to evacuate everyone because there would be no chance of survival staying there. After about three months up in space, there was this deadly asteroid storm. I still remember the fear and panic it caused among us. We went far too past in space where we discovered an unknown planet. Space shuttles were sent out to this planet in hope there is a way we could all be together again. "You stare at those stars everyday" my mother said. She was right but then I hoped for the day I won't be as close to the stars as I am now. You can hear the radios buzz as you pass each corridor, the cold atmosphere that hits your skin, it wasn't soothing. Words can't define how much I miss the feeling of fresh air fill my lungs but here we are, in a place where everyone wanted to be ten years ago but the answer isn't the same now. This is not how I dreamed my teenage years to be, I'm supposed to be sneaking out on Friday nights just to get hungover the next morning. Yes, so cliché, but how could you blame me. All 5,193 people on-board this aircraft may or may not be the last of the human race, we lost contact with the other three aircraft's during the asteroid storm. We are so close to finding answers to this planet and if it is or isn't inhabitable by the time we make it there, we can question whether or not all is lost. They call it planet Spero. It means hope. Another chance to have a new beginning, or to either continue or start a new life. It brings us hope. "Are you hungry? "Said my mother as she tapped her pen on her paper.

"I don't have an appetite right now"

She then tells me she's leaving for work. I hear the sound of the hard floor that follows her steps as she leaves. We are running low on food and it's just a matter of months before we run out but people don't know that, it would start a riot. People are already in fear that we won't make it. I question our fate too, but that isn't what I'm afraid of. Our governing system believes there is strength in unity, reason why they host get-together's, meetings and parties here and there. No more texting, no more tweeting or instagraming, its real life communication. I haven't attended to their social meetings programs once, I see no point, or at least before I didn't. Time is running out, we are so close to getting to planet Spero. But whether or not we make it, I'm at least attempting to make my last few days' worth it. I owe it to myself, after isolating myself for months thinking about Jen and Ally. Wondering every night if they're okay, I've lost contact with them during the asteroid storm and I've never heard from them again. I guess I can admit I'm still in denial that there might not be a day where I'll ever see them again. I'm heading to the door with anxiety filled in my body. In my head, I hear myself saying it's going to be okay. I step into the room only to feel the vibrations of the music, see the flickering lights reflect on the floor and how many people scattered around the room. I wander around the room, lost as what I find myself. I quickly find a seat as I listen to the DJ make announcements about the raffle tickets. At one moment everything was normal and the next it is complete chaos, I felt a brief second of fear. Red flashing lights turned on moments before I heard all the screams everywhere, I see people trying to push each other down to escape. It was an emergency, days to hours before our arrival on planet Spero, President Mark is on the P.A telling everyone to report back to their rooms as we are preparing for our arrival on planet Spero. Pacing back and forth, trying to find the closest path to my room. I wonder to myself if this was an emergency evacuation, shouldn't we be headed to the airships? Why are we asked to go to our rooms? It didn't make sense to me but I was sure everyone was far too scared to realize what was actually happening. I got to my room where I find my mom pacing back and forth, worrying.

"Mom, what's wrong?"

"It doesn't make sense they aren't following evacuation protocol, something is wrong"

"So what do you think is happening?"

"There are about five thousand people on this aircraft, with only 8 airships with the maximum capacity of 200 people. That is not enough space"

"How do you even know this?" I studied her face as she anxiously typed on her phone.

"I went through all the blueprints, how every inch of this aircraft is struc-" she said before she was cut off by Mark.

We both looked at each other and ran for the door. Sneaking past every guard there was.

"I apologize that we should have told you earlier; there is not enough space on the aircrafts to fit all of you. We will take our engineers, doctors and guards with us down first, our plan is to come back to the aircrafts, making trips back and fo-"

Mark explained his plan, it sounded perfect. I was too focused on trying not to get caught by the guards to hear anything else. We bumped into this guard. I looked up to him as I felt fear fill my body. My mom hit him in the back of his head, I was in shock. What just happened? I was trying to process everything in my head. We left him there and headed to one of the airships.

"Mark knows himself there is not enough gas to make enough trips to save everyone." my mom said

"How are we going to get on?"

"I've gotten it handled honey"

That statement grew more fear inside me. We had access to the doors which was weird, not even possible. The line was passing by quickly. I could hear the banging that was coming from outside, all the angry people who were about to be left behind. Guilt. That was all that I felt. I held up my access card, my hands were trembling. The guard scanned my card and nodded his head, allowing me to go. I didn't understand how the system let me go through. We got onto the airship; I sat right beside my mother.

"Mom you have to explain soon"

"I know, trust me I will"

I trust her but now there is so much to question about her. We were preparing to leave just until we heard screams. Guards scattered around the area, I looked over and couldn't believe what I seen next.