INKWELL

Chapter One

May 31, 2081

Mrs. Abimbola wouldn't stop crying even after the door of the hovership had closed. She kept clawing at the door, trying to get us to go back and get Tobi. It took a while for her to finally settle down. I put my arms around her and hugged her as she cried, just like she had held me after my parents died.

I felt a few tears roll down my cheeks. Despite out differences, I understood Tobi. I understood his refusal to follow us. He was infected, there was obviously no hope for him. He was going to die. Even though I knew Mrs. Abimbola also understood his decision, I didn't think she cared about that. All she cared about was that her son was gone.

It was supposed to be a joyful day for us but we were all quiet, our minds on those who had stayed behind to help us escape. Some men who were husbands or sons of the women in the ship were also left behind, and the women were wailing uncontrollably. There was nothing to say to them, nothing that could possible make what they were going through better.

Angela Cassey looked at them, a sad look in her eyes. I could tell it was genuine and I was sure this was not the first time she had to see something like this. The other people she had picked had probably cried about leaving people behind. Angela had to move to another part of the hovership when the women turned to her and started begging her to turn back.

I didn't have much time to admire the interior of the hovership. I was too distracted by my thoughts and the women that were crying, but the little I saw was impressive. It seemed almost as big as an airplane and moved faster. The seats arranged in two rows was currently being occupied by the people from the village. The officials in blue stood around, holding on to things hanging from the ceiling while some of them had disappeared behind a wall that separated our part of the ship from another.

It had been years since I entered a hovership, the last time was when my parents were still alive. And as much as I wanted to explore the ship like I had done that time, I knew that was not a priority. My priority was Mrs. Abimbola.

About five hours later, the hover ship shook as we touched ground and the door opened. I turned to Angela Cassey. She had come to our part of the ship as soon as the hovership stopped.

"We are at my headquarters where we would be entering the spaceship going to our new planet," she said, answering my unasked question.

The ladder dropped down and men and women dressed in blue uniform rushed in. They led us quickly out of the ship and helped those who had things to carry. I envied them, they were able to take things they wanted. With all the rush happening when Angela came, I wasn't able to take anything from home. I tried not to let my mind dwell on the things I left behind, the only things I had from my parents. It was heartbreaking enough knowing that I had left them.

I stepped out of the hovership into a big field where a spaceship was standing a few feet away. My eyes widened as I took it all in. It was huge! That was all I could say. I couldn't see most of it because of the ink covering the body but the size alone was impressive. I couldn't wait to get inside.

We were led to the spaceship and I could see the others were amazed too as we walked towards it. I couldn't take my eyes off it. Angela Cassey came to walk beside me and we were quiet for a while. I tried to calm myself down. My heart was beating fast and I had to rub my palm on my cloth to get rid of the sweat.  For months I had tried to get in contact with her and now I couldn't believe I had finally done it and here I was, walking beside a woman I admired.

"Why is there only one spaceship?" I asked as we got closer. "Would it fit all of us?" It looked pretty big though.

She chuckled. "There are four others. They have all gone ahead. This is the last, they were waiting for us to return."