Zavalon

1. No place like home

5 years ago...

My heart thumps erratically. I stare out into the black ibis trying to catch a glimpse of our crumbling planet as we sped away into the unknown but all i can see is the glimmer of far off stars.

I felt a tear slip down my cheek, the first in days, as i remember small insignificant memories i took for granted. The people i took for granted. All gone. My life is no longer or will ever be the same as it. Not now that earth is gone.

I should of been in the ashes of our burning home. I would of if he hadn't put me first like he always has done his entire life. I told him to go on without me. He wouldn't have listened anyway. He's too stubborn and proud to take advice from his baby sister. He could have made it out, i knew he could have. Its my fault. But blaming myself wont bring him back. Im here and there is nothing i can do to change it.

I back away from the window, having enough of a pity party to clear my head and get back to the rest of them. Them being the other five hundred or more who were fortunate enough to get out. Or as the leaders like to call us, group four. I hate even thinking about it because it makes us sound more like machines or insignificant numbers on a page than real living and breathing people.

The panel automatically slides open and i walk down the narrow hallway to the main deck of the ship. I wish he could have seen all this. We were always was nerds for space stuff even if his friends said it was stupid and a waste of time. They used to tease Cory about hanging around with me but he didn't care. He always made time for me.

We were supposed to be here together.

To love and know about all this would is a pretty convenient tool to have right now i suppose.

The government had trained the young for this kind of thing since they learned how to walk. It was rigorously taught in schools like maths or english after they found out about the steady decline of the planets stability. We were Regimented day and night on how to survive in the vast galaxy that we know so little of. Most thought of it as useful as a painting in the rain so the delinquents either scheming the class or spammed the teachers silopod with annoying trash mail. They are likely dead.

I listened up, paying close attention because I all knew it was only a matter of time before our skills were put to use but i didn't think it would be this soon.

As i walk into the main deck I'm met with the majority of passengers excluding a few still in the extensive care unit. They made it out alive but not all in one piece.

I volunteered a few days to help with the little knowledge i have on medical. Im pretty well versed for an thirteen year old. Top of all of my classes. I even skipped a few years due to it. I was only a year behind Cory even though he was 16 but he thought it was cool that i got moved up. He said he was a tad jealous though i never believed he had a bad bone in his body

"Oi, Zee" I heard being yelled from behind me.

I swing my head around to see Ace walking towards me clutching some steaming mugs of herbla in his hands. He handed me one of the three and stood beside me looking out into the sea of people in-front of us.

"They say we should make it by Wednesday" he said quietly, i nod my head in reply. My face was stoic but i was bursting with excitement.

Finally we are getting some head way. Many have been asking the ships crew when we make it to the rest of camp but no one ever had a solid reply to give us. Just stated 'soon'. At least when they say it now their not lying to save their skin.

"Thats good i guess" I took another swig of herbla, letting the hot liquid burn my throat. I hugged the mug tight into my chest.

From the corner of my eye is see him look over. With a deep sigh he turns back to face the front.