Image by Yingnan Lu from Pixabay
I stared at the monitor in the common room, everyone around me in horrified silence as we watched the disaster happening in the Omega-Delta Colony. It felt as though we were watching the same video clip of the burning colony on loop. I think we were all thankful the scene was silent behind the correspondents reporting on the event.
"We have received official word that the explosions did originate in the ventilation system. Officials will be unable to determine the cause of the explosions until the fires have gone out. With the current water crisis occurring throughout the Omega Colonies, this task has proven more difficult than expected. Citizens are being evacuated as they are found, but the death toll has only risen with each report we receive. It is estimated that over sixty percent of the Omega-Delta citizens will lose their lives and over ninety percent will be displaced before this tragedy comes to an end. We at Alpha Colonies Broadcasting will be on scene to bring you minute by minute updates until officials determine it is too dangerous."
I ran a hand through my scarlet hair. The haircut I intended to get seemed so much less important than it had before I walked in the group home's doors. I felt helpless. We all did. Even if we were adults, all we could do was witness the devastating event from the safety of the Alpha Sector.
We had seen the reports about the hardships the Omega Sector was going through. It had been big news at the start. Whole families were being wiped out by the toxins in their water supply and the efforts to fix the issue had only made it worse. The water had to be treated to make it safe, but the treatment centers were all the way in the Gamma Sector. This resulted in widespread droughts and water use restrictions. To say there was unrest in the Omega Sector would be an understatement.
I looked around the room at the mixed reactions of the various social groups that resided in the group home. Some were crying from the horror, some were shocked into silence, and a disappointing number seemed unconcerned by the atrocity. Privilege was an ugly byproduct of our nice, safe inner colony.
I moved away from the group gathered closest to the monitor so I could eavesdrop on the cold-hearted residents. Someone needed to bear witness to their apathy.
"I don't get why everyone is so surprised by this." Zayne had his expensive shoes on the dark wood coffee table in front of the plush couch he lounged on. "Omega Sector has been falling to pieces for, like, twenty years. It was only inevitable that their crumbling colonies would collapse."
I held my anger inside, pretending to be transfixed by the monitor from afar.
"Besides, a few less colonies could do us all some good. It isn't like anyone important lived all the way out in those pits." Corik had their head comfortably resting on Zayne's lap. The whole group laughed at Corik's distasteful comment.
I turned my stone-cold gaze toward them, not that any of them paid me any mind. They were too busy being ignorant monsters.
"Guess all that purified water can go to real citizens. Their loss is definitely our gain. We should really thank the survivors for their contribution." Dyvan chuckled at what he probably thought was witty commentary.
I clenched my fists, my pale knuckles a testament to my icy rage. I began stalking toward the group but found my path blocked by Maera.
She gently laid a hand on my chest. "Kolyver. Don't start with them. You crushing Zayne's skull with your bare hands will only get you thrown out and probably arrested. You don't want to get sent for reeducation."
"It would be so satisfying, though."
She brushed some hair from my eyes, making me look into hers. "Please. For me."
I felt the fury in me slowly dissipate. I sighed heavily. "You're right. Like always."
She stood on her toes to kiss my forehead. "Thank you. Come on. Let's go check on Xam. He was acting really strange in school today." She intertwined her much smaller fingers with mine, pulling me out of the common room and up the stairs.