I stared in horror at the atrocities I was facing. Smoke billowed from the flames erupting from the ventilation ducts and had blocked most of the simulated sunlight over the artificial field. Not one building was safe from the fire that roared louder than I thought possible. The only thing that could be heard above the fire were the screams. Hundreds of people crying out in pain, fear, and grief. I could feel the power of their agony. I fell to my knees and covered my ears, tears streaming down my face.
Read MoreI 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.
Read More"Zam?" I lightly knocked on my friend's door, but didn't wait for an answer. Xamber often ended up taking a nap after classes whether he intended to do so or not. Sometimes I envied his ability to just fall asleep. I became concerned when I saw Xamber sitting on the edge of his bed and staring out the window with haunted eyes.
Read More"I've got it!"
I startled awake when Kolyver excitedly sat across from me at the table. I glanced down at my unfinished toast, pushing it away with a sigh.
Kolyver frowned, their excitement momentarily forgotten. "You okay, Xam?"
I shrugged. "Everything tastes like ashes."
"Gross."
"You can say that again."
My friend grinned at me. "Gross."
I rolled my eyes, but their bad joke made me smile. "What is it that you've got, Kol?"
Read MoreI examined my cork board to ensure I had set everything up in a way that would make sense to my trio of associates. Everything I had pieced together over the last three years was compiled on that board. I knew there were still holes in the story I had constructed, but this would have to do until we found more answers.
"You didn't connect the Minister of Resources to that fake charity he has been funneling money through."
I attached the picture of Minister Saltyr to the People's United Fund. "Thank you, Anak. This is why I keep you around."
My companion chuckled. "Yes, just this. I'm just your fact-checker."
I rolled my eyes. "You know what I mean. How's everything else look?"
Read More"You don't look terribly excited to see me, Peter."
Instructor Evans stood in his office doorway with a tense look. "I told you to call me Instructor Evans."
I stared him directly in the eyes. "And I told you I would call you that name when you had earned my respect back."
He pinched the bridge of his nose. "You certainly can hold a grudge."
I kept my cold gaze. "I think almost losing my life and being permanently marred justifies an extended grudge. Let me in. I need to talk to you."
Read MoreMaera loaded her luggage onto the train. "How did you get Instructor Evans to agree to this crazy venture?"
Ryka secured their bag and followed the others to their seats on the train destined for the Omega-Delta Colony. “I just convinced him of how important this aid trip would be. I know how to talk to him.” Ryka ignored Maera’s suspicious look.
Kolyver opened their train compartment, making a beeline to one of the two window seats. Ryka sat next to them and undid their shirt’s top button. I slithered my way out from under Ryka's collar and relaxed around their neck, resting my head on the hollow of their throat.
Read More"Alright, you have all been separated into groups depending on what you will be doing to help the efforts. The local authorities have kindly lent us some of their supervisory staff so we can cover more ground. Care package creators will go with Supervisor Coleman. Shelter assistants will go with Supervisor Andrews. The survivor intakers will go with me."
My friends and I stood to the side and watched as all the other students separated into their groups. Instructor Evans gave his group some basic instructions before sending them on their way to their living quarters. He made his way toward us with a vaguely sour look.
Read MoreI finished putting on my safety gear, making sure my breathing mask was in place before following the others from our living quarters. I was thankful the mask filtered most of the smoke smell from the air. Most but not all. At least it was enough to keep me from having another flashback.
Read MoreI watched Xamber with concern as we arrived at our assigned location. I knew he hadn't slept well the night before and it showed. "Why aren't we going directly to the ventilation access? We have limited time to do this."
Xamber waved the tablet he had been given. "We need to leave this here so they can't track us. Last thing we need are coordinators coming to investigate. Don't worry, Mae. We'll have plenty of time."
Read MoreThe smell of smoke in the ventilation shafts was too intense for our masks to block out as much as they had outside. It was a little hard to soothe my anxiety when I couldn't breathe deeply without the smell of smoke ramping up my anxiety again. I could see the worry growing on Mae's face. I knew she would see through any attempt I would make to put on a brave act, so I didn't bother.
Read MoreI walked as close to Mae and Xam as I could and tried to act like the lack of light in the maintenance shafts didn’t terrify me. I had been told my whole life that the dark wasn’t something to be afraid of but I think those people have never encountered something malevolent in the darkness. It was the biggest relief that my actual friends never poked fun at my phobia.
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