I watch from my room as Tarya, one of the coolest kids in my class, stays in her room across the street, even though the loud alarm is going off. She must be insane, but she's doing it despite the panic.
I realize, if I leave the planet I'm still the nerdy orphan, still hanging out with the same type of kids, but if I stay, I'm with Tarya, and whoever else stays behind with her. It's a chance to change how people see me.
I sit on my bed and wait for the alarm to stop. I listen to the voice repeating itself for about half an hour, this is not a drill, power plant leak, emergency evacuation, this is not a drill.
The words sink in. If I stay, I'm only alive for a few days, until the leak ends up killing me. I have to leave. Tarya can kill herself, but I'm living. I get up, and follow the drill through the empty hallways, getting outside as the alarm stops.
Why? It shouldn't stop.
Unless all the ships have left. I waited too long. Way way to long. I was caught up in my thoughts, and missed my chance.
BANG. I hear a door slam and dive into the side streets. It's Tarya. She's left the building, and is walking around, leaving my area. I wait a few minutes, then crawl out.
The space is empty, it never has been. Then I turn the corner, and there Tarya is, not being a hardcore, wild girl, but a caring one, talking to Tristan Hoff, who has collapsed on the ground.
Tristan is popular. He's pretty stuck up, and both his parents are high class, he wouldn't stay down here if he got the chance. I wonder why he's still here. And Tarya Kelly is hardcore. A huge daredevil, she'll probably go off and captain a spacecraft when she's older. If she ever gets off this place.
Tarya looks over at me, "Obsidia Marsden?"
"Yeah," I respond.
"Why are you here?"
"I don't know, I guess I just got left behind, not uncommon for an orphan."
"No, people only stay behind if they choose."
"Unless they're cut off because there's not enough room in the already overpacked ship," Tristan pipes in through the tears.
"I got caught up in the thought of a new beginning. What about you?" I explain.
"I wanted to be alone, but seeing as that's not an option, I guess the new beginning thing works too." And we both laugh.
"Ditto," Tristan says, with a smile.
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Soundtrack: We Come Running - Youngblood Hawke
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