We, who Survived

Blood. The metallic taste and smell overwhelmed me instantly. It trickled from my nose, dripping off my chin and landing on my leg. The piercing ring in my ears disorientated me, my head feeling like it had been smashed against a wall as I struggled to keep it up. When I cracked my eyes open, everything was a blur. Vaguely I remembered Spark holding my hand before pulling it out of his loose grip. Rubbing my eyes, I blinked until my vision became clear, focused on my surroundings.

Red lights flashed on the ceiling, exposed wires dangling from beams like snakes. Bags were scattered, contents spilt, some still clinging to their owners’ limp limbs. Teenagers were slumped forward or hanging sideways in their seats. Blood dripped from noses and ran down ears. The eerie silence was broken by a shrill beeping.

“Can anyone hear me?” A woman’s frantic voice echoed. The question was repeated, concern coating every word. “Please, someone answer...”

Glancing around for the radio system, I ignored the piercing ache at the base of my skull, scanning the walls. By the lifepod doors, stupidly placed, was the system. Hesitantly, I unbuckled the straps around my chest. I tried to stand but my legs were like jelly, my foot kicking Spark’s as I fell back down. He groaned, eyes fluttering open before widening at the scene around us. His head turned as he took in the room of dead-looking children, a comical expression of worry on his face. Just as I was about to ask if he was okay, the woman’s voice came through the speakers again, catching Spark’s attention with the teary crack in it.

“Please,” She sobbed, her hopelessness making me feel helpless. Shakily, I stood up, my muscles protesting. I placed my hand gingerly on Spark’s shoulder as I passed him to get to the radio. Spark’s boots hit the metal floor heavily as he tried to follow. Weakly, I picked up the microphone, almost tripping over bags.

“H-hello?” I cringed at my own voice being hoarse and nervous filled as I pressed the receiver.

“Who is this?!” The woman’s voice was quick to fill with excitement, hope.

“Nathan Field.”

“Thank God you are one of the chosen,” she muttered, making me raise an eyebrow at Spark who stood behind me, hand coming to grip my shoulder. There was static on the other end before a man’s voice replaced the woman’s, the deep rasp familiar.

“I’m going to be quick. There are five of you leaders. You and the others need to look after Lifepod Six’s occupants as you are the top experienced, lead them to Trident’s facility, it will have everything you need,” My father said, pausing as strangled voices shouted in the background.

“You must get to the facility, north of where you landed, protect the children,” He paused again, making me hold my tongue. “The other leaders are Spark Greene, Maria Steward, Park Jae and Charlie Brown. Nathan, stay sa-”

“Dad? Dad!” There was no response, only the crack of interference.

“I feel like I’m gonna be sick,” Spark mumbled as he leaned against me, not registering my panic. His soft hair brushing my cheek as he rested his head on my shoulder. I didn’t like the close contact between us but I didn’t like vomit either. Searching for the lever for the doors, I found it just higher than the radio system’s speakers. With Spark using me as support made things difficult but somewhat manageable. As soon as the lever was pulled, gears in the walls started working. Fresh air immediately flooded in, cooling down the inside of the lifepod.

Slowly, I walked both of us to the opening where a ramp was sliding out from a compartment under the floor. Once it was on the ground, Spark tried to make a dash down it but only tripped and crawled to the side to empty his stomach. As he rested on his back, an arm over his eyes, I walked down the ramp to where the grass started.

“You okay now?” I asked as I sat down at the base of the ramp, drinking in the nature around us and trying to drown out what we were just told. The grass wasn’t really tall enough to hide the thick trunked trees and their lively colours. The scent of the earth was strong, adding its own spice to the sweet-smelling air. The fragrance of Earth was unbelievable.

“I think so.” Turning around, Spark now sat up looking exhausted. Our eyes met, something clicking behind his olive-green eyes, expression becoming calculative but worry soon took over. “Shit, what are we gonna do? Do we even know where we landed, how far we are from the facility? The station got hit by something, meaning no aerial help, no experienced help. To top it off, how are we going to survive here? Rations will only last for so long and we don’t know what’s edible!” Spark’s fast-paced questions and thoughts cut the only string of calm holding me together. Breathing was becoming hard, my heart beating rapidly and sight darkening.

“Nathan!” Spark’s arms came around me, pulling me to his chest so I could hear his heartbeat. In a way, it calmed me. “Just breathe, okay? We don’t need you having an attack out here.” His hand rubbed my arm. Focusing on breathing was hard but with Spark helping, I was back to normal, somewhere close to it at least.

“Any ideas on what to do?” After catching my breath and calming down in Spark’s embrace, we sat close next to each other. He clicked his tongue after a long time of just processing everything.

“Personally, I think we need to wake up my lot first then take inventory as well as waking everyone else. Start off calmly and explain things when all of them have food. That okay with you?” Nodding, I stood up and dusted myself off, Spark following my lead.

“Thanks by the way.”

“Don’t sweat it Bookworm.”

Waking Spark’s friends led to similar reactions as he had. Charlie wobbled as fast as he could outside, Maria was spaced out while Jae was the only one to go wake someone else up within their group, Joon to be precise. When he came to, he stared out bleary eyed as Jae checked over his body for injuries. Watching them interact showed how close they were. Like Jae, Joon was Asian. From there, they were complete opposites.

Joon had somehow managed to permanently bleach his hair white from an accident in the labs when he was younger and chose to experiment with it many times in the past. After a while he just decided to leave it short on the sides and long on top. He also had piercings, cuff earrings in each ear’s cartilage. The other main differences between the two were their eyes and how they held themselves. One stayed serious and quiet with onyx eyes while the other cheerful and talkative with chestnut coloured eyes.

“We need a plan,” Spark mumbled, still managing to catch everyone’s attention. His index finger was bent under his bottom lip, eyes staring at the floor. “There are roughly twenty-six kids here including us, all learning different trades. Each of us also represent main parts within the station’s way of life. Therefore...”

“What the hell on you on about Sparky?” Charlie plopped down, wiping his mouth as he narrowed his eyes at me.

“I’m thinking about our situation. Nathan and I have been awake longer than you and have been told more information on this entire crisis we are facing. So far, nothing seems in our favour.” Spark glanced at all his friends before nodding towards me. All eyes were now on me...

“We were told that we were...leaders.” Even though my voice was soft and my eyes were on the floor, I knew their expressions were one of surprise. “All five of us are leaders because we represent the main needed ways to control life on the S.S.H.R.”

“Someone better start explaining more on this, I ain’t gonna go get a big ego when it ain’t real. So, short-stuff and Sparky-boy, explain from the beginning.”