The Five

I woke up to a shrill repetitive ringing stinging my ears, groaning I turned over and shut off my alarm. I brushed my hair to the side and looked in the small hanging mirror. You could easily tell I was tired. Yawning I got dressed in simple clothing I looked over at my boots poking out from under my cot and smirked. It was a new record for how many days one can go without wearing those awful things and so I grabbed the marker from my grey desk and added another tally to my wall. Then I walked out of my cabin bright pink socks stepping through the quiet halls.

As I neared the thick metal wall at the end of the hall it slid into the floor allowing me to pass through into the rec area and as expected there was no one there. Once Ashley died the rules that were unnecessarily inforced like boots at all times when your not in your cabin or waking up at 6 every morning were no longer enforced. Yet the council decided that we were old enough to not need a replacement caretaker so we were free to do as we pleased and still I wake up at 6. This is so I can see the sunrise.

After making a hot lemon drink Ashley showed us to make for special occasions I sat down on one of the faded yellow cushions facing the large window that takes up space where a whole wall should be. I watch as slowly little ribbons of gold peeking out from the overwhelming darkness. Carefully like an animal learning to trust, it creeps up higher. At this point, I can see the dark outline of a shape and then I watch as it slowly turns from black to a blue/green tint. As I stare at the colored shape I think about what it would have been like to be an ancestor and live there but I am me and I am stuck on a permanent shuttle not a planet of color.

I was still staring at the planet in a sort of daze when suddenly the peacefulness around me disappeared and was replaced with loud hollering and figures racing by. Causing an uncontrollable smile to replace my previously placid look.

“I’m going to cut your neck with a hot spoon !” Apollo ran through the rec area and into the kitchen chasing after Zeke with bright pink curls

“If you can catch me” Zeke responded laughing, the short blonde darting around the counters avoiding his previously brown-haired friend whose height seemed to add to his trouble with agility “it’s not my fault your such a sound sleeper”

“Headphones Idiot !!!! ” Apollo screamed and while the boys continued their game of chase Cal strolled in remarkably unaffected.

“update me Trid,” he said rubbing his blue eyes and using his nickname for me

“Well they just ran in but it seems that Zeke got back at Apollo for the hairdryer trick last week by dying his hair pink while he was sleeping,” I said making sure not to leave out any details “And Apollo is planning his death.”

Unsurprised he responded “cool I want his PCI I’m not sure how but he has the most illegal music downloads I’ve ever seen on one”

“Fine but I get the headphones” I played along laughing

“Deal” but before anyone got anyone’s belongings a roar exploded through the opening wall and everyone froze.

“Who woke me up!” The tiny girl with a booming voice looked over at me and Cal “It wasn’t you two. You guys actaully have a fragment of a brain, but you two..” her gaze turned furious as she looked at the two boys that had become pale. Quickly I ran in front of her before she started moving again to surely give both me and Cal a PCI with headphones each.

“ Hey Nova I cooed as if she was a dog getting ready to attack and as far as I was concerned the dog would be a safer option “want me to make breakfast for you today, I know you prefer it fresh over the premade stuff “ she looked at me for a moment and calmed down a little but then rage filled her again when she saw the boys. I stepped in front of her view of the boys “I’ll make the make pancakes with that raspberry drizzle you love, I know we have raspberries somewhere.” I knew I had her with the raspberry sauce “just go hang out in your room while I make them and I’ll take care of those two” with some muttering and death glares at the boys she walked away dark silky hair swaying with each step

“Thanks, Astrid” Apollo called from across the kitchen his cheeks the color of his hair

“This is the third time this week, if you don’t start being more quiet I’m going to let her rip you to shreds” I scolded

“Got it “ Zeke said

I thought for a moment “And your on dish duty” I added

“Fair enough” Apollo admitted defeated but then he turned to Zeke anger returning to his figures “but this isn’t over!!!” And they both chased each other out of the room and I hoped for their sakes they stayed away from Nova.

“Do I get raspberry drizzle?” Cal teased sporting a pouty face

“Don’t get me started” I responded tying the slightly stained apron around my waist while giving him a glare

“I’ll take that as a yes” he laughed walking away