AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Hesitantly, I glanced at the pod that was my bed. I preferred sleeping with the lid open but I had a funny feeling that wasn't going to be possible.
An alarm sounded from Atina's controlband around her wrist and she gave me a sheepish look. "It's time."
With a nod, I discarded my sweater. If I was going to be asleep for who knew how long, I wanted to be comfortable and this weird Kyven material was restrictive.
"Guess I'm going in," I said as I climbed into the bed.
Atina stood over me, a hand resting on top of the lid. "I can come check on you, if you want."
"I'd like that. If I die, promise me you'll tell my cousin personally." It was silly to worry about something like this when most likely, nothing bad would happen, but I didn't like the idea of being put to sleep artificially. I'd seen plenty of creepy stories about cryosleep and that kind of thing in movies. I'd always thought all of that was made up but maybe they were written by people like me who had gone into outer space too.
The beautiful pilot knelt down next to me. "I will but you shouldn't worry. Stasis is super safe, even for your species."
"I hope so. When I wake up, we'll be on Earth?"
"Nearing it," she confirmed with a nod.
"That's kind of neat." I tried to focus on that part and how lovely it would be to see familiar sights again. I could eat pizza, and haggis, and a deep-fried mars bars, even if they were vile.
Atina smiled reassuringly. "You're going to be fine. Maybe when we're on... Earth? Is that what you call it?"
I nod.
"Isn't that the same word for dirt?"
I chuckled. "It is. What does Kyven mean?"
"It..." She went silent, thinking for a moment. "It means blue."
"Not very original either," I teased, feeling ever so slightly less nervous. "You were saying?"
"Oh, when we're on Earth, maybe you could show me around? I've never been and I'm curious."
I briefly took her hand in mine, drawing a lot of strength from just her touch. "I'd like that a lot."
A loud voice boomed through the cabin. "Activating stasis momentarily, all passengers and non-essential crew must take residence in their assigned pods."
Atina smiled. "That's you."
I nodded and lied down, my head nicely on the middle of my pillow. "Do I need to count sheep?"
Confusion marred Atina's face, a lovely last image before the lid of the pod descended on me, trapping me in what felt like eternal darkness. In the vague distance, I heard the chime of my cabin door opening and closing which meant Atina was gone and I was all alone.
I reached up, testing if the lid of the pod would open.
It wouldn't.
Kind of like a coffin.
A hint of panic rushed through me and my breathing echoed through my ears as I tried to stay calm. Everything was going to be fine. And if it wasn't fine... at least I had my parents waiting for me on the other side. Would they be disappointed that I left Rachel behind or would they be happy to see me again after all those years?
I wasn't sure.
Something hummed and my eyelids grew heavy. I struggled to keep them open, fighting for one more moment of consciousness before I sank into a deep sleep, dreaming of pink fluff balls, alien sheep, and Atina's wonderful green eyes.
14
Atina
