Her World

Chapter 15 "Time"

   The Commander, a serious individual that I've come to fear with every pore of my being. He speaks more now then I ever heard from him before, maybe that has to do with Tally being at his side now, she is quite mean for such a tiny girl. 

I'm backed as close against the wall as I can be while staring across the huge room at the Commander, who of which did not move an inch since he entered. We just stood there; staring like statues. 

"What do you want now?" I said with a little bit of annoyance.

But he did not saying anything, he just walked over to the window far across from me looking at the land below. Wrapping my arms around myself feeling a sudden chill in here, he immediately looked over at me moving. 

"Still amazed," He said still looking over at me.

"At what? Being alive? Tell me."

He waited a bit before continuing, "Yes, amazed at how you lived, I made sure to kill you."

His blunt response with the nonchalant emotion in it brought my fear level up more. He was okay in killing me like a bug. I couldn't muster any words with how much I'm scared right now, I even started shaking a little.

" Your fear of me is justified...I do not want you to be comfortable around me." He said this as for it to come out harshly.

" I..." But I couldn't continue speaking, like it got stuck in my throat. He straightened up and started slowly walking towards me, "I will not kill you again....This will be the last time you will see me." 

Seeing him come closer, with my body pressed to the wall and not being able to back up any further, my feet slipped from underneath me and I just dropped to the floor, stunned.

He stopped right in front of me, but I couldn't look at him again. "You will be processed to a livestock location." He said before walking away, but before he got to the doorway I just said quietly, "If I knew being around you would be this tragic, I wish I never met you...." He stopped for a moment, just a moment before hearing his steps disappear beyond the door. I had so many questions for him, I needed so many answers but I couldn't bring myself to stand up to him. Power; something he always held, something this world gives. And here I am....Another human, another food source for them. 

   The next day, a soldier showed up to transport me to my new location. Putting a collar on me, leading me out of the room and walking down the corridors it all feels so haunting, like a death sentence. I looked for the Captain but couldn't see him anywhere before loading me into a ship. It hit me when I will no longer see my friends, and I suddenly couldn't stop the tears streaming down my cheeks. The soldier didn't care to bother with me especially since I was contained in an enclosed space, I let myself cry and wiped my tears away with my forearm. Remembering my friends, those who showed me how to live life, how to be a true human, those who saved me from slipping away....was all for naught.

   As I felt the ship suddenly stop with ajar, steadying myself, the soldier lead me froward to prepare to depart the ship. As the door opened up I had to shut my eyes for a moment to get used to the light, as I opened them I see so many people coming to the doorway of the ship with so much curiosity. The soldier used his weapon to threaten the people to back up, as they did we came out, releasing me to the crowd, he turned back to the ship. Watching the door shut, and seeing them take flight, disappearing into the sky above. I became petrified as I realized that I am around people that I never met until now, people that I remember being in a situation where they formed groups like a hierarchy. 

"Hello newcomer, from where did you come from?" A small old man said with a gentle voice with everyone gathering around him and me. I did not realize that the elder man had come so close he was so quiet. 

"Hello....I come from a city....I shared with lots of unwanted...pets" I was still trembling from my past memories of being treated poorly at my livestock home as a child.

"Please don't fear all of us we will not hurt you here, we have developed this village as a sort of haven before those chosen to be sent to slaughter." The elder said as he turns to a woman next to him and begin whispering something amongst themselves.

The woman comes towards me holding out her hand, "Please take my hand, I will take you to your new dwelling." Still being unsure of this situation, with everything being so sudden, I cautiously reach for her hand and take it, she smiles so gently that I'm tempted to trust her. As she leads me to my sleeping quarters she says, "So the city of the unwanted, how was it?"

   I honestly didn't know how to respond except to mutter out, "Terrifying." She looked at me like I saw a ghost before continuing, "Well, I hope your stay here won't be so scary, you know....even though none of know how long we can be here." I nodded my head in agreement, I just don't have the energy to be enthusiastic like they are.

   After settling into my small room inside a big building, and seeing how this place isn't like my childhood village. Everyone here seems to be very connected and they get along with each other, the day hasn't ended yet so I walk around with the elder and others, being shown everything and how everyone has a job to do to keep this place going. As the day turns into night I'm invited to eat with everyone, but I just want to sleep and cry about the loss of my friends. I just quietly eat my food as everyone visits, someone from behind me asks, "Hey city girl, you don't talk much, how come?"

I turn around to see a bright eyed girl with wild curly hair smiling just as brightly looking at me waiting for an answer, "Well I'm pretty exhausted from the transportation and processing so I just want to enjoy watching you all interact." She happily accepted that response and went on to say, "Well then new girl, what's your name?" I opened my mouth to say it but then I was struck with realization when I remembered I never had a name until a certain individual gave me one, to which this name gave me a twinge in my heart. The girl said, "I'm guessing you don't have one?" I just nodded my head and fought with myself from breaking down in front of everyone. So the girl said with enthusiasm, "My name is Cora! Nice to meet you no name!" As she stuck out her hand for me to shake, and so I did with a ghost of a smile. 

Then she squealed to everyone, "Hey everyone, the new girl doesn't have a name!" To which a lot of faces turned to us and looked at me. I just sank into the shadow of the girl out of embarrassment.

"Hey, hey now don't be sad, for the time you're here, we will give you a meaningful name, something to be proud of!" I looked at the woman who said that with tears welling in my eyes, "Thank you." I said as loudly as I can so everyone can know how much I already appreciate their efforts to welcome me here. Cora scooted beside me and hugged me by the shoulders tightly, and we continued eating since rest time is in an hour.

   As I slept I kept having dreams back and fourth about the Commander, the Captain, Tally, and the girls. Everything that played out, the way it played out. none of it made sense and my head knew it. I jolted awake breathing heavily, cold sweat soaking my clothes. Feeling like I can't catch my breath, I rushed to to my window, opening it and taking deep, slow breaths trying to calm down. I started crying again, I can't take how much I fight with my own mind. I want to turn back time, desperately, that if I can change one thing it would be to just live in that one spot. despite how pathetic it was, how disliked I was, it was home, a place I knew to be permanent but not permanent at the same time. But I also loved being loved, being cared about, cared for, can I just change time itself?