"So who raised you?" I asked River tearing the packet of my peanut better sandwich. "A grandma who used to live next door" said River with his mouth full of fruit salad "sh...tok pity-" a piece of what could have been apple fell from his mouth. When he noticed it I saw a faint blush suffuse his cheeks. West too noticed it and chuckled softly "You know, when we were at ISO's headquarter Talia too was eating as if there was no tomorrow"
I'm sure she said it to make River feel comfortable but if anything he felt more embarrassed, 'how do I know that? well somehow I could feel his embarrassment, plus his cheeks are now as red as tomato' he picked up the chewed piece of apple and stuffed it back in his mouth without wasting another moment and laughed short, humourless laugh.
I fought the urge to roll my eyes, he is prim despite the fact that he was born and used to live in that pit hole. Before I used to think it was just my sister but nah, I guess she has her own carbon copies. "so grandma who lived in our neighbor, took me in." River completed and stuffed his mouth with another spoon of fruit salad. "you know what? no pressure chew first" I said sipping from my coffee.
"Yeah so she named me Max, after she died I decided to name myself River Max" he said looking down at his half empty bowl. "When did she die?" I asked
"when I seven"
"Oh we are so sorry" West said.
River stuffed his mouth with another spoon full of fruits. Although this time he wasn't eating because of his desperation for food but because of some foreign emotion that I don't understand and it is making me uncomfortable.
"So how does it feels like, you know being here on this ship ?" West asked sounding cheerful trying to light up the mood and that surely changed his mood a bit as he started give off those happy vibes "it's awesome, I never thought that I would ever be able to see the sun let alone actually being in space. Honestly when I first heard about government looking for volunteers for some special mission, that volunteers will get a chance to go out, their friends and family will have better food and living facility. I thought it was some trap-"
"Well it was indeed a trap" I interrupted him
"What?" he asked looking confused "I said it was indeed a trap"
"How"
"Oh please not again Talia" West said pushing her half eaten sandwich towards me when I looked at her she shrugged "I don't feel like eating anymore, so you can have it"
"just shut up and finish it" I said pushing sandwich towards her, she made a face and shook her head "either you'll finish it or I'll shove it down your throat. Your choice." I said sipping my coffee. Without another word West started eating her sandwich which made me smirk, she knew I would do that heck I have done that three years ago when she wanted to give her share of meal to me and our useless father. "So what were you saying" West said to River, who started speaking again how he thought it was trap, how one of his friend convinced him for this, then miraculously he won lottery ticket 'kind of' to this mission and now how he is grateful for at least trying and blah blah. Never have I ever seen people so excitedly anticipating an unknown future, I looked around everyone is somewhat excited and no I am not saying this because the look on their faces but those waves of happy-go-lucky vibes I am getting from them. It makes me cringe to some extent to know that everyone here seems to be optimist except me and apparently...I looked around to find source of uneasiness...Cora and Benett. I saw them talking in the corner, Cora's eyes were wide and Benett's face was a mask of fear, overall I could sense their perturbation even from so far. Benett was trying to explain something to Cora, as Cora just stood their visibly taking his words in. Dread filled me, not my own but Cora's or maybe even Benett's. What is it that is filling them with dreadfulness? It has to be something really very important, Just few minutes ago Cora was normal, her vibes were just like others 'happy-go-lucky' she was distributing packets of our meal with Arthur and now she looks utterly terrified. I am all agog now.
I narrowed my eyes and debated whether to approach them or what? Going near them would alert them and at last I would die of suspense, if I sit here I'll die in suspense anyways. 'ughhh what should I do?' I thought while trying to read their lips.
"Asher is looking into the matter... Confirming Leo and Olivia's theory"
"B-but what if it is true. What will we do then? We have limited food an-and we can't keep them all here for long. Y-you know they don't really like us, they will lash out and it won't end well"
My eyes widened 'how the fuck are they even audible to me, they are talking in whispers and wait what the fuck are they talking about' but I didn't get chance to dwell upon it as there was a loud bang causing me to hiss in pain and others to gasps "what the hell man" I heard River mutter, I looked to my left finding Rex standing over some boy, clenching his teeth. I immediately got up and walked to them, West and River followed.
"What the hell man" Benett shouted at Rex.
But Rex didn't reply, instead prepared for maybe another punch to boy's face "hey hey hey dude that's enough" Arthur held Rex's fist pushing him back. Boy who has just suffered Rex's wrath got up from the floor panting in anger "you okay?" a girl asked him in low voice as few others stepped to stand by him.
"NO IT'S NOT, THIS ASSHOLE NEEDS TO LEARN A LESSON" Rex shouted at Arthur, which made Arthur to take a step back, I too took a step back involuntarily, pressing my ears, Rex's sharp voice could literally burst my ever loving ears "hey you okay" West steadied me, holding my shoulders firmly. In response I nodded.
"We will sit and talk about who needs to learn a lesson. But you can't just hit someone like that" Cora said pointing her index finger to Rex, who was giving deadly looks to the boy he has just hit. Boy on the other hand is scared, confused and somewhat angry at Rex and well he is not the only one others around him are feeling same towards Rex 'what the heck did Rex do to make them hate him?'. "What is your problem man" Boy asked Rex glaring.
"The audacity!" Kit exclaimed humorlessly. That's when I noticed him holding an extremely disgusted, quite afraid and angry Nikola, tears are falling down her cheeks uncontrollably as she stared at the boy without blinking even for once. "My problem? MY PROBLEM? YOU ARE MY PROBLEM! PERVERTS LIKE YOU ARE MY SECOND BIGGEST PROBLEM" Rex yelled, this time forcing me to squeeze my eyes shut too.
"What is going on here" Asher, Olivia and Leo rushed towards the drama. "This motherfucker was touching Nik inappropriately" Kit said pointing towards the boy, who is clearly confused. "Who is Nik" Leo asked. "Mark?" Asher asked unbelievably looking at the boy.
"What, NO? I-I didn't...." Mark looked frantically at everyone and then back at Nikola "Tell them the truth girl....why would you lie. What did I ever do to you to deserve this" he glared at her.
"You mean I'm a LIAR" she shouted back. "Who knows" Mark spat back.
"I'LL FUC-" Rex started to push Benett out of his way
"OK ok nobody is killing anyone on MY SHIP" Asher said through his teeth. "Mark I can't believe...what is wrong with you?" asked Olivia with a disappointed look on her face. A strong current of hostility passed through my body making me shudder "Talia what is wrong?" West asked, as small wave of worry passed me. "Nothing, I just have a small headache" I said and observed everyone, almost everyone in this room is turning against Mark, except those five people standing by his side. And Mark well those confused and betrayed emotions are enough to tell me that he is not lying. I looked at Nikola to read her, to see why would she lie, but those disgusted, afraid and angry emotions tells me a different story. 'How is it even possible that they both are telling the truth?' I thought rubbing my now throbbing with pain forehead, at this point it really feels like someone has hit me with an iron rod. All these sharp voices, which by the way don't bother anyone but me, these strong waves of uncontrolled emotions are too much to take in. Back in Med room, it was still better as pain and uneasiness was not as strong as this disgust, anger, fear, confusion, hurt and betrayal.
"Now what are you all waiting for?" Asher looked around "GO BACK AND DO WHATEVER Y'ALL WERE DOING BEFORE"
But no one moved if anything everyone looked at him with confusion, which started to turn into hatred and anger in no time. Rex, Kit and Nik looked more angry than anyone of course.
"Y'all heard him, what are you waiting for go back" Leo said clapping as if trying to wake everyone up.
"No one is going anywhere until justice is delivered" Rex said stepping ahead.