Starbound by S. E. Anderson

Author:S. E. Anderson [Anderson, S. E.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781912996162
Publisher: Bolide Publishing Limited
Published: 2019-08-19T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

Caught Reading My Sister’s Diary

Zander

Day 7

Red. Everything is so red.

I don't think I've ever seen so much red in my life: red dust, red trees, red sky above us. Red has always been the color of violence and no-goes. Halting and pain. Now it's the color of my liberation. I claim this color as my favorite. No one else can have it.

We've been here for a week, give or take. The days are longer in this place, and the nights even worse. We fall asleep at the wrong time, wake up when no one in the world is stirring. But we're adjusting, slowly. I still get hungry when there's no food to be had, but when there is food, there is so much of it. Fruits and vegetables, and meats from animals I have never heard of before. None of that mush I've been eating until now: protein, curds, and whey.

No one here can explain what happened to us. One minute we were in that room, that terrible room, a silent execution, and then, then we were here. Here in this place with a red sky and red dirt.

I seriously believed the outside world would have a blue sky, a sky like we had seen in pictures and Wednesday-night movies. I guess it's safe to say: I do not know where we are. I don't think anyone does.

The locals say we just appeared in the wilds. One of them saw us flicker into existence, and now they all think we're some harvest omens or something of the sort. We told them—in as many words and hand signs as we could muster—that we were not. I don't think they believe us. At least they treat us really well as a result.

They're nothing like the people at the institute. They dress in animal hides or woven wools, which they dye in many colors, mostly more shades of red. I haven't seen the color white in days, and it don't think I ever want to again.

The people here eat what they hunt or find. It's good, hearty meals. Our stomachs could not handle them the first days, but now we've adapted. We try to help with the cooking; I really like it, honestly. I've never made food before or even seen how it's done. We put a lot of things in big pots over fires.

Fire! More glorious red! I love fire. I want to curl up in it and wear it like a coat. I want to hang embers as jewelry and rival the stars with my own personal flame.

Stars! How could I not mention the stars? The books never do them justice. As soon as the sun goes down, the heavens above turn into the most gorgeous sight in the universe. Hundreds of thousands of candles stretching farther than the eye could ever see. I could stare at them for hours. I want to go there, up there, be among them, shine bright like them, and watch time go by.

The people here have rudimentary paper and ink, and they were kind enough to let me take some for myself.

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