1 Prologue

"Mama!"

A little boy was running across the room.

"Mama! When can I go outside?"

He was pulling the gown of the woman whom he called 'Mama' to gain her attention.

The woman was busy reading the notes on the clipboard she was holding that it took a few tugs of her laboratory gown before she finally took notice of the boy.

"What's wrong Vaughn?"

"I want to go outside; I'm getting sick of staying here all the time."

She sighed. From her reaction, it seems this was a normal occurrence for her. Nevertheless, she placed the notes on the table before patting his head.

"You know it would be difficult to go out. How about you play with the other kids. Mama is busy."

Vaughn pouted when he heard her answer although there was a part in him that expected it because there was a reason why he thought so. Ever since he can remember, he has been asking his mother what the world outside looks like.

The only view he saw since he was born was only white rooms after white rooms.

While reminiscing the little memories he has for the past eight years of his life, his mother went back to reading the notes she was busy with earlier. Vaughn did not bother his mother any further and went to the outside the room.

One thing that can be noticed at first when entering the corridor was the transparent windowpane on the whole wall and the loud noise on the other of side it. Compared to the last room, this corridor was grim. With the sound of the machine working overtime and eerie emptiness, walking across seems forever.

Vaughn in the meantime does not care about all of these and went strolling while glancing over the window.

"It looks like they are almost done. I heard Mama said that they are expecting everything to be finished before the end of the month. I tried asking Mama, but she won't tell me what that is."

He stopped on his tracks to have a better view of what was happening.

Complicated-looking machinery was the first thing Vaughn saw when he peeked over. From the corner of his eye, he can see a crowd of people dressed in a laboratory gown. They were roaming around and observing the mysterious looking machine while taking notes.

"There are fewer people than usual. Looks like they're only doing the final changes."

When he looked more closely, every part of the machine seems to be connected to the giant capsule that was glowing with faint blue light. It was dazzling in comparison to the monochromatic parts surrounding it.

There was never a time Vaughn has not glanced towards the machine every time he passes through this corridor. For some reason, he was attracted to whatever that thing is. It was an object full of questions especially after his mother keeps on telling him, 'It's your future' every time he tried asking what they were working on.

*Ring Ring*

A deafening alarm was ringing throughout the whole place.

"What is it this time?"

The sudden loud noise did not seem to surprise Vaughn. He took one last glance towards the people who were working on the machine before leaving.

It took five minutes before the silence has returned. During that time, Vaughn has reached the designated place and was currently sitting cross-legged on the floor with hundreds of children with similar age.

Instantly, the room was filled with loud chatter of the children who were happily talking to their fellow group beside them. Vaughn meanwhile, was silently observing the changes happening in the room while the person beside him was trying to start a conversation.

"Do you know why they have called us this time?"

"..."

"I heard from the other kids that we can finally go out that's why they have called us today."

"?"

Vaughn was planning to ignore him the whole time, but the last sentence has caught his interest. He relates this rumour of his to the machine he was observing minutes ago.

'So even the other kids have noticed that things are getting strange.'

He went into deep thought while the kid beside him keeps on talking to himself. Only when an adult entered the room did everyone finally has behaved.

"Good morning everybody!"

Shouting as he entered, an energetic man was sliding across the room to greet everyone present.

"How are you doing Marie."

"Same as usual Jake."

"Oh, you look brighter today Noel..."

He greeted all the children he passes by. His lively gestures were welcomed wholeheartedly by those he greeted. His name was Doctor Jacob, one of the leading doctors and well like among the children here. Meanwhile, along with him, a short woman entered calmly right behind his back.

"Okay, everyone is present all right. With that set and done, Doctor Linda here will take the stage and explain to you guys why we have called you today."

"Ahem."

After being introduced by Dr Jacob, she stood up straight and begun to read the content of the guide cards she was holding. She looked funny while trying her hardest to stand tall and sound strict with her soft voice.

"December 1 of the year 2040, the day of the new beginning. As children of the new era, we bring you the good news of new life. Starting from today, you will lead the people of the old era and create a new story to be praised and sung by many in the future…"

"..."

Not a single child could comprehend the words Dr Linda just said. Dr Jacob who was watching at the side-line noticed this and took the stage to explain it himself.

"Linda, you know you're talking to children, right? Even I got bored hearing your speech in the first sentence. Anyway, let me do the rest."

Dr Linda pouted when he said that, nevertheless she gave the stage when told so.

"Sorry for that kids. Miss Linda was kind of nervous that is why she was not able to talk properly. To simplify what she was saying, you guys can finally see the outside world."

"Woohoo!!!"

It only took a few words for Dr Jacob to excite the children. He really knows how to communicate with the kids. It was no wonder why he was extremely popular among them.

Vaughn was also one of the children who was excited after hearing the news. But unlike the rest, there was a mix of doubt along with it. The excitement lasted a whole minute before Dr Jacob decided to calm everyone down. He had a warm smile when he saw the children jumping in joy.

"All right, everyone back to your positions. Details concerning it will be said later. For now, just follow us."

He led the kids to the door which has a big DO NOT ENTER sign written all over it. The kids know that ever since they were capable of thinking, the first thing they ever remember that was told to them was never to try and touch the door currently in front of them. Because of it, many rumours were formed among their age group. The worst one being the ghost of the crazy doctor that was missing from two years ago is residing behind the door.

No one knew what was behind the door except for the doctors that were running the whole place. Even Vaughn's mother avoids this subject when he asked about it.

You could hear the gulping of the children when Dr Jacob push the door open. Dr Linda was the first one to enter followed by the oldest kid who leads himself to go in.

Vaughn placed himself on the back, waiting for everyone. And being the last person, Dr Jacob cannot help but noticed Vaughn.

"You're pretty unmoved for someone who always wants to go out."

"Why did you lie?"

"What are you talking about?"

"I know what the outside world looks like. It is far from this suffocating laboratory. I don't see anything same to the outside world next to this door."

"Tsk, you think you know too much. Well, it cannot be helped since you're the son Alice. Geez, what is she doing letting her son read foreign things? At the same time, she placed her only offspring in this experiment."

Dr Jacob did not even try to hide his discontent towards Vaughn. He let him pass before finally closing the door.

Vaughn who heard that ignored him completely and moved on to the room. What welcomed him was numerous capsules formed in line from top to bottom in the room.

In contrast to the scenery, the place was dead silent. The children who just entered was aghast of the amount of strange object in front of them.

"Aaron, please come forward."

Surprised by the sudden calling of names by Dr Linda, Aaron who was in between the group is panicking on what to do. But soon relaxed when Dr Jacob took the stage again.

"Sorry about that again, Dr Linda is a straightforward person. I know you are curious about what is all these. So before we start calling you one by one to show you the outside world, you can ask your questions and I will try to answer them."

As usual, Dr Jacob was able to handle the group of children in an orderly fashion. The only person who cannot stand this attitude of his was Vaughn.

"Excuse me, what is all of these?"

The oldest was the first one to raise their hand and ask his question. He seems to have a certain power over this group since everyone was nodding towards him and did not bother in letting him be the first.

"Like cars or bicycle, this is the vehicle that will lead you to the outside world. Once you enter these capsules, a new life will begin."

"Woooah!"

Excited reactions can be seen on the faces of the children when they heard his answer. Seemingly satisfied by that, no one followed up to ask another one.

Now that is done, Dr Jacob calls back Dr Linda to continue. But before he was able to, Vaughn who was at the very back raised his hand.

"Why are we here?"

His voice may not be loud but everyone in the room heard it. Vaughn's action shocked them not because of the question but because the kid who was known to never to talk suddenly used his voice.

Hearing that, Dr Jacob wants to ignore him completely but with all the ears ready to hear, he has no choice but to entertain Vaughn.

"It's quite simple actually. All of you are here because your kids are chosen."

"Chosen for what?"

"That is something that you don't need to understand."

Dr Jacob sent a hateful glare when he answered the question. Only Vaughn who did not positively see Dr Jacob saw this.

With the immense pressure brought by the eyes of Dr Jacob alone, Vaughn was forced to cower down and be quiet for the rest of the time.

"Okay, no more questions? I guess we can now proceed again. Please be ready when your name is called and just follow Dr Linda in what to do after."

"Yes"

After the resounding response by the children, Dr Linda follows through with naming every single child one by one. Only when five people called were in front did she guide them to the capsule designated to them. This simple process followed until all was done and Vaughn was the last person left.

"They just went with no care at all."

"You are the strange one, Vaughn."

They were the only people left in the scene. Dr Jacob removed the facade he was wearing in front of the other children and moved beside Vaughn. Even though he looked scary to any child, he did not do anything to Vaughn and just accommodate him for a quick chat.

Meanwhile, Dr Linda who was assigned to guide them was taking longer than usual and it did not help the case of Vaughn from the suffocating situation he was in.

"What did you read about the outside world?"

"A place where sunlight is everywhere and the moon shines in the darkness. Compared to this place, the outside world does not have walls that will stop you from going anywhere. I read beautiful and colourful things called trees and flowers that can be found in every corner you will see. It is a place where it is difficult not to be happy. More importantly, the outside world is a place where we are free to do whatever we want."

"Hahaha! I wish it were as magnificent as you said. How ironic. You just describe what we have designed. Listen, kid, people from outside will wish they were in your position. Just because you read some books does not mean you saw everything. You are still eight for goodness sake. People at your age should only think about playing like those bunch of kids."

"Not convinced."

"Your choice, I do not care anyway. Besides, you have no choice."

Understanding that he has no power, in the end, Vaughn did not bother anymore. Coincidentally, Dr Linda has finally returned.

"Vaughn Walker"

After being called finally, Vaughn walked slowly with some hesitation in his steps although gave up after thinking it once more.

'As he said, I got no choice'

Walking silently behind Dr Linda, Vaughn disappeared into the darkness.

"Are you sure you want to let your son go, Alice?"

"He will have a better life there."

"If you say so."

Alice who was watching the whole time decided to come out of the shadows and observed the capsules with the children in them.

"There will be no better life in the future than living in Astrea.".