EMBARKING

Flint sat down alone not conveying the same excitement as the children, she was more bothered about the piece of her soul that Mother had.

She still remembered the excruciating pain that raked through her body as she had tried to leave the compound when she was first brought here and it was not something she would want to experience again.

Looking through the window and seeing as they were almost approaching the gates, she shut her eyes tightly. The Mussel Mobile slowly passed through the gate as she braced herself for the pain to come.

Waiting for some time and not feeling anything, she opened her eyes to peak, "They were already out of the big gate…what was happening?...had Mother dropped the hold she had on her?" She kept asking different questions but none was answered.

She was not allowed to lose herself in thought as the rest of the children's excited loud clattering drew her out of her thought.

It was like they were trying to make up for the years they have not been permitted to talk.

Glancing at them to see nearly all of them out of their seats and had up to ten children plastered onto a single window, trying to have an outlook of what was outside.

She was the only one left seating, it was not that she too was not curious but she had a lot of things she was analyzing.

Right Infront at the driver's pit, Sage on hearing the commotion from behind sent a frown Kabe's way "What in Sharma's name is going on back there?.." Sage said to Kabe.

"Well, I don't know…as you can see I am right here beside you and there is no way I would know what is happening back there..? Kabe said throwing a glance at Sage.

"Oh shut up…" Sage mumbled as she moved forward to press a blue controller on the dashboard Infront of her which had numerous buttons on it.

A projection suddenly popped up from the button, having a clear white-blue background that was divided into six columns.

At the top right, it showed a projection of what was happening in the first compartment of the Mussel Mobile, and underneath that, it showed the happenings in the second compartment.

At the top left it showed a tiled road path, with large towering structures by the sides. This column showed a further vision of the path in front of them.

And beneath this column showed the happenings behind the Mobile. And there was the fifth column which took up the lowered level of the projection that showed the happenings by the side of the Mussel Mobile.

And with this Sage was able to see what was going on in the compartments…"What the hell do these students think they are doing?.. didn't I emphasize 'sit'?.." Sage said.

"Nope!…am not sure you did not.." Kabe responded making sure to draw the 'pe..' in the Nope.

"Not that I asked you…now stop the damn Mussel!.." Sage snapped at him.

Kabe pulled the steering wheel and the car came to a halt, Sage didn't waste time as she turned to the door and pushed the door with her palms laid flat on it, the door blinked blue for half a second before it parted to let Sage out.

"Go easy on them…" Kabe reminded Sage as she slid out the door not waiting for it to completely open up.

Sage stomped to the other side of the Mobile and once again placed her hand on the door of the compartment, it blinked blue as it slid open.

She walked in to see the children all looking at her with questioning gazes.

Ulanni expelled her attention from the window when she felt the Mobile stop moving."Have we arrived already?.." She thought not expecting an answer.

But she heard Sarah's voice in her head."No, I don't think we have.."

"So what has happened?... Are we under attack?..." Ulanni asked with panic lacing her words.

"No we are not, be rest assured," Sarah said pacifying her.

"Oh..okay," Ulanni said still unsure.

_

Sage on stepping into the first compartment shouted at the kids "What did I say about you all taking a seat?.." Sage questioned.

But she was met with silence, the children were scared to talk about how angry she was.

Sage was going to flare out at them, did they think this was a picnic or a field trip, there were dangers maybe not in this town but they need to know that they should always be seated unless told otherwise.

Remembering Kabe's words, she took in deep breaths and plastered a smile on her face.

"I know I wouldn't have to come up again because someone was standing again..right?" Sage said trying to sound calm.

"Yes, Black!" The children replied.

"Good.." She looked around trying to spot Flint as she remembered she had boarded at the first compartment.

Finally spotting her in the back seat close to the boy who had got beaten really well by the bluehead. "Flint come with me.." Sage commanded.

Flint stood up and made her way to where Sage was standing and proceeded to follow her up the stairs by the right, which led up to the second compartment.

Stepping into the second compartment after Sage and standing behind her she looked around trying to spot Ulanni and Sarah, she let out a sigh when she spotted both of them sitting side by side but the rest of the chairs around them were empty. The children were probably keeping their distance from them after what happened earlier.

Sage was a lot calmer when she got there so she gave a brief speech. "I would say this only once…No standing while the Mobile is in motion!.."

Saying this she turned to Flint "Find a sit somewhere…I want you up in this compartment" Saying this Sage made her way down the stairs and out of sight.

Flint stalled for some seconds before she slowly walked down the aisle and towards one of the empty seats around Ulanni and Sarah and plopped down.