Chapter Seventeen

A few weeks passed. Our lives got back to normal. As in the new normal. Dad went to the base centre to work. He's currently working for the chief as one of the combat soldiers. He trained everyday since the day we started living here. By the end of the day, he'll come back and we'll sit together as a family and share what happened that day. I learned a lot from everyone in my family. We actually got closer to each other. This sharing session is mom's idea. I think her intentions are also to get us closer. Dad heard of and joined the cause from Mr Sky. And Mr Sky was a strong member of the cause for quite a long time. His mother Mackenzie Sky is the chief of another base. Dad shared this just as an extra information for me. Mom knows about it already. I'm glad dad shared it. At least, I understand better. Mom joined the nurse squad at the clinic. It's her favourite job and something she has great experience with. And mom also shared something for my knowledge. Mom said "'my dad was one of the members of the sphere. Meaning he's a scientists working at Ava, protecting the sphere'". Mom also mentioned that her dad was not working hundred percent for the government. He was also part of the cause, hiding as a triple agent. Protecting the sphere for the cause and not for the government. Besides, I learned that the government does not treat scientists very well. And my scientists grandpa is dead already. I'm glad he died peacefully and not because of any ridiculous death sentence. During the sharing sessions, mom and dad really went all out in their stories. They shared the truths that I need to know. The cause is related to the sphere. That's why the password is "The Sphere of Dustromedian" when dad had to shout to get the cave wall open. It also has got to do with the diamonds that made the sphere. The cause is started because it is confirmed that the intelligent scientist I shared with you earlier, the one that got sentenced to death was not a criminal. His name is Andrew Jacoby. And he is indeed telling the truth that he was simply helping Dust and did not intend to hurt anyone. The sphere does not originally belong to Ava. The rightful owner is the city of Zonex. Which is now destroyed. But the cause believe that the city is not completely destroyed. Important buildings and monuments are still standing. But they're abandoned. Zonex is the only city without the dome. And it's actually the truth too, because we can breathe the air of Dust. The government is definitely a fraud. All this while, I used to believe that Zonex is the ungrateful city that started a war with the capital. But the capital was the reason for their retaliation. The main mission of the cause is to get the sphere back to Zonex. Which is said could harness the original power of Dust. Now the power is controlled and designed according to the systems of the government. Which is to their advantage. The cause wants to stop that. And I'm supporting it. About the diamonds, this is what Miss Janet shared in class. The cause does not fully believe in this because this is just a rumor. There used to be a lot of the rare diamonds on Dust. The very first inhabitants of Dust took almost all of it, leaving behind the least beautiful and shiny. No one knows where they are or who are the first generation and their descendants.

Good news, Norman and his family made it safe to another base. Xelona Base, where Mackenzie Sky is the chief. We can't communicate with each other even though they have the devices to do so. Because it'll only help the government to track us better. But I'm just grateful to hear that Norman's safe. Since we can't communicate, you must be wondering how we got the news. Well that's because the chief risked everything to contact the other bases asking for the Sky family. But it was worth it. Because a day had passed and still no sign of threat in the radar.

The only thing me and my brother shared about was school. That's because that is the only place we spend most of our time at aside from home. They don't have fix levels or curriculums. In one class, you could find a twelve year old and a seven year old. But the teachers there are very patient and wise. I guess living as a rebellion in truth made them wise. We learned a lot of cool information actually. Since they don't have fix curriculums, the teachers can teach us anything they want to and they often talk about the cause and motivated us to support it.

I sat with Orion. In my class most of us are twelve year olds. A few teenagers and young children. Zayne was not in mine. The students are very well-behaved. I'm surprised that even the teens are polite. I guess it's because of the living condition. It's because everyone here is living in hiding. Everyone has experienced the thrill of being hunted by the government. Everyone here basically respects each other. And this is the love that the teachers back in the city taught us. In the city, that's a lie. Here, I can see it's real.

Have you ever look at someone and you feel blessed? That special someone has an impactful aura on you. You just love to look at them. It's a crush or eye candy. I'm growing up. I've learned my feelings grow as my body grows. I'm attracted to one of my classmates, sitting at the front, near the teacher's table. Orion likes to tease me about it. Her name's Fayre Johnson. And I tell you honestly, she's very pretty. Her flawless white skin radiates goodness and defiance. I got distracted quite a few times when I have to look at the teacher and she's in the way. Don't get me started with my imagination sitting with her. Okay I'm overreacting, it's just a crush. That does not mean she likes me. But I'm just happy to be able to look at her. And she's actually quite tough. The adults would say "badass". Well, since I've got a crush on her, I actually followed her to her bay. Secretly of course. She lived in bay twenty. Two bays away from Orion. Orion's bay is twenty-two. So he will accompany me whenever I want to admire Fayre. And of course he'll tease me. That's actually very funny.

Every bay has a small yard where they can do interesting activities. Fayre's yard has a lot of cool training equipments like the punching bag. And wow, she can really use that. A good fighter indeed. After a few times, I think Mr Johnson knows whenever I was there. Because the moment Fayre got out of the house to train, he would follow her out. Awkward. Sometimes he would look across at the bushes where I'm hiding and he would smile. Okay that's creepy. But he's cool though. I mean, he noticed me but didn't say anything. But I guess because whenever he saw me I would just run away. Orion would too when he accompanies me.