Chapter 4: Home

'Dad did say that a big event was going to take place in a few years I wonder how we would fare now against the Thraxians.'

As Jake continued to think he was interrupted by the old man. "Oi little ones, your kebabs are ready"

Jake shut his bracelet and went to the counter to grab the kebabs and gave his sister 2 to hold.

"How much do I owe you old man" Jake asked as he proceeded to a few silver credits from his pocket.

Although the GOE used virtual currency for all transactions, smaller local economies used physical currencies depending on the resources present in the area.

"Ahhh, since you tried my wife's sweets I'll give you a discount of 30 credits for the kebabs" the old man smiled and said.

Jake proceeded to thank the old man and as he was about to hand over the credits someone handed the credits to the old man.

Jake turned to see who had paid for him and his eyes went wide as he saw his father standing behind him.

His father stood with Iris in his arms and smiled before asking him "Why aren't you two at home."

Jake knew that he was in trouble and quickly brainstormed a reason but before he could answer Iris had spoken for him. "Daddy, Jake took us to the top of the crater to watch the stars and the flying ships"

'Shit' Jake's only words that came to his mind as his father continued to glare at him.

It was a quiet walk home as Iris after finishing 3 kebabs had fallen asleep on their father's back and Jake walked with his head forward trying to hide from his father's vision.

When they entered they were greeted by a woman who was in her late 20s but looked almost a decade younger, She had long blonde hair tied into a messy bun, sky blue eyes and her figure was barely hidden by the apron she had on from preparing dinner.

Elizabeth Avalon, Jake's mother who after their exile from Earth had become a housewife and was angrily waiting for Jake and Iris to return.

But before she could say anything she spotted Iris sleeping on her father's back and took her to her room, but not before giving Jake a soul-piercing stare, one which had Jake shuddering.

"We'll talk after dinner" his father spoke calmly before departing to freshen up.

Jake went to the room he shared with his two sisters and spotted his elder sister doing her homework on their study table with Iris snoring softly in her bed.

"Hey Aria what are you doing," Jake called his sister with a smile trying to initiate a conversation.

His sister picked up her head and turned to face him. Like his sister and mother, she also had blue eyes and long blonde hair but unlike Iris, Aria had no smile on her face.

"Work," she said in a neutral tone before putting her head back into her books.

While Iris had her bigger brother to rely on for support and wasn't old enough to understand what had happened to their family, Aria like Jake knew everything but unlike Jake who was uncertain of his future and still hopeful, Aria had a much greyer picture of her future and knew her old life was gone forever.

Aria was intelligent for her age and her parents and peers had praised her immensely for it, but even they had lowballed how intelligent Aria was.

When she was just 9 years old Aria had published a paper for Oxford and would have probably finished her University by 13.

However, when she found out what had happened to her father and their family were moving, Aria fell into depression.

Even when she was enrolled Aria didn't flaunt her intelligence or ask to be moved to a higher grade but made herself invisible, getting high grades but not enough to arouse suspicion and acting her age which was not difficult for someone like her.

Even her parents had not been able to notice the change in her behaviour only accepting that she had gotten quieter but was most probably due to homesickness.

Only Jake knew Aria had changed as she would barely interact with him no matter how hard he tried, in the end, he decided to give her space, hoping that as time passed so would her state of mind.

"Oh, okay I'm gonna wash up, and here.." Jake pulled out a sweet from his pocket and left it on the table. "I know how much you love chocolate but an old man's wife made this, Iris loved it, don't tell Mom you had this before dinner," he said before leaving.

Only when the door shut did Aria turn towards the brown heart-shaped candy, she stared at it and gave a short smile before muttering a quiet  "Thank you".

The family dinner was reserved with Elizabeth being the one asking most of the questions regarding her husband's work as well as her kids' day at school.

With dinner over, Jake's family had gone to bed except for his mother, who had asked to speak to him in their living room.