Ava: Everything's Changed

Acarus holds up a hand when Marcus opens his mouth. "Before you ask—remember, communications have been disrupted. Even the video you just watched is a recording. I'm sure there are people who know more about what is happening across the oceans, but I do not have any access to that information."

Unable to keep watching the TV, I head back to the relative peace of the dining room. All three of them follow behind.

"Every time we turn around, there's something new," Vanessa says, squeezing my shoulder in comfort. "It's okay to feel overwhelmed."

"I know." Taking a deep breath, I sink back into my chair and stab at the food in front of me. I'm not hungry, but energy is crucial right now. "I feel like our tiny story has been swallowed by a freaking space whale."

"Space whale?" Marcus and Vanessa sit on either side of me, and they both reach for the food they weren't interested in before.