Amusement

Long and behold, the sun has risen once again, after last night's event, the three of us immediately pass out on our beds, we tried to get Theo at least in the bathroom for his stomachs plans we do not know, I don't wanna wake up covered in puked dripping down on face from his bed on top. The best we had was only to the bathroom door, we opened the door and tried to drag him all the way, but he was groaning at the both of us, curling himself like a ball, finding the icy cold tiles on his face rather comfortable.

Us being exhausted as well, we just left him there on the floor and went straight to bed. I turned the lights off and headed back, covering myself with the blanket, trying to keep warm on this freezing night. I wanted to fall asleep, but the news from Nessa earlier still sticks to my mind. The Corporal made a model for the Shift Ports, and we could travel on different dimensions, even be universes. That means that this is happening, we're going to travel through space. What will be on the other side of this? Will it be aliens like how we depicted them to be small, large-headed green creatures with big eyes and rides on a ship? Or are they similar to us? Like humans, that could stand on two feet, or maybe robots? AI that is so advanced we will be dead the second we set foot on their planet?

Even though the Earth has been through a lot of invasions, I've never actually seen who's invading, but rather the ship or UFOs are the only things I've ever encountered in the night sky. The closes I've seen one was probably the Injector that happened on the grasslands of the woods. Still remembered how it sucked the life from the ground but stopped just before it reaches the Capitol Walls, I guess the Pallas was the one who stopped them further invading the planet.

And now, we are here. Training to be space travelers, I always knew that I will be possible, but didn't imagine it to be now, and I never imagined that I will be one of many to go on this journey across the universe. To hunt for stuff that's worth something to trade to an Invader we've never actually seen before. It might seem like a crazy idea, but ow that I'm thinking about it, might just be crazy enough to work and if successful will stop the invasions and bring the peaceful, tranquil planet back on its course.

Finally, the sleepiness kicks in and my mind begins to shut down for the night, and eventually, I was asleep like a big grizzly bear, hibernating in winter tucked inside a dark cave, and waking up, a few months later, when spring comes around and flowers blossoms, the grass greener than ever, and lakes, ponds and river full of fish, ready to be a meal for the starving bear.

I awoke, eyes immediately open, looking at the clock, glowing red numbers that signify time, "4:35" I whispered, not wanting to wake up any of the roommates. Slowly getting off the bed, I walked over to Theo still laying on the floor, didn't even make an effort to go in his bed, trying my best to not step on him, I turned the bathroom door on, bringing a little light on our room but not enough to wake the others up. Now I can see him properly, his cheeks are all puffy and red, probably from the alcohol still in his system. Grabbing the blanket from his bed, I crouched down and laid it over his body, undoubtedly freezing by now. Carefully covering his body, lifting his right arm to properly tuck him inside, I noticed he has a tattoo on his wrist, 'A.V.'

"What could this be?" I questioned, telling myself to ask him later when he's finally sober. Standing up, turning the lights back off already knowing I won't fall back asleep after this, I walked out the door and carefully closed it behind me. The corridors are as silent as a corpse, nothing but lifeless. I walked around the halls, counting the door numbers as I pass by, then passing by the function hall where we had the meeting with Porcha yesterday morning, looking empty not like how I remembered yesterday when it was packed with people sitting down on the chairs. I walked further down the hall and found myself the end, where the only thing in there was a couple of sofas and a table, maybe a waiting area or a hanging out place for the guards or trainees. Either way, I sat down on the sofa and sank on the soft foam, feeling the leather covers, I rested my feet on the table crossing them, making myself comfortable. Then finally looking up the circular room, I awed at the art above. It was a map of Capitol from a birds' eye view.

Tilting my head slightly to right, the Heart of the City could be seen dead in the center of Capitol, where I woke up after the big explosion happened when I was on top of the wall. Up north of the Heart is the Corporal Headquarter, looking grand and futuristic, then the surrounding buildings, towering over the sky, trees growing on top of most of them. And then, right at the west side of the city, the Back Corners are portrayed, the artist putting in a lot of details, using darker shades of color to signify the Shady business taking place here and the Black market booming here at night. On the other hand, on the east side of the Capitol, is here. Four big gated areas are there, the 4 Areas where we are staying right now. Area 1 on the left side has the biggest share followed by Area 3, then our Area then the smallest one Area 2. I smiled, looking at Area 4, wondering where could I be in there on the map, because most of the builds are underground, so you wouldn't get to see the full picture.

I probably stayed there looking at the ceiling for an hour, my neck started to hurt from craning my neck back for so long. Finally having enough, I stood up and decided this is enough wondering for today, and headed back to our room. But then I realized.

That painting looked rather old, that means this place was here for a long time, but why would they need this place and what for?