Aura

Nobody can hear a scream in the vacuum of space, or so they say. As a matter of fact, you can’t hear any of us screaming, crying, or begging. We have been pushed aside and forgotten about wrinkling and rotting. So how is it that we ended up in such a bad state? Did we do something wrong? Were we prisoners of some sort? Terrorists? No, nothing like that. We were just born into the wrong families. We were born into poor families.

It’s the year 3010, and Earth is a mere fairytale by now, as well as the other planets in the solar system. In 2506 there was an evacuation of Earth. Originally the poor were meant to be left behind; however, there were groups who worked with some of the Elites who couldn’t stomach leaving so many people to die. They formed a secret alliance and went into notoriously poor areas and out of the dwindling Earth population of 9 million, about 500,000 underprivileged people were crammed into shuttles until you could hardly breathe. Some people with pre-existing conditions suffocated, and the long ride was surrounded by death. It took three months to get to their destination, and upon arrival, only around 300,000 people remained. Out of the survivors, all of them were traumatized. Little did they know their trauma had only begun.

For years those 300,000 people worked hard to build themselves a home. This was truly new land. Though it had similarities to Earth, it was so obvious this was an entirely new planet. Earth had become a world covered in thick smoke with trash riddling the streets. The last 100 years on Earth were insufferable. So many people lost their lives before a state of emergency was declared, and the World’s top scientists worked together to find a solution. It took 90 years, and the last ten years were spent preparing. None of the plans involved anyone who wasn’t rich. This was kept a secret for so long, although conspiracy theorists predicted this would be so. The Elites believed there would be riots, and they may never leave this dying planet if these plans were ever made known. However, that was not on any persons agenda who wanted to survive. They needed to get on a shuttle. The Elites were going to blast off of Earth to this new, livable planet 5 times the size of Earth called “Aura.” With all the planning The Elites could have arranged shuttles for us, that way we could take everyone... instead we were forced to pick and choose a process which broke down those who had to make those decisions. However, it had to be done. No one over 50, no one with a violent criminal past, no sex offenders. A lot of teenagers were left considering they hadn’t completed an education and were not ready to be parents. Repopulation was extremely important, so babies and young children were taken in droves with their mothers, leaving many dads behind.

When it was that day to take off, the whole town was quiet and eerie. How could the chosen people be happy when they know so many people are going to die? So many family trees were getting chopped down. The Elites who helped us organize everything stayed behind to die so they never had to face the consequences if they were found out. Most people who knew they would not be boarding a shuttle chose to stay home and there was a record number of suicides that day. Even though they would set out on their trip to a better world, this day turned in to a day of sadness and mourning. It became the day so many children became orphans. It was the day everyone who stepped onto that shuttle felt a guilt that made their stomachs turn. As they packed into the shuttles, shoulder to shoulder no one was smiling or laughing. No one was really saying anything. Everyone just stood packed together with their heads down. For 3 months as the shuttle made its way toward a new world, stories of their loved ones were passed around and tears were shed. They all promised never to let these memories die and never to forget the people who they left behind. As the days slowly went by, some people died from suffocation and sadly some who passed out and fell to the ground were trampled. This caused even more sadness and trauma and so many children were exposed to such a morbid side of life. By the time the shuttles began to land, people were desperate to get out of there. They poured out of the shuttles crying, sick, and vomiting. It was a sad sight, especially after only the bodies remained in the shuttles, and the reality of how many people they really lost set in. After they calmed themselves, they began to look around at their surroundings and take in the air of their new home.

On the planet Aura there was a purple cloudless sky and vast lands of forest green ground. There were springs, waterfalls, and fruit they had never seen before. They had so much hope for their new lives. They had landed on the other side of the planet than the Elite’s had. They were sure they wouldn’t be a lifelong secret, but they knew it would be a while before they were discovered. As they rebuilt and adjusted their new lives, the Elite’s became an urban legend of sorts. Most people held the belief that they existed, but they couldn’t fathom their existence since they hadn’t been seen in hundreds of years. Things were more peaceful than had ever been achieved in worlds before. Everyone started at the same point, so everyone grew together. Money had become an urban legend as well, and barter and trade had become the preferred form of payment. Everything was going well for so long that most people forgot what any kind of true suffering was. Life became so trivial, and things that were once a minor inconvenience became people’s worst experiences. However, this would not last much longer. The true suffering that had become something that people could never dream of, became their biggest nightmare. As the years went by, the citizens of Left Aura (as they called it) lived in harmony and for around 500 years, things only progressed as the world around them was shaped into a land Earth couldn’t even touch. 500 years later, with stories and culture passed down over and over again, it was clear that this would be protected as their history.

Summer was fast approaching, and the parades and festivals were a-plenty. The first day of summer was marked on the first day their ancestors landed here so almost every day leading up to the first day of summer was a celebration that would continue well into the night. All the parties were just a taste of the one that would be held on that sacred day. Everywhere people were making costumes, floats, banners, signs, and any creations they could trade for things from the people who settled in other areas. Dance routines, plays, songs, and poetry were being practiced and overseen by giddy family members. This was overall a happy place, but around this time, it became even more of a paradise. People believed nothing bad could happen when everyone was in such good spirits. The energy flowed through the air touching every community of the ancestors who made this place their home 500 years ago.

The first day of summer was met with a mesmerizing song sung by the chosen “Morning Ringer”. That is the person who walks the streets early in the morning singing a song that was passed down from the beginning of this new civilization. The sweet, soft, yet strong vocals were meant to wake the town on a positive note. It was like a reverse lullaby. As she walked the streets, people began to wake as she passed by their homes.

“It’s the first day of our lives

We came here to save our race

Love and laughter filled a void

And hatred here, it has no place.

It’s the first day of our lives

We’re all here to live and thrive

Hand in hand the journey comes

Not to let go until we shine

3 long months we only dreamt

We landed here on a hope and whim

And we will always be around

We chose to live, we chose to live.”

As the song was repeated, people were waking up and scrambling to get their bearings. People were coming out of their houses in their beautiful costumes, or in their best dressed. Every year there is a theme for the First Day of Summer parade, also known as “Landing Day.” This years Landing Day theme was “Enchanted.” “Enchanted” was about fairies, fays, elves, and other like creatures. It was about magic and spells. Today was a day to be dark and mysterious or bright and pretty. As the beautifully clothed citizens poured into the streets, they joined in song flying their banners, wheeling out their floats, and grouping up with their peers to perform their talent of choice. It took no time for the street to be filled with happy citizens. The children especially beamed with smiles from ear to ear. Most of them were dressed like little elves and they ran in between the adults as an attempt to get as close to the front as they could.

The Morning Ringer led everyone to the area downtown where they celebrate every year. Decorators, caterers, sound people, any kind of worker or organizer had all beat them there to begin their duties to make this parade, and festival go down perfectly. As the Morning Ringer reached the middle of the blocked off road that had a podium decorated with beautiful vines and flowers, she stepped up and put her mouth near the microphone.

“Hello everyone!” The Morning Ringer smiled showing off her beautifully white teeth. “If you don’t know me, I’m Ingrid, but today I am The Morning Ringer, Dawn.”

The crowd clapped and whistled. Many people mentioned how beautiful the song was. Ingrid waited patiently for the crowd to calm down and she took a breath to start speaking again.

“About 500 years ago, and on this day, we lost a great majority of our population because we were deemed unworthy of our life due to our economic status. Today we reject those practices and turn our nose up at anyone who believes life should go back to the way it was.” Ingrid looked around like she was searching for someone who wanted to bring money back. “We owe it to our children to teach them where they came from, and why we live the way we do. This festival is for culture, love, trade, and entertainment. Oh, and let me not forget the food!”

People in the crowd laughed and you could almost hear a collective stomach growl. People looked to Ingrid, ready to be released so the fun could begin.

“Please, today share your culture with each other. Get deep. This is the day that changed our lives so many years ago, and we can never forget the ones who made this possible. Now enjoy your day! HAPPY LANDING DAY!”

Everyone broke free of the speech and began to run towards venders, games, raffles, and of course food. There were presentations about family linage and many booths set up to learn sacred songs and lore of the past. Mom’s rushed to put their small babies into the baby pageants, each of the mother’s sure of a win. Everything was going perfectly. The band was playing, children were laughing, there was trade and mingling. The whole atmosphere was lovely, and most people wished everyday was this special. Nonetheless, this day would be special for an entirely different reason.

Over the excited town of the festival goers, a shrieking, horrible noise began to drown of the voices. They looked around, confused and then someone screamed: “Look at the sky?”

Everyone looked up, and above their head was a huge ball of fire soaring straight toward their field of crops.

“THE ELITES!” Several people started screaming and running. People who believed them to be a myth, now had their minds changed as they scampered to their homes, which they thought meant safety. Black vans, private jets, and people dressed in military gear, armed with guns began to swarm the downtown area. A man with a megaphone stepped up to the podium Ingrid had stood earlier.

“There’s no point in running. You are all here illegally and will be removed. You can go easily, or we can kill you. This world was never meant for you, and you benefitted from our land long enough.” His voice was brash and hateful. When he talked it was like he spat out the words.

“My military personnel will be going door to door to collect all illegal citizens and you will be transported to camps made specifically for all of you. You will work back what you stole from us. Don’t try to be a wise guy today, okay? You come with us, you live. You refuse, you die. It’s that simple.”

A lot of people had run too far before the speech even started, but those who had been there to hear rushed out in all directions to spread the news of what was happening around them. The military people began to disperse, following the crowds. Two-by-two they would kick in door, drag screaming families from their homes and toss them into the back vans that tailed these monsters. Shots rang out as people who fought were instantly shot and kicked to the side. Soon there were so many of the military folk, it was beginning to look impossible to escape. Many people just surrendered, kids were grabbed up while crying and reaching for their parents. People were stuffed into the vans by the dozen, and the moment it hit capacity, the van would speed off into the distance. After 500 years of freedom, The Elites had caught up with them, and the façade of perfection came to a swift end.

As soon as the men came, they packed a van and left. People who hadn’t be snatched watched in horror and parents with children sent them to run home and hide in their basements or crawl spaces. People who ran were gunned down as the shooters cackled a seemed to make it a game of sorts.

“They’ll suffer more if you let them live!” A young sounding man yelled out of his van window.

“Sheesh, you’re right! Good looking, Andy!” And with that the shooter slung his gun onto his back and began running toward the terrorized population.

Over the radio you could hear the people on the other side updating them on their status in other areas of Left Aura, so it wasn’t only them... The Elites were getting them all, and that day that was supposed to be filled with joy, love, and remembrance, would now have another event tacked onto it. This was the day that set them back the whole 500 years.

•••

I look around as if my surroundings will change if I blink hard enough. I slide myself to the side of my cot, throwing off my blanket that is so tattered it's nearly pointless. Today is a day of history. Some people decided to stop keeping track of time, but my family refused to do that.I've marked a tally for every day I’ve been here. I even went back and filled in the ones I couldn’t when I was a baby. So what day is it today? You guessed it, Landing Day.

I walked over to the window where I could see the dying grass and empty land. Far, far away is a really sad place. It’s called The Kennel, and I escaped from there two years ago.

I was born in The Kennel. To make things simple, it’s a modern day concentration camp. Two decades ago, the people of Aura Left were rounded up and put into these camps for inhabiting owned land or squatting. The Elites who watched over us were brutal, and terrible things happened every single day. I had already lost my parents, I had no siblings, I had nothing to lose. So the moment I even saw a glimmer of hope, I ran.

I ended up here, in this rusty, small trailer in the middle of the forest. I’ve been here for two years and I live off the land. I always alone, and with an endless amount of thoughts. I think about my mom often. My mom was pregnant with me when she boarded the shuttle 20 years ago, and my dad stayed behind so I never met him. I lived my entire life in the camp and watched my mother be beaten to death for a mistake I made. I can never live with that.

I opened up my pantry and searched for anything edible. All I could find was a jar of peanut butter that you could already see the bottom of. I shoved a knife down there scraping up what I could and wolfing it down. I walked around the trailer and grabbed my bow and arrow, my hunting knife, and my gun. Since about everyone on Left Aura was kidnapped, there were endless empty houses. I collected anything of use, but I couldn’t stay there. The military Elites still go into the neighborhoods and do sweeps. They know they couldn’t have got everyone, and for my sake... I hope they’re right.

With all my gear, I unlocked my trailer door and hopped out onto the soil. I slammed the door shut behind me and began my walk down the path lined with rocks all the way to the creek one time because I was bored. I followed my décor to the creek, and as I approached, I heard a twig snap.

I elevated my bow immediately and pointed it to my side, where the sound originated.

“No, no, please!” A scrawny, caramel-skinned boy with eyes that matched the greenery of the forest stared back at me with his hands up. “I'm not Elite!"

“Well you’re obviously not Elite. They wouldn’t dress in rags even to go undercover,” I joked as I lowered my bow. “Where did you come from?”

“Asking the wrong question mama, let me help you. Hi, I am Adrian. What’s your name?” Adrian was far bubblier than anyone I had ever met.

“Yeah, sorry. I don’t have the best home training,” I giggled, but I was a little embarrassed. “I’m Kira.”

“It’s nice to meet you, Kira. If you want to know where I’m from, I could take you there. It’s probably better than living alone in a trailer in the middle of nowhere.” Adrian was extremely trusting, which was odd. I regretted even going outside because now I actually had to make a decision for myself.

“I don’t know about that.” I said as I began to back away. “I don’t know you from a crow.”

“Well, you can get to know me first. I can wait,” Adrian smiled.

“And why would you do that for a stranger?” I furred my brow.

“I would do that because Aura, has a bad aura and my family is all about rejecting negativity,” Adrian looked at me with wide and a huge goofy smile. He was very cute, but he smiled so big it was off-putting to someone who lives in misery.

“Your family?” I was intrigued.

“Yes, my family. We live in a village. We’re a whole community. No one in my family has ever even been in a camp.” Adrian was over the moon getting to share this information, probably for the first time in a while.

“And how do you manage that with constant sweeps?” I was beginning to wonder if this guy was messing with me, or worse, plotting against me.

“We have a very specific way to deal with that, however, I’m not at liberty to disclose that information until you have been verified by the counsel. We can take in anyone, that doesn’t mean you’ll get to stay.”

“Counsel? How is this possible? Yes, please take me. I need to speak with someone with authority.”

Adrian looked at me with a weird expression on his face.

“Okay, don’t overestimate what the counsel does. They pretty much only need to accept or deny people and it’s nearly impossible to get denied. They’re kind of softies.” Adrian laughed. “But, let’s go then. Do you need to pack a bag?”

“I have everything I need.” My words came out quickly, showing my impatience. If there was anything to get me closer to the Elites, it’s definitely going to start in this village.

Adrian motioned with his head for me to follow him and although I didn’t trust the whole situation, like when I left the camp, I had nothing to lose. I followed close behind Adrian as we made our way down a narrow path with long hanging branches that smacked our faces as we trotted through.

“I set up camp pretty close to here. I was going to stay for a night, do some night fishing, but I’m supposing you’ll want to get there as soon as possible.” Adrian was still smiling.

I nodded my head.

“Okay, well let me get there and pack everything up. You can help, then it will go faster.” Adrian shrugged as he talked to me.

“I’ll help, but you know, maybe we should fish before we go, you know, for food.” Eating berries is not my favorite past time.

“That’s okay, I caught some earlier. Also I brought food from the village. I overpack. My mom tells me all the time.” Adrian rambled.

My heart stung hearing “Mom.”

“Okay then, I guess you like to be prepared.” I felt like I didn’t even know how to talk to people anymore.

“You have to be,” Adrian showed a bit of seriousness at this point, and we approached his campsite.

There was a tent, a portable grill, 2 canteens, some fishing poles and a huge rifle.

“Wow, this is a nice little set-up.” My eyes were fixated on the grill. I had only eaten grilled food once, and I yearn for it often.

“We can eat,” Adrian laughed, catching me drooling over the thought of charred meat. He didn’t wait for me to answer. He went straight into his tent and appeared back with a huge slab of meat I couldn’t identify.

“What is it?” I asked. “Not that I’m picky! I just have never had anything besides a hamburger.”

“Oh my. Well, these are ribs from a cow, so same animal,” Adrian set the ribs on top of a tree stump as he lit the grill.

Before I ran from the camp, I had never seen an animal in real time. My mother taught me the animals, which are named after earth animals, however they only slightly resemble them. My first encounter with animals was horrifying. I didn’t know what would attack or bite, I didn’t know which were safe to eat, I had to steal a hunting book to figure things out!

“I can’t wait to try it.” I may have come off too excited, but Adrian just smiled at me like this was just as much of a favor to him as it is to me.

“So, if you don’t mind me asking, Kira, how old are you?” Adrian inquired.

“I’m twenty-two,” I replied. “And you?”

“I’m twenty-five, but my mom says I act like a rambunctious child.” Adrian snickered. I could definitely see that being truth, but I didn’t say that to him. “Back home I’m actually a teacher for the toddlers and Kinder Kids. I’m the first teacher they ever get to know, and they adore me, not to toot my own horn but, toot.”

I began to laugh. I hadn’t been around anyone in two years, and this character was the perfect person to break that streak. As he talked to me more about his teaching escapades, I began to feel more and more at ease until I felt like I had known Adrian forever. Maybe it was from extreme loneliness, but right now, I don’t care. I hadn’t felt like this since I was around my mother. I haven’t laughed in years and now I can’t stop.

Adrian finished up the ribs and gave me a wooden plate full of ribs and potatoes. I tried not to be eager, but the moment I tasted the meat, that was out the window. I began to nearly suck the meat from the bones as I terrorized this poor dead animal with my teeth. I could hear Adrian giggling, but I didn’t look up until my plate was empty. I sat up and fell against the tree, filled to the rim with food I hadn’t ever imagined.

“I think it’s better you don’t take your camp down tonight.” The thought of walking even back to my trailer was a thought I’d rather not have so you can assume how I feel about beginning a several week long adventure while the sun is beginning to set. I honestly hadn’t even checked the sundial today, so I was under the impression that it was still early.

“I was hoping you would say that because I am pretty beat, especially after that meal,” Adrian groaned as he rubbed his stomach. “If you want you can sleep on my air bed, and I’ll take the sleeping bag.”

“Oh, no I can go back to my trailer...” I started to get up and was instantly met with a sharp pain in my stomach sending me right back down.

“Here,” Adrian said while rushing toward me. “Let me help you to the tent. I can get something from your trailer if you need it.”

“No, it’s fine. Thank you.” I surrendered and just let Adrian take me to the tent and help me down to the air mattress. It was so much softer than my cot, and I quickly snuggled into a thin, but complete blanket.

Adrian went to the side of the mattress and grabbed up his sleeping bag, taking it outside and unrolling it in front of the tent.

“I hope you don’t mind but I’m going to stay close.” Adrian informed me, giving no more information.

“Adrian?” I said softly.

“Yes Kira?” Adrian sounded curious, but also nervous.

“Bad things happen on Landing Day,” I whispered. “Please, if you’re going to hurt me... don’t do it on Landing Day.”

“I’m not going to hurt you on Landing Day, or any day. I know it’s hard to trust, and I don’t expect you to trust me, but I promise you will. I promise there’s so much more to this life than camps and running.” Adrian sounded so matter-of-fact.

“How did you guys avoid the raid?” I sat up, suddenly feeling energetic, and desperate to learn.

“That’s just something you have to learn within our walls. We have a whole program dedicated to our history and teaching outsiders of it.” Adrian was sounding tired, but I ignored that.

“So other people have come from the outside?” I always thought I was of the small minority of “by myself.”

“You think if you were able to escape, you’re the only one? People have been popping up for years, even when I was a kid. They can’t keep track of us all,” Adrian sighed and turned his face towards me. “It’s my job to teach, but it’s my side job to explore, and find people like you. We want to save people. We want to build our community.”

“There has to be some kind of catch.” I pressed.

“The catch is that you have to be a productive member in the village and take classes to unlearn what you were taught in the camps,” Adrian yawned. “And that’s a blessing more than anything else.”

“What about The Elites? What have you done? Bribed them?” I grew panicked at the thought of them being in cahoots with The Elites.

“With what?!” Adrian bellowed. “Sand?”

I laughed realizing that was a bit foolish to ask.

“The Elites have never found us but most likely they will someday, and that day, we will be ready.” Adrian said with pride. “We'll do whatever we must to remain free.”

To Be Continued...