Lost Amongst the Stars

Nobody can hear a scream in the vacuum of space, or so they say. 15-year-old Alethea pulls down her vintage headphones to block the cries that are coming from right outside her window. With a groan, Alethea looks at her holo-clock and rolls her eyes. The giant panels that project the sky were still only a dull blue, yet as She looked out her bedroom window, Alethea could see them. The jumpers, high school students who would make their way up to the 33rd floor and jump off the ledge joyfully screaming all the way down.

Alethea's mother had explained that it was a right of passage for the high school seniors on the Vatican. Alethea shook the thought of her rule-abiding mother jumping from the ledge as she looked down to see the Collectors gathering to scoop up the bodies of the four young people that had just jumped. They would be spirited off to one of the revive clinics and be ready for first period.

With a knock on her door, Alethea quickly pulled down the shade and covered herself with her blanket. Seconds later, she felt a weight on the side of her bed as the floral scent of her mother washed over her. Alethea pretended to wake up with the lightest kisses as her mother's lips left her forehead. "

"Time to rise, my little star," Ruth says with a kind voice.

"Mom, I'm too old for that," Alethea interjected but did as her mother told her.

"What is with the sad face?" asked Ruth.

"Mom, why do I have to go to school? I already know everything they are teaching. I have tested out of every discipline." Stated Alethea as she pulled her dress over her head and began to wrap her hair.

"Every discipline?" asked Ruth as she raised an eyebrow. Ruth stood to her feet and helped Alethea adjust her hijab. Alethea was still learning to wrap her hijab and wondered if she would ever get it as perfect as her mother.

"Ugh, everything but history." Stated Alethea.

"And this is why we go to school. Said Ruth as the two made their way to the living room where Alethea's father was waiting impatiently by the door. Lunch box in one hand, checking his wristwatch as he tapped his foot.

"Ruth, come now, we will be late, and you still have to drop the girl at School." Alethea's father stated as he quickly grabbed his blue scarf and wrapped it around his neck before kneeling in front of the Liber Mendacii.

"May the word be the guide, and may the word guide me." Chanted Alethea's Father.

Ruth opens the door and ushers everyone out. Alethea notices her father give her mother a disapproving look.

"Ruth, you should not disrespect the Liber Mendacii." Stated Alethea's father.

"I'm sorry, I didn't know the book had feelings." Stated Ruth firmly. Althea's father pauses for a moment as if he wants to say something but then walks away to meet with the other laborers to begin their work.

"It's because he is jealous of you." Stated Alethea.

"Alethea, don't say that. That could not be further from the truth." Said Ruth as she looked Alethea in the eyes and held out her hand.

Alethea open's her hand, and her mother drops a silver locket in the young girl's hand. Alethea had seen it; it was the same locket currently hanging around her mother's neck.

"Aletha, I know you may not see the importance of learning history now, you are so amazing at so many things, but you have to understand…." Ruth pauses and looks around the busy street. "They want you to forget; we are on this spectacle ship, and it has been over 1000 years since we departed from Earth, but we can not forget. We must stay grounded."

"Ok, ok, mom, I will go to class." Said Aletha with a smile; she didn't know why but felt her mother needed it.

"Oh, you will do no such thing, young lady." Stated Ruth as she stood up straight with her hands on her hips.

"Huh?" Asked Alethea.

"How will you hear me lecture if you are in class?" asked Ruth.

"Mom, wait, are you serious? I thought the lectures were closed to only the Historians and the Council. You mean I get to hear you speak!" Aletha shouted, beaming.

"Excuse me, ma'am, can you spare some tokens?"

Aletha, in her excitement, didn't notice the older man leaning against the wall. His worn denim pants and jacket are a distant reminder of an era long ago.

Normally Alethea and her father would shun beggars and quote words from the Liber Mendacii. Alethea could hear her father now.

"The words of the Liber Mendacii will feed them longer than a token would."

"Not a problem, sir, take this and may the Eye protect you." Stated Ruth as she leaned down and handed the man three clear multicolored tokens. Alethea noticed her mother touch her hand to her forehead, and the man did the same before her mother grabbed her hand and hurried along their way.

Alethea could barely see the stage as she sat by the exit at the very top of the stands. Her mother didn't tell her that her reserved seat would be so far away. Although disappointed, Alethea was glad to be still able to hear her mother speak. Her mother was one of four Historians on the Vatican. As far as jobs, Laborers were the majority.

"Historian Ruth, do you know why you are here today?" boomed the almost god-like voice of one of the 12 council members.

"Yes, I am here to discuss my most recent finding…" started Ruth.

"You most certainly are not…" boomed a female Council member.

The first council member held up his hand.

"No, we will let her speak; we owe her that." Stated the first council member.

"Thank you, as you know, we have always been taught that the Vatican was launched over 1000 years ago once humanity was able to create an equilibrium with the Earth. The mission of the Vatican, as stated by the Liber Mendacii, was to send humans out into the universe to bring peace and share all that we had to learn to help others who may be struggling. I believe that to be a lie.”

Alethea could hardly hear her mother as the arena exploded in thunderous whispers and gasps.

"Blasphemous!" yelled multiple council members.

"Silence, everyone, silence!" yelled the head council member. "Ruth, you were not summoned to spread your lies and fears but because you have been accused of heresy!"

"What, how dare you? I am a student of history, and I study facts; that is what I was asked to do, and that is what I was assigned to do. Do you not question why millions of Laborers are on this ship?" Ruth asked as she turned to face the stunned faces of everyone watching. "Millions of laborers but only four historians. What are they trying to hide from us? What do they not want us to know?'

"SILENCE!!!" Yelled the Council in unison.

"You stand accused..."

"Who accuses me?" asked Ruth. And a tear formed in Althea's eye as she saw it. From behind the Council, someone stepped forward. Someone wearing a long blue scarf.

At that moment, Ruth made a realization.

"This is not a lecture; lectures have never been open to the public. That is how you can control what the sheep know. Knowledge is kept hidden, but executions are public. You control with fear." Ruth looks at her husband.

"I forgive you. Those who forget the past are destined to repeat it." Ruth slowly looked back to the edge of the Auditorium. Alethea realized why her mother had chosen the seat close to the exit. Ruth grasped the locket around her neck and mouthed the words run just as a council member pressed a button to send a brilliant beam of light down on Ruth.

As Alethea stood to run, she watched as her mother melted away, her father stood there with a face as cold as stone, and finally, the head council member looked to where her mother had looked. Alethea and the council member made eye contact, and she heard him yell.

"GET THE GIRL!"

Alethea ran from the hall, and as she wiped tears from her face, she tried to avoid as many people as possible. She could hear the Enforcers yelling behind her as her feet grew heavier and heavier, and then she felt the hand. She felt someone grab her from behind, and before she knew it, she was pulled into a room as a door slammed shut, and Alethea heard the lock catch.

"Let me go! I'm warning you!" yelled Alethea.

"Don't be afraid, please don't be afraid," said the voice of an old man.

Alethea could hear rumbling in the dark room, and then she listened to the strike of a match; as her eyes adjusted, she could see a pair of worn blue jeans. The light from the match made the locket around Alethea's neck glisten.

"Who are you?" asked Alethea as she recognized the old man her mother had stopped to help.

The older man's eyes fixated on the locket.

"The Eye has protected us this day, but we still have much to do if we want to reveal the truth. They say nobody can hear a scream in the vacuum of space but when your voice rings out, they will have no choice but to hear. Your mother's legacy lives in you now."