The Prophecy Of Crying

Nobody can hear a scream in the vacuum of space, or so they say. Natasha knew those words were only spoken by sluggish men on Earth who had never set foot in space. Through the years, she had slowly learned that everything was screaming in space. The buzzing of each particle and dust warned her about the pool of darkness and stars. Space was a ticking bomb.

Natasha had been trapped in the spaceship for nearly a year, and there was no sign of life. How could you find life if it did not exist? Humans worked in an eerie way, they would only stop when they accomplished their goals. However, the task given to her was impossible to complete. She began to wonder if the space academy would ever let them return to their homes. Dying in space was no longer a far-fetched idea.

The girl let her gaze rise to the long piece of glass wall, and inspected the soft glow of space itself. She had been digging her nails into her seat in impatience. Not a single thing changed. Space remained identical as yesterday and the hundreds of days before. A couple of rocks here and there, but there was nothing new.

A knock sounded, and her head whirled to the door. She knew immediately who wanted to meet her. Adrien stepped in the room, and she couldn't help but stare at his flaming red hair. It contrasted his glassy pale skin. He was a man built in sharp edges and strong colors. His height and lanky body had intimidated her at first, but she had grown close enough to him to know that he wasn't all that scary.

"Shouldn't you be managing the ship?" frowned Natasha. The ship could not move without him. Adrien managed each setting of the ship, and she was convinced he knew each button by heart. He would sit in front of a screen, tweaking small details.

Adrien let his hands drop to his side, "I needed a break," Natasha stood up from her seat, and the chair rolled away. She had not noticed that the ship stopped moving. She was losing focus.

"Anything?" asked Adrien, his brows furrowed. Everyday, he would come to her knowing he would be disappointed. Sometimes, she grew sick of being the bearer of bad news.

Natasha sighed loudly, and ran her fingers along the strands of her blond hair. That was enough of an answer.

A muscle ticked in Adrien's jaw, and he nodded solemnly. He was the only person who understood her annoyance, because he felt the same. The difference between them was Adrien's calm demeanor and her loud protests. It made her wonder if he had accepted his fate.

Natasha mumbled what was in her mind, "Have you given up?" She had to tilt her head up to meet his dark eyes, and it ignited a distant ache to climb up the back of her neck.

The man stared at her, unblinking, and she watched his throat work. "It's been a year, Natasha. They keep finding reasons to lock us in this hell. The spaceship is a prison, and we both know there is nothing here." Natasha used to think there was life in space, but Adrien and time had convinced her that space was only darkness.

Natasha swallowed the lump in her throat. "How ignorant could the academy be to send only the three of us, and expect us to manage the whole ship?" She knew there was no point in asking hopeless questions. Such thoughts have always crossed her mind. They never led her anywhere.

Roughly a year ago, she saw her name with two others written on the biggest screen in the academy. The big bold words were broadcasted in a room of students just like her, announcing to the world of the three heroes that would unravel the truth behind the mystery of space.

It had been an achievement to be seen and envied. The title had been a tool to boast among fools. Who would have thought she was signing her own death sentence?

Natasha had been desperate and delusional. The thought that she had been chosen as one of the smartest students delighted her. Whatever the academy wanted, she followed. She had cast away the strongest organ of her body - her mind.

Adrien's words brought her back to reality. He brought up a slender finger to push his glasses higher, "Everyone knew you were the smartest student of the academy," he let out a soft chuckle, "The girl who had the grades. Lux was the craziest but most brilliant kid, and I was….

"The technical savvy." answered Natasha, the corner of her lips lifting.

Adrien nodded, and said nothing else. She had grown to enjoy his silence. It had the effect of calming her down. He never spoke more than needed, unlike Lux - who could never stop talking.

"I should go now," said Adrien as he tidied his shirt. Without a goodbye, he marched to the door. He gave her one last glance, and slammed it shut. Natasha stared blankly at the closed door, and heaved a long sigh. What was she doing with her life?

Natasha studied the galaxy, she had found it beautiful once. Now, all she wanted was to go back home. She tried to find something that stood out. Even the smallest change would be enough. The girl waited, and her eyes were searching desperately. A change in color, a rock shaped differently - anything. There was nothing new.

Kicking back her seat in frustration, Natasha moved to the door. She grabbed a fistful of her light hair, and tied it up while she walked. She did not think about where she wanted to go, just that she did not want to be in that room. She followed the tune of distant music, knowing who it would guide her to. She pressed her thumb to a glass attachment for scanning, and the door groaned open.

Lux was jogging on a treadmill, and his rough pants were muted by the loud music. His black hair was slick with sweat, and she could not help but notice the way his damp shirt clung onto his tanned skin. It was as if he sensed her presence, because he murmured something to stop the music.

"I thought you were monitoring the growth of the plants," announced Natasha, "What are you doing here?"

"Morning, Sasha," winked Lux. He grabbed a nearby towel and hooked it around his

neck. He had a habit of calling her that. She didn't know how she felt about it.

Natasha scowled, "You haven't answered my question.”

Lux widened his eyes, "Geez, you're in a bad mood," He paused, and gestured at his toned body, "I need to stay in shape."

Natasha tried not to roll her eyes, and her scowl deepened.

A grin formed in his freckled face, and he pouted his lips in a mock kiss. "I have to impress you, don't I? It's not like there is another girl on this ship." said Lux as he arched a brow.

"Are you done yet?" muttered Natasha under her breath.

"What was that?" demanded Lux, smirking. "You missed me?'

"I never said that," growled Natasha. He loved making embarrassing assumptions. It boiled her blood. She admired his logical thinking, but not his mouth. The three of them had been chosen for their outstanding performances in the academy. What no one paid attention to was that space changed people. Their agreement to represent the space academy had taken a toll on all of them in different ways. Lux was the best at hiding it.

"If so, why would you visit me? You never come out from your hideout." said Lux. Natasha was close to saying that she did not know that he would be in here, but that would be a lie. Only Lux played such loud music when he was exercising.

"That is because I'm always working," replied Natasha. Unlike Lux, both Adrien and Natasha had to constantly do their jobs. "Not all of us get to watch little vegetables grow." That was an understatement. Lux was specialized in the field, and he knew many things she didn't know about the topic.

Lux brought a hand to his chest dramatically, he moaned, "You broke my heart," He gazed up at her with sad puppy eyes, "How are you going to piece it back together?"

When he saw the look of disgust on her face, he burst out laughing. "God," he gasped "You have no humor."

"You're not funny," answered Natasha.

"What did you say?" demanded Lux, his voice laced with fake warning. He reached out to grab her playfully, but she stumbled back at a faster speed.

Shaking her head, Natasha let herself smile a little. No matter how annoying Lux was he never let her leave without revealing a smile or two.

"Are you here to blow off some steam?" asked Lux, his laughter dying down. He watched her with serious eyes that made her face flush.

"I'm losing hope," admitted Natasha.

There was a crease between his brows, and he nodded. "You shouldn't let Adrien get to you," advised Lux. He continued, "That sociopath is giving you a hard time, Sasha. There is something out here. I know we will find it.”

Natasha stepped back. "No," she inhaled a deep breath, "Don't do that. Don't give me hope.”

Lux tried to smile, "We used to believe in space, remember? You were more hopeful than me. We are going to be the ones to discover something.

"How do you know?" said Natasha, her gaze falling to the floor.

"I just do," insisted Lux, "Why else did you come here? You want to believe that you are not wasting your time. You want to trust me." Natasha swallowed, was she that transparent? A part of her knew that was the reason why she followed the sound of music.

Without noticing it, someone stepped into the room. Natasha froze when she saw Adrien looking up at Lux with cold eyes. Lux returned the stare, crossing his arms.

"I heard what you said," announced Adrien, he gestured at the both of them. "I heard most of your conversation through the cameras, you seem to forget my job.”

Shame crept up Natasha's neck, but she realized his words were not targeted at her. The two men were facing each other, their jaws clenched tight.

"There was nothing wrong with what I said," answered Lux with a forced smile. Natasha did not know what to do. She knew the two did not get along well, but she never thought they would argue so openly.

Adrien let out a bitter chuckle. "There is no point in lying to her about space. She can decide on whether or not she is being held prisoner. Stop trying to make her feel guilty for wanting to escape.

"Are you hearing yourself?" snarled Lux, his voice acidic. "We are still in this spaceship even if you decide that drowning in sorrow is a good idea. Do you think that the academy will let us return with empty hands? Whatever idea you have, don't drag her into it.”

Natasha stood helplessly as Adrien balled his fists. He towered over Lux, but she doubted he would win in a fist fight.

"I dare you to say another word." spat Adrien.

Lux laughed loudly in his face, running a hand over his black hair. "Don't embarrass yourself, Adrien." Lux cooed, he pulled the towel away from his neck and dropped it to the floor. She recognised the dangerous spark in his eyes, and she could feel the adrenaline rushing in his veins.

"Adrien," warned Natasha. "Don't."

It was as if he were in a trance. Adrien ignored her, and managed to throw a punch to Lux's face. He hit the man's bottom lip, and blood was gushing down his chin.

Lux smirked, and he licked away the dark blood from his lips. He brought the collar of his shirt to wipe his chin, and chuckled quietly.

"Lux," begged Natasha, "Please.

Unlike Adrien, Lux turned and searched her face. He must have seen the helplessness in her expression, because he stopped and walked towards her. He stood in front of her like a shield, and sent Adrien a sick smile.

Before Adrien could do anything more, they heard the blaring noise of an alarm. The lights above them dimmed and flickered red. Small cracks climbed up the walls, splitting the ship apart.

"What's happening?" yelled Natasha, panic obvious in her voice. This had never happened. The two men had their feet rooted to the ground, and they both wore stunned expressions.

"Did we crash onto something?" questioned Lux, and they were both looking at Adrien. The technical savvy should know what was happening.

Adrien pressed his finger to be scanned, and he bolted out of the door. Natasha and Lux went after him. As they ran, Natasha attempted to calm the frantic beats of her heart.

They entered the room where Adrien controlled every small change of the ship. The ground shuddered beneath her feet, and she knew immediately that something was terribly wrong. The control room was filled with buttons and screens, and every one of them was blared bright red.

"Are we going to die?" faltered Natasha, and her eyes were as wide as saucers.

Lux dragged her away, and he forced her to look up at him while Adrien gained control of the ship. "Calm down," ordered Lux, his tone final. "You will be fine.”

Natasha shook her head, and she struggled to choke out words. "You have to contact the academy," she said, "You have to tell them.”

Lux swore, "I can't believe I forgot that." He sprinted to a corner and started dialing the number of the academy on a screen. He spoke in harsh whispers in one of the microphones, informing the academy of the unexpected conditions.

Natasha ran to her room, there was only one way to find out. Her frame was small compared to the large glass wall in front of her. What she saw was no longer a pool of black littered with small rocks. She couldn't help but gape at the sight.

"What a huge star" breathed Lux in astonishment. She didn't know when he creeped up behind her, but she could hear the excitement in his voice. She studied the ball of mysterious dark green, surrounded with a crown of shattered rocks. A green mist traveled from it, and stained the clear glass.

"No," said Natasha, her voice hoarse. "It's a planet.”

Adrien rushed into the room, and his face was covered in sweat. His chest heaved with each breath, and it looked like he had seen a ghost.

"We had just discovered a sign of life in space." concluded Adrien.

The cracks on the glass wall deepened, and Natasha could have sworn she saw a silhouette of a man. Light shone on the creature, and it locked eyes with her. Without wasting another minute, the creature shot her a smile and advanced towards them.