Minn finds herself standing at the threshold of a vast, open atrium bathed in golden sunlight. The two massive doors that lead outside in front of her.  The air is tinged with a hint of unfamiliar fragrances, reminiscent of exotic flowers. She takes a hesitant step forward, her eyes scanning the surroundings.

The atrium is a surreal mix of natural and artificial elements. Towering trees with vibrant foliage stretch towards the ceiling, their branches intertwining to form a magnificent canopy overhead. Soft rays of sunlight filter through the leaves, casting a warm glow on the floor below. Miniature waterfalls cascade down moss-covered rocks, their gentle splashes adding to the serene ambiance.

Minn is drawn to its ethereal beauty. She marvels at the diversity of plant life, noticing peculiar flowers with iridescent petals and trees with bark that glows faintly. The atmosphere is tranquil, and a sense of calm washes over her, momentarily easing her worries and suspicions.

The thick wooden doors shudder loudly and crack open. The steel hinges scream, as if woken from a slumber. Anyone in the grand atrium stops and watches them open. As they do, Minn takes small steps backwards to give way, while bright light shines into the room behind her and she's hit with a wall of hot muggy air.

She gasps, afraid it might poison her, but then again, she doesn't think these people want her dead. Why open the door at all?

I opened the door because you asked me to, Minn.

"Yeah, but why am I here? I remember Earth, and this isn't it." Minn steps out onto the elongated stone balcony.

You're here because they need you, Minn. They need all of you.

She ambles towards a violet horizon, with two small suns hovering in the sky above, and stops, her mouth slightly agape, at the top of a large staircase. It feels like a palace.

This is The Sanctuary, it should feel like a palace.

"Why is everything purple?" Minn asks, captivated by the beauty of the surroundings. The sky is a lighter hue of violet than the velvet land that stretches out in waves of mauve, like desert dunes made of sponge.

It's a combination of many phenomenon. Since terraforming Omega Six, saprophytes became the dominant species. The atmosphere had to adjust. The sky's hue is a mix of our six stars. It changes with our orbit, as will the visible stars.

Minn tries to comprehend exactly what she sees but finds it overwhelming.

"What's out there?" Minn asks, struggling to grasp the magnitude of the new world before her.

Many things Minn, many wonders. Many creatures that could kill us, easily enough. It doesn't look like much from here, however, this is but a tiny corner. The Sanctuary is a safe haven, impenetrable from any threats Omega Six offers.

"Threats?"

Magnificent but aggressive creatures, poisonous flowers, paralyzing insects, not to mention the high concentration of nitrous oxide in the air or the months of pure daylight, the consistent temperatures above 35 degrees Celsius.

"I get it, I get it." She hushes Atlas and takes in the view. There are no roads, no paths, and no visible signs of life for miles. Yet, the steps of the porch go down, so she decides to follow them to the surface below. As she reaches the bottom step, she notices something peculiar. The ground feels squishy beneath her feet, and when she pokes it, it wobbles, permeable to the turf beneath.

"It's a moss swamp." Minn says matter-of-factly.

Of a sort.

"I'm under dressed." Minn realizes, concerned about her attire. 

There are ways to explore the wonders of Omega Six, but not alone, nor without a crew. And of course, only those in Phase Three can join expeditions. For now, lets go back to our room and talk some more. There are many things to discuss.

Minn turns to make the small climb back up to The Sanctuary, rubbing gray muck from the bottom of her shoe as she climbs. When she reaches the porch, she notices a small group of women crowding around the entrance, engaged in conversation. They appear to be of different races, with green, grey, blue, and pale skin tones among them. Two of the women seem to be pregnant, their bellies protruding slightly larger than their frames should allow.

Curiosity piqued, Minn walks toward them, hoping to find answers. She's tired of Atlas trying to sugarcoat everything and is not looking forward to discussing anything with it. As she reaches the crowd, they spread out and back away from each other. Some look at her with curiosity or sadness, while others seem annoyed.

"Can anyone tell me what's going on? Please? What is this place? Why am I here?" Minn pleads with them. The curious ones start whispering amongst themselves, while the sad ones simply turn and walk away with their heads lowered.

One of the annoyed individuals walks out from the line they created, examining Minn from head to toe. She has pale white skin, big blue eyes, and a smirk that does not indicate friendliness. With her high cheekbones, long face, and arched brows, she smirks at Minn and says, "Are you sure you want to know, Earthling? Just do what Atlas says and go back to your room."

"Stop teasing, Verlara. You know you can't tell her anything," interrupts a blue-skinned and green-eyed young woman who cradles her stomach in her hands. Her hair, wrapped up in an array of tight knots, appears blonde.

"And why not, Tarth? Do you think she will really become one of us? Earthlings are too soft. They'd rather live in mud," Verlara says, lifting her nose in the air before gracefully turning away, her long blue robes trailing behind her. The others disperse as well.

"What can't you tell me?" Minn calls out to them.

Tarth stops and turns back around to face Minn. "We all had to decide on our own, Minn. It's not fair to us to be here when you find out. Atlas is right; you still need time."

Minn's anxiety kicks in again, and her stomach drops. What is this, some kind of Hitchcock film? Time for what? Nothing makes sense, and being called an Earthling feels surreal. She almost feels like she's drifting apart from herself again, but Atlas snaps her back.

This is frivolous, Minn. These interactions will only confuse you. Our citizenry is diverse, but not everyone will take to your kind. Though we are completely safe, that I can assure you. Violence committed against others is not tolerated inside The Sanctuary.

"I don't want to be here!" Minn cries out. "I want to go home!" Everything about this feels wrong, and she can't shake the feeling of unease. Suddenly, the large wooden doors crank loudly, startling her, and begin to close. No way, she thinks, this is too much. I can't stay here.

In a burst of determination, Minn bolts through the closing doors, which crunch shut behind her. She hurries across the porch, down the staircase, and jumps into the swampy moss. Surprisingly, the water only seeps up to her shins. She laughs, thinking she was going to have to swim out of there.

Minn, I warned you there are precautions I will have to take to keep us safe. Our path is now not one of safety.

Ignoring Atlas, Minn tries to run. However, her feet get tangled up in mossy roots, causing her to trip and fall flat on her stomach. Her hands sink into what feels like clay, but she manages to keep her face out of the water. She pushes herself up, soaking wet, and attempts to run again, this time more carefully. She takes a few high steps before getting hooked once more and falling back to her hands and knees. Her lungs feel heavy and tight, and the air she breathes feels like it gets lost on its way in. Her head starts to spin, and her vision blurs.

Medical will be here momentarily, Minn. We're not safe out here. Not on our own.

But Minn's body feels too heavy to support, and she lets herself sink into the shallow water. She drags herself through tangled roots and vines until even that becomes too much for her. She gives up, letting her consciousness fade. She sinks into the water, her lungs filling with its turbid sap. Within moments, she drowns.

Running word count: 5455