Chapter 10 - Arrival》

"SUNSHINE, SUNSHINE, WAKE UP!"

The voice pierced through the fog of sleep, pulling me from my dreams.

My eyes fluttered open, vision blurry. My eyelids fluttered open, vision still blurred. I blinked a few times, trying to focus, and slowly, Seth's form came into view. "Katriona," he whispered softly.

"What?" I mumbled tiredly as I buried my face deeper into my covers.

"Come on, sleepyhead." He whispered in my ear causing me to shudder. I turned my head to see him looking at me at eye level.

I yawned. "Are we there yet?" I asked sitting up, careful to not bump my head on the bed above me since I was sleeping on a bunk bed in the barrack room.

Seth took a seat beside me on the bed. "Almost, we still got a little ways to go."

I pouted, still tired. "Back to sleep I go." I threw the covers over my head and attempted to go back to sleep.

"Not so fast, love." He said, "You've already slept half the trip." I felt him peel the cover off my head without opening my eyes. "Come on, open those beautiful eyes."

"Seth," I whined, cracking one eye open.

He smiled. "There's my beautiful blue eyed beauty."

I snorted a little. "Beauty?"

He grazed my chin with his thumb. "You are, even when you're half-asleep and buried under the covers."

"Okay," I said, sitting back up with a sigh. "You win this round." I playfully ruffled his messy honey-colored hair before carefully sliding down onto the floor. The moment I stood, a wave of dizziness hit me, and I had to steady myself.

Seth watched as I swayed slightly left and right. "Whoa, easy there." He quickly grabbed my arm, steadying me as I wobbled on my feet.

"I'm fine," I insisted, though the dizziness lingered. I blinked a few times, trying to clear my head. "I probably just stood up too fast or maybe it's spaceship lag."

But his expression told me he wasn't convinced. He cupped my cheek. "Did you take the remedy yesterday Sara gave you?" he asked. I weakly nodded. "It's wearing off. Let me get you another dose." He disappeared for a moment and returned with another vial, holding it out to me.

I took it, unscrewed the cap and downed it in one go. "This stuff tastes sort of like Pepto Bismol."

Seth chuckled softly. "At least it works, right?"

I nodded, already feeling the fog in my head begin to lift. "Yeah, I guess."

Seth stood up. "I better head back; the autopilot can only last for so long." He stretched and glanced around the small room.

As I felt more alert, Seth stood up. "I better head back; the autopilot can only last for so long." He stretched and glanced around the small room, preparing to leave.

"Seth?" I called out, my voice suddenly growing serious. "What happens when we get to Evalon? What's next?"

Seth slowed his pace, his expression turning thoughtful. "We'll land at the hangar, settle in, and then meet with my and Sara's parents."

I stopped in my tracks, the word "parents" hanging in the air like a heavy weight. "Parents?" I repeated, feeling a sudden wave of anxiety wash over me.

Oh boy..

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An hour later, Sara called out to me. I stepped into the cockpit and froze as I gazed out of the window to see a planet before us was a mesmerizing swirl of vibrant colors, its surface gently draped in a veil of soft clouds. It was breathtakingly beautiful, unlike anything I had ever seen.

My mind flashed back when I first learned about Seth and Saras home.

"Who are you?" Dr. Friedman asked them.

Talking telepathically with one another. "Show her." Sara told her brother.

Seth pulled out some object much like his other except bigger and planted it on the table lighting it up. A miniature glowing Saturn figure popped out and all I see is bright light. When my vision cleared my jaw dropped. No way. Seth's device projected practically the whole solar system like you were really there. I smiled as a shooting star flew past me. "This is so cool." Seth sent a smirk my way. My smile widened. I lifted my hand and watched a comet go digitally through my hand.

Dr. Friedman chuckles covering her mouth having a hard time containing her excitement. "This is....huge." Throws her hands to her sides. "I have so many questions, though you are the answers here standing in front of me." Jack clears his throat telling her message through head movements. "I'm sorry, I'm very excited. W-where are you from?"

A single planet floated over to Sara. She lifted her finger up to it and the planet hovered over it. "Our planet Evalon is three-thousand light-years away from Earth." I stepped closer to study the mysterious planet. It was nearly identical to our planet with white clouds and continents except for minor differences the continents are differently shaped and divided out and the water is more of a lapis color mixed with Fuchsia. "See that land right there," Seth pointed out one of the continents. "That's where we live."

"Evalon," I whispered, taking a step closer to the window. It felt even more extraordinary in person than it had on the hologram.

Seth joined me, his shoulder brushing against mine. "It is," he said softly, his gaze fixed on his home.

As the spaceship began its descent, I felt my heart race. The ship touched down with a jolt, and I heard the engines hum down. The moment the door lowered, a rush of air filled the cabin, carrying the scents of unfamiliar plants.

After we gathered our luggage, Alex, Jack, and I joined up with the siblings.

I trailed closely behind, squinting against the brightness. My heart raced as my feet finally touched the soil of Evalon for the first time.