The door of the hub slides open silently, each of us climbing onto the vehicle in single file. A tear escapes my eye and I brush it away with the back of my hand. To me, the hub symbolises a means of escape and, as many times I have said it or as much as I know how impossible this is, I want to stop running. I want to stand my ground and face the enemies, face my fears.

But we all know that that is impossible.

The moment I step into the train, the all too familiar space comes into view. The white rows of seat, the window, the metal pole, the black plastic hoops, the grey ceiling. Everything. I wonder how many times I have entered this place. I wonder how many more times I will.

My eyes sweep around the room. Wil sits on the right side of the vehicle while Aries and Key sit opposite. I take a seat next to Wil, immediately sinking into my seat, wrapping my arms around myself.

I rest my head on the cold window, looking out, though the view outside isn’t much different from the countless ones I have seen on the many trips we have made. Just stretches of ruins, towns and empty fields. I wonder if there was a time where more things existed in this world.

I close my eyes, wanting to get some shut eye though deep down, I know that it isn’t going to happen. My body may be tired but my mind is too awake, too restless. As much as I want the thoughts in my head to stop, I know that all these doubts are partly the reason why I do what I do, perhaps even the reason why I am still alive.

My eyelids flutter open and I run my fingers through my hair, sighing in exasperation. I steal a glance at Wil. His eyes are closed and he seems to be either deep in thought or is asleep. I advert my attention elsewhere, not wanting to seem like a creep for staring at Wil while he is asleep.

Key stands at the front of the hub, right in front of a large panel full of buttons and switches as well as a screen. It doesn’t take an idiot to tell that the panel is meant for controlling the hub. After all, what else could it be?

The pit in my stomach grows, making me feel uncomfortable. I have a bad feeling about… something, though I am not too sure myself what. The feeling gnaws in my stomach, making me nauseous every few minutes. I tap my feet nervously on the ground, trying not to create too much noise.

I cross my legs and gaze at the passing landscapes once again. After all, there is nothing better to do in a train than looking out the window. Isn’t that what everyone else is supposed to do? ‘See the world’?

The more I observe the cities we pass by – though, to be honest, I wonder how small the cities are, considering we have passed so many in a relatively short period of time – the more I start to notice the similarities.

The buildings in each city, apart from the height, are replicas of one another. The cities all give off a sinister aura, almost like a rebellion is brewing deep in the heart of the city, underground, while everyone else is going about, supposedly innocent and naïve. To be honest, aren’t every data, especially those living in the cities, given more than enough to live? To be comfortable? Or even for luxury?

I shrug the feeling off. It’s probably just me thinking too much once again. Then again, it is also not any of my concern. I am a refugee, after all. I let out yet another tired sigh before sinking even deeper into the chair, lost in thought.

At this point in time, I don’t know who to trust, what I am supposed to do next. What is going to happen to me – to us – in the future? Are we ever going to obtain the freedom we have been longing for for so long?

I’m living in fear, running away at every turn, at the sight of every data, and yet, the only thing I want to do is travel the world, to discover its mysteries. I want to learn more, both about myself and about the people around me.

I don’t want to survive. I want to live. Is that too much for a girl to ask?

Evidently so.

As weird as it may sound, I enjoy reading. I may not have had many chances to read back when I was at the facility – or my whole life, for that matter – but whenever I have the chance, I relish every second of it, I hang on to every single word.

I guess the main reason I like it is because I learn things. I don’t want to live in the dark forever. They can’t do that to me. I deserve the right to learn, right?

“Miri. There’s something you deserve to know.”

Key’s voice drags me out of my daze and thoughts and back into the harsh reality.

“What is it?” I answer curtly, not bothering to be polite. I’m too tired to care anymore.

“I’ve been hiding many things that are dire that you know.”

“Well, you aren’t very good at hiding,” I mutter. Fortunately, she did not hear me. Either that or she chose to ignore me.

“I… I didn’t have the best childhood.”

“I don’t see how that is related in any way whatsoever,” I reply, growing slightly impatient with Key.

“Miri, please do not comment until I am done.”

I could see how tense her whole body is as she shares her past with me and I keep quiet, not quite sure if I am honoured or not by the fact that she chose to reveal it to me. I nod, acknowledging her request.

“My parents only cared about their work. They’re workaholics, scientists to be more exact. They believed in their cause. They believe that their life’s work is revolutionary, that it will change the world. Though, that isn’t surprising, considering most scientists out there feel the same way about their works.

“My parents never bothered with my wellbeing, nor did they any of my other siblings. They just left us to be, ensuring that we were provided with the most basic of necessities, food, water, shelter, clothes and education.

“Aaron wanted to follow in my parents footsteps. He was blinded by them, by their cause that he couldn’t see how immoral it was. I used to be able to tell Aaron everything; he used to be my best friend. That is, until he grew old enough to work in the labs.”

I furrow my eyes in confusion. I thought Aaron was following in the footsteps of those who created Wil and I. Perhaps Key’s parents worked closely with Aries’s. Perhaps they cofounded the project and Aaron was blinded by them all.

Yes, that must be it.

“My parents started spending more and more time in the labs until one day, they stopped coming home every night. They would literally stay in the labs, coming home once every three months or so. I was sixteen at the time.

“One day I became so sick of it all that I ran away from home. It took me a while but I managed, with the help of a couple of friends. I managed to change my appearance enough that no one I knew would notice me at first glance as well as the official name that was keyed into the system.”

I waited for her to continue and when she didn’t, I speak. “What is the significance of telling me all this?”

“I am not going to answer. I will only answer if you ask the right questions. Ponder over it longer.”

I run my fingers through my hair, going through whatever Key had said. I don’t see the importance of it. What is so dire that she had to tell me? From what I heard, all that is just Key’s life story. Nothing much to it.

Or is there?

All of a sudden, something clicks in my mind. Something didn’t fit the story. Something is… off.

“The way you speak of Aaron…” I start, my eyebrows knitting in confusion.

“What about it?” Key asks, her mask back on though now, I can see through it clearly. I can see that she is uncomfortable, the distrust she has towards others. These are the kinds of times that remind me that childhood, no matter how little we may remember, plays an important role in a data’s life.

You may not remember, but whatever you learn or experience as a child sticks with you for life.

That’s likely why Key feels the way she does. She wasn’t given enough attention and love as a child.

“You speak of Aaron as though he is more than just a friend, or a best friend…” I trail off, hoping she caught the drift.

“That’s because he is. He’s not only Aries and Aristelle’s brother.” She pauses. “He’s my brother too.”