Verita Read Online Free Page B

deciding if I was more like a bird, a lion, a lamb or some other silly animal.
    It wasn’t until the end of the week that the project was finally explained to us. A life-sustaining planet had been found within our galaxy called Verita . We were going to be part of a colonization project. We would be cryogenically frozen and, while frozen, trained in our determined specialty. I knew, and they knew, that they were sugarcoating everything. It was what they didn’t say that frightened me. They stressed how it was their breakthrough technology that made the journey possible. They pointed out that a construction crew was a year ahead of us, so we would arrive to a fully constructed colony. And finally, they claimed they wanted such young subjects because there was a possibility of slight aging occurring over such a long time span, and they didn’t want us to feel pressured to procreate immediately.
    What they didn’t say to us was that the technology was untested, and nothing like this had ever been done before. They didn’t truly know what we’d find on the planet, and there was a chance that we’d just grow old and die in our sleep.
    That was yesterday.
     
    That’s how I ended up where I am now – naked and unconscious in a metal box, waiting for the day when I either fade away into oblivion, or wake up feeling as if no time has passed. Hopefully I’ll wake up to a better future on a new world. And hopefully John was right about my decision. But now, all the reasons that brought me here no longer matter. I’m committed now. I made my decision, and there’s no turning back. All that is left for me to do now is wait, and hopefully not die, but wake up.

 
    Chapter 2
     
    I have never been a very sound sleeper. I usually jolt awake because of some weird dream or the jarring sound of my alarm. I rarely enjoy gently waking up to the sound of birds chirping outside my window and the realization that I still have a full five minutes before my alarm clock goes off.
    Today is definitely not one of those days. Today the warm, safe cocoon of my slumber is ripped apart by some unknown dream. But instead of being jarred awake, I plunge into another nightmare. Wherever I am, it is too cold, and it is too dark to see. I try to wrap my arms around myself for warmth, but I can’t move them. The shock causes me to inhale a deep breath, but instead of drawing in air, I inhale the same cold substance that I now realize is surrounding me. I start to sputter and choke on the liquid. I’m not sleeping, but drowning. That’s why I can’t move; the water is so cold that my muscles have all but shut down. All I can do is sink.
    My mind screams at me: No! I can’t die! Not like this! This is too horrible a way to die! I’m supposed to die in my sleep when I’m old and gray!
    In desperation, I try to force my muscles to claw to the surface of the water. If I can just get to the surface, someone might see me and rescue me. But the effort is exhausting, and I am still unable to even raise my arms. I feel myself start to shake. I can’t tell if it’s because of fear, or the strain of my effort. I want to scream out in terror, but that requires air. I don’t know how or why, but my panic wanes as I realize that it’s hopeless to fight the inevitable.
    It’s strange: I thought drowning would hurt more than this, but I’m not in that much pain.
    My thoughts drift to my family. Will I get to see them again? They don’t even know –heck, I don’t even know where I am or how I got here. Then I remember where my mom and dad actually are, and a small bittersweet smile etches itself across my frozen face. At least I’ll be seeing them soon.
    Suddenly there is a whooshing sensation; all the liquid around me disappears. I feel myself slipping downwards with the icy water, but then something hard slams against my chest. I hear muffled, but alarmed, voices in the background. A deep male voice sounds near my ear, trying to reassure me.