The Arks: Over Heaven (by Ben)

Chapter 21: Familiar Faces

Part 1/4

Neddy and Ruby were wandering the lone camp of the Book Club, trying to find some new people to meet and make new friends. After fighting for their lives the past 24 hours, they were eager to meet someone who wasn’t out to kill them.

“Hey Ruby, do you think we’re going to meet anyone we know here?” Neddy asked Ruby. Ruby shrugged.

“No idea. I didn’t even know we had a book club at Terran High. You know there was so much beef and drama going on, I would think people wouldn’t be occupied with… reading.”

Ruby paused as she stared at a boy who was sitting by the campfire and reading without a care in the world. The book was old and torn, but there was a clear title on the book, “A World of Dinosaurs”. The boy had thin, blonde hair that was brushed back and a fresh set of cloth clothes. He too had an implant like the others.

“Can you believe this guy? Reading at a time like this?” Ruby asked with disbelief in her eyes.

“I can’t believe it at all… And I thought I was the biggest nerd on this island.”

The boy’s head suddenly tilted up, and he stared at the two dead in the eye. Then he got up, put his book away, and walked up to the two.

“Hey there, I don’t recognize you… You two looking to settle down here with the rest of us humble bookworms?” the boy asked with a smile.

“Oh, he seems nice,” Ruby thought, “Maybe I shouldn’t have said that…”

“Yeah, yeah we are,” Neddy said, reaching his hand out to shake the boy’s. They both shook hands and introduced themselves.

“My name’s Neddy, and this is my friend Ruby,” Neddy told the reader, “The one named Ben was able to bring us here safely, so I gotta thank him for that. He’s a pretty cool dude, and this seems like a pretty nice place. You all did some good work here.”

“Oh thank you so much,” the reader replied with a smile, “I don’t do much around here though… I mostly help feed the animals and I try my best to help people out. My name is Rick, if you’re wondering. I consider myself a hardcore reader if I do say so myself.”

“Well, how many books have you read?” Ruby asked curiously.

“Hmm, that’s a tough one, I’d say at least a few thousand?”

“WOW, that’s a lot…” Ruby spoke with shock.

“Yes, it seems crazy, I know, but books are just like my bread and butter. I love reading a lot, it’s why I joined the Book Club all the way back in freshman year. I was one of the first members,” Rick said, “I’ve been around so long people have literally called me the ‘One Who Reads’. I appreciate the title, but I’ve always wanted to write too.”

“Oh writing? That’s pretty nice, have you got any book ideas or started writing yet?”

“Yeah, it’s right here, actually,” Rick said while pointing at the book he was carrying, “I always carry it around with me to remind myself that I can become a better writer if I put my mind to it. And I know I can.”

“That’s very admirable, Rick,” Neddy said, “Well you have any other cool individuals you want us to meet?”

“Hmm, you can go meet the builder of the settlement. He touched that beacon and then he was able to make a bunch of huts for us to live in. I love the guy for it. Right now he’s probably at work building some more things, so I’m sure if you walk around and look for him you’ll find him.”

“Oh, okay, well thanks! And nice meeting you!” Ruby said. The two walked off, leaving Rick to read his book in solitude once more.

~

Meanwhile, Samuel and Aurora were patrolling the western side of the camp. Samuel wanted to take this opportunity to get as much information and details about Ben as he possibly could.

“I need to know what his implant attribute is. And more importantly, what his deal with this camp is. I need to know what his story is like,” Samuel thought as his eyes wandered meekly.

Eventually, the two ran into a small little pen that was filled with giant snails. The snails were purple and had orange shells, and as they crawled around the dirt they left a sticky sediment, which two people were collecting. A tall looking boy with a deep tan and brown hair, and a goth girl with a black lipstick and thick boots made of dinosaur hide.