21st December 2012

I grab my mother's hand. The evacuation centre is mostly made of dull, cheap metal with thick glass windows letting in the orange light of raging fires. It's 5 in the morning. Our alarms had been set to 4am so we had time to get ready for today. We're in the long cue now. Our estimated evacuation pod is number 21. The date today, although the only reason I remember the date is because of our situation. I stare aimlessly out one of the windows at the thick steel doors which had locked us in this place for the past week. I wonder what it would be like on the new planet. We had received letters a few weeks ago containing the information about London Evacuation Centre. I can almost remember the whole thing off by heart. The shock of it was so much it would be impossible to forget. 

"Dear Orange family,

We are writing to you to inform you about a serious scientific discovery. 3 days ago, scientists at Bristol university discovered a large comet about half the size of the earth is forecast to smash into the atlantic ocean, destroying Earth as we know it. 

You are advised to come to the London Evacuation Centre on the 14th December 2012 - directions to the centre enclosed. Please note if you do not attend you will be incinerated. 

Packet food will be provided while staying in the centre and travelling in the pods. You may bring any food you have, however you will have limited fridge/freezer space in the pods so please ensure most of it is long-lasting food in no need of freezing/keeping cool. 

You will be allowed 2 bags per person + 1 day bag on the pods, so use your space wisely. Once we leave, the Earth will implode in a huge firey mess - there will be no going back. Please ensure your liquids and electricals are in plastic bags ready to display at check-in; there is no maximum limit to liquids and electricals.

Security for the journey will be taken very seriously. Each person and their luggage will be thoroughly scanned, checked and searched. No explosives, poisonous gasses, acids, weapons and other harmful substances will be allowed. Items such as these will be transported in their own pod under strict supervision. 

The planet we will be moving to is called Kepler 22b and is 3 galaxies away. Scientists have worked long and hard to create pods which will travel to Saturn where a wormhole has been discovered which will take us to one of Kepler 22b's moons. The journey will take approximately 2 years. You will be provided with free food, water, healthcare and hygiene facilities as well as family beds.

Thank you for reading this letter,

David Cameron"

And that was the day that changed my life forever. I peer down the queue. We're nearly there, just 2 families to go now. One skinny man with brown stubble and a dirty grey beanie and 1 bag had been stopped. We see him get taken away to one of the interview rooms by the security. I look down at my feet. I shuffle them along the shiny white, tiled floor. We're called to one of the check in desks. 

After about 45 minutes of them searching our bags and persons, we're led to our pod. We're led by a security officer clad in black protective clothes and a dark mask through a poorly-lit metal corridor to one of the pods. We're the last people onto pod 21. The security officer, followed by about 15 others, steps into the pod and keys in a code which makes the door close with a gentle whirring. I sit down on one of the metal benches in the corridor and listen intently, a tear rolling down my cheek, to the security officer in part J explaining what will happen. We're ushered into our room - room 21J50. There are about 1000 people on each pod, which adds up to 60000 pods in total! Each ship has 10 parts of 100 people each, we're the last people on so we're in part J. Our room is all a dull grey colour, grey metal walls, grey checkerplate floor, crisp, plasticy white beds, and by each bed, a small wooden chest of drawers. There's two more seperate beds in a small room - one of these is mine, the other is just spare. Next to my room there is a small grey room with a white toilet, a few rolls of thin scratchy toilet paper and a thin grey piece of cloth acting as a pedestal mat; a tiny white sink with a flavourless bar of soap and grey fluffy towel; and a small white shower with only a button to turn it on/off and a knob to adjust the temperature. In the main room there's also a small countertop space and a microwave, another tiny sink, a small fridge freezer with some ice cubes in and some cupboards. When we look inside the cupboards we find one is stuffed with packet food; a mix of microwave chicken and soup, bread, dried fruit and other dried goods. In another cupboard is a laminated sheet with instructions of the microwave, information about saving food and other information about the journey, pod and new planet; some crockery including 8 plates, 4 cups, 4 mugs, 8 bowls and other kitchen utensils; and a small selection of cutlery - 8 spoons, 8 knives, 8 forks and some other items such as ladels and spatulas.

I look out the window at the blazing ruins of Earth. Everything that mattered to me is now on this pod - or another pod if they're a friend. I can just see pod 20 taking off. An announcement comes through a tannoy in the corner of the room which I hadn't yet noticed, making me jump. 

"10 minutes till lift off. 10 minutes." I guess it's 10 minutes till lift off. I text my friend to see what pod she's on. After a while of staring out the window, I'm startled by a sudden "PING!" and a vibration.

"21, you?" Says the text. I let out a small smile. I text her back saying what room I was in, and before it even finished sending the text I heard the announcement.

"10 seconds till lift off. 9... 8... 7..." The butterflies in my tummy are awakened. I look around nervously. 

"4... 3... 2..." An ear splitting boom is heard. The whole room vibrates. I run to the window. I look down at Earth, my hand pressed longingly against the window. I couldn't even hear the number 1...

Thank you for reading my story! Part 2 coming soon!

And yeah, i'm doing a better picture tomorrow ._.