The Stowaway

The bus pulled up in front of a large dome. It looked otherworldly, made of nothing but windows. When Bev stepped outside, she could see mechanics working in what must have been the hangar, a massive add-on to the main building. They were working on what looked like a cross between an airplane and a spacecraft. She wondered if that was what they’d be flying in. Her heart thudded. In three days, she’d be looking down on the earth. It was all so surreal, like she was watching a movie.

“If you’ll follow me,” Julie said, “we need to get security badges for all of you. As you can imagine, we don’t let just anyone inside our facility.” She turned on her heels and walked at a brisk pace up the sidewalk. Bev quickened her pace to keep up, but she kept getting distracted by the beautifully manicured garden that surr