Chapter II: My Wish

But more than anything, more than anything

My wish, for you, is that this life becomes all that you want it to,

Your dreams stay big, and your worries stay small,

You never need to carry more than you can hold

Aster had run right back into the room that first day she went outside, but the exhilaration she felt was amazing, and she longed for the next day when she could go again.

Every day she ventured out, and everyday she went just a little bit farther, memorizing every hall so she could find her way back. It was difficult at first; all the halls looked the same, but soon she new every single one of them. There were doors in most of the hallways but when she tried the password that she had used on her own door, there was no hissing sound and no 'pop'. She concluded that every door had a different password. It would take much too long to try and figure them all out.

But there must be doors that aren't locked, she thought. She had read in her books that there was something called a bathroom, in which people went to the toilet and showered. Their room had a toilet in a separate little room off to the side, but they showered in another room, and only once a week were they brought the Shower-Room. But They couldn't have a toilet like that in every room, They must have a bathroom. And she knew They wouldn't lock the bathrooms, why bother? So she checked every door she passed just to make sure. Even if all she found was a bathroom that would be exciting enough.

So you can image the excitement Aster felt when she came across a room that wasn't a bathroom, but it wasn't like her room either. The door read in big, block letters, – EMPLOYEE LOUNGE – She knew and employee was someone who worked in the building. And a lounge was a public place in which to sit and relax. So this was where the employees went to have a break or Free-Time as her friends called it.

She hesitated opening it. What if there was someone in there? She was breaking many Rules by being outside her room and she would be punished. But what of these punishments? No on had ever broken a rule and gotten punished, even though that was the threat. Aster opened the door.

It was wonderfully strange. The furniture was somewhat the same. There was a table with chairs and there was something she knew to be a couch. But it was the black box upon a smaller table that caught her attention. What was this thing? There were buttons on the front and she pushed one. All of a sudden a picture came up and Aster realized it was a Screen of some sort. There was a lady on the Screen and she was talking.

"Because she's your lobster," the lady said. The man next to her replied,

"Oh, she's going somewhere."

"Come one you guys," the lady said. "It's a known fact that lobsters fall in love and mate for life. You know what, you can actual see old lobster couples walking around their tank, you know, holding claws," the lady then proceeded to make a strange hand motion and laughter could be heard from somewhere off-screen. "You have to picture lobsters."

Aster didn't know if the lady was talking to her, but she was so used to doing what the Screen said that she pictured lobster. She had seen a picture in the dictionary. She pictured two lobsters holding 'claws' and smiled. It was funny. This Screen was funny. That in its self was strange.

And so, being so caught up in the Screen's story of six friends not unlike hers, laughing and joking and being in love, that she almost didn't notice the door open.

She jumped behind the couch just in time, her heart pounding in her chest and blood pumping in her ears.

"Hey did someone leave the TV on?" she heard a man's voice say.

"Oh no, that's against protocol," the other said, mockingly. They laughed and continue to joke around. Finally, after what seemed like forever, the men left and all that was heard was the lady from the screen say,

"See, he's her lobster!" Aster hesitatingly looked over the edge of the couch. No one was there. She let out a breath in relief but as she was walking to the door, she froze. On the table there was a strange looking book that hadn't been there before. Curious, she picked it up. It seemed to be many papers, like that in a book, but there was no front or back cover and the pages weren't stuck together. It was a newspaper! Intrigued, she read what seemed to be the first page.

The Daily Planet METROPOLIS SAVED BY HEROES ONCE AGAIN! Louis Lane

When three villains escaped Arkham and started reeking havoc on our beloved city, all citizens fled in fear of their lives, unsure if their homes would be spared. But just as all hope seemed lost, Superman swooped in to save the day, red cape blowing in the wind behind him. Along with Superman, was his fellow Justice Leaguers Green Lantern and Hawkgirl took down the escapees. What would we do without our beloved heroes?

The article went on to explain how these people, heroes, saved the city, the world, over and over again. And they too, possessed special powers similar to the ones Aster's friends had. What a discovery! Wouldn't her friends be surprised that there were people like them in the real world? But that didn't help her figure out why they were here in the first place. Her theory was that, because her friends had special abilities, they were taken and placed here as to not hurt the normal people. But if there were other people living outside and not hurting, but helping the world, why would they be kept here? And so Aster's goal changed from exploring all she could of the building to finding out why They had locked them away.

Before anyone else could come in and force her into hiding, Aster quietly, snuck out of the room, but not before grabbing the newspaper off the table.

When she entered her room, making sure to close the door behind her, her friends were already there. They had been sitting in a circle whispering and, when she came in the, they all sighing in relief. Felix spoke first.

"Where have you been?" he said and she was surprised by his tone, he seemed almost angry. She shrunk back and he realized his mistake. He walked up to her and took her hand. "We were worried about you." He sent soothing waves of calm emotions ad her and then in a smaller voice he said, "I'm sorry I scared you."

"S'ok," she said distracted and he seemed confused by the strange reply, that was not what one normally said. But Aster had already moved on.

"You'll never guess what I found out," she said breathlessly. But before she could continue, Bruno interrupted,

"Were you outside the room? That's against the rules!" The others gasped and were even more shocked when she simply rolled her eyes at the accusation.

"Forget the Rules!" More gasps, and she sighed, exasperated. "Just look at this!" and she pulled out the newspaper. They all stared, both curious and fearful, at the strange thing. And because she new the writing would be too small for them to read, she read aloud the story about heroes with powers that saved the day and about a wonderful man named Superman and his League of justice. By the time she was done they were all enchanted, eyes wide with wonder.

"And the best part," she finished, rolling the newspaper back up, "is, it's not a story, it's real." They began to talk amongst themselves, and Bruno spoke up again,

"But what does that mean?"

Aster wasn't completely sure, but she answered, "It means that you're not alone, that there are other people like you, that can help you besides the people here." Her reply was met with blank stares. She sighed again. "Don't you see? It means that we don't have to stay here!" It was a moment before her answer sunk in and Gemma replied with her naïve little voice,

"But, Aster," she said. "Why would we want to leave?" The others nodded along, also confused.

"Yeah," said Celia. "We have everything we could ever want here. They feed us and give us clothes and we never have to worry about anything. Once when Damien complained about the Meals, the Lady said that we were lucky, that some Children didn't get any food at all. We're lucky to be here, Aster, why would we ever want to leave?"

The other Children voiced their agreement. Aster looked at them incredulously. "How can you say that? We have nothing here! We've never seen the sun or the sky or felt breeze or seen snow. We've never had a family, a mother and father who love us, and grandparents who buy us presents. Don't you want all that?" And then she realized by their lost stares, that they didn't understand a word she just said.

So Aster spent the rest of Free-Time explaining how wonderful the world could be. She told of mothers who brushed your hair and made cookies that tasted like nothing in the world could compare to. She told of fathers who swung you in their arms and laughed and kissed you on the head; and of grandparents, of pets, of school, of the zoo, of the weather, of the sun. She didn't go into the part about war and violence and genocide. They didn't need to know that yet.

By the time the Voice rang through the room, announcing in was time for Sleep, everyone was in agreement – they wanted the world. And Aster promised them that she would find a way to get them there. And so her goal changed yet again, to finding a way out.

She just hoped with all her heart that this was going to be a good thing. She hoped she wouldn't be sending them to their deaths. She wanted them to live like the Children did in her storybooks. She wanted them to be happy.

If only the world were as good as she made it out to be. If only, If only . . .