Rude Awakening

Complete and utter contentment surrounded Bethany. A smile spread between her blushing cheeks as she hugged her parents. She couldn't quite remember how she'd arrived in her parents' company, but right now, none of that mattered. Right now, she was happy. Right now, everything was perfect. Bethany felt like she was floating, unburdened by any worries. She didn't know anything outside of her embrace, and she didn't want to. She hugged them tighter, wishing the moment would never end...

A loud crash and a shake came from nowhere. A wave of consciousness overcame Bethany, tearing her mind out of the dream and back into reality. She squeaked a bit with panic a she realized she assessed her situation. She was still in the crate, her arms wrapped around one of the many blankets that had been in her makeshift hiding spot. Beth willed her panic away and listened through the side of the box and was greeted with silence. Wary of another sudden closure, she opened the lid and looked around outside the box.

The room, apparently another cargo bay or storage room, was deserted. Bethany took her opportunity and leapt out to the floor, landing on all fours. Her palms felt a light vibration. A starship engine. It was low, but they had clearly left dock. Beth had done enough traveling in her fourteen years of life to know that much.

Bethany checked her watch. She'd been unconscious for two hours. The rattle she'd felt had to be from the ships jump to lightspeed, but they'd just left, so they were probably still close enough to turn around if she was caught, and probably would be for some time. So far, no one had checked out the cargo, or at least not her box, but someone would come eventually. She couldn't stay here. She had to find a better hiding place. Bethany crept through the door, gently opened it, and casually exited, ready to begin exploring her new labyrinth.