The Mars Experience

Chapter 31: Donna's POV

I can't see much. I can tell Bree, Hugo, and Jedrek are carrying me, and moving their hands in front of my face, but I can't tell what they're trying to tell me. My stomach hurts a lot, so I lift up my shirt just a little and see it's all purple and black. It looks disgusting. They carry me into an elevator, but it gives me motion sickness. I want to tell them to get me out, but I can't quite feel my lips enough to move them. I eventually stop moving my feet, and I feel them slide back as they carry me towards a white room and white bed with crinkly noises.

A man stabs my hand when I am lying down, but they allow the man to, so it must be okay. He also stabs my neck, and it hurts a lot, but no reaction from them; so that must be all right as well. I keep hearing scattered beeps, and my name, but I can't tell what they're trying to say with my name.

A girl who I think is Bree grabs my hand, and I want to grab hers back, but I don't have enough strength. Something tickles my forehead. I glance around the room and am able to distinguish some of the faces. It seems all of my friends are there, but where's Conner? I hear a beep, longer than the rest, and everyone around me yelling and crying. I don't understand why.

Suddenly, nothing tickles anymore. I stop feeling pain. I lift up my shirt to glance at my belly, and there is no more blood, purple, or black marks.

I am taken to a dark room. I can't see my hands or feet, all there is a distant light. I walk towards that light, and it's a lot closer than I would imagine it to be.

Once I pass through, I become dressed in all white. A field with warm grass grazing my ankles and soft mud cushioning my bare feet sparks before my eyes. There aren't many trees or flowers, just a long-range that seems to go on forever, enlightened by the bright sunlight. I see my sisters, my mother, my childhood dog; Buddy, and Conner. There he is! His little sister, too! I give him a big hug, but it doesn't feel like a regular hug. He doesn't feel warm, and I can sense he's there, but I can't quite touch him.

"I missed you! You saved Emma's life!" I exclaim. My voice sounds different as well. It sounds crisp, clear, more thoughtful, and happier.

"I missed you too! How is everyone?" he asks. His voice is hard to describe. It sounds... fuzzy. His smile is still the same, though. Comforting, optimistic, and familiar, as always.

"I'm not sure, actually. They took me to a white bed and sounded pretty upset before I came here... but they were doing fine before that."

"That's great! Although, I don't think you should be here."

"Why not?"

"I don't know. Something doesn't feel right. I shouldn't be talking to you this entire time, though. Talk to your mom! And your sisters! And pet your dog!"

"Are you happy here, though?"

"Yes. I miss all of you, but I am happy here."

"All right." I run over to my family, but everything goes into a loop. It all turns blurry and there is a strong wind dragging me backward. I don't resist, and neither does my family. They just smile and wave goodbye.

I am taken back to the dark room, but it's different this time. This time, I feel pain again, my chest vibrates and my head pounds. The beeping is back, and I hear everyone yelling at me.

"Donna, please, come back!" wails Bree.

"Clear!" a random male voice shouts before the vibrating intensifies.

"Donna!" cries Athena.

"It's all my fault. It's all my fault," panics Jedrek. I want to tell him it isn't his fault.

"Donna," Emma's soft voice rasps.

"It will be alright. She'll be back, right? Yes, she'll be back," murmurs Hugo. Back from what?

My thoughts are spinning even more until I take a deep breath in and suddenly return to the bed. The beeping makes steadier noises, and everyone leans in to hug me. Tears start falling from my eyes, and everyone else follows, even Zac, the new boy.

"It isn't your fault, Jedrek. Also, I talked to Conner. He's alright." I am saddened to hear my voice it's back to not being as clear or high-pitched. It doesn't make soothing sounds whenever I speak anymore; yet everyone still seems glad to hear it.

"You talked to Conner? What does that mean?" asks Bree.

"In a field. I saw mom and the triplets as well. And Buddy!" I respond enthusiastically, while not moving my body whatsoever.

They all stare at me like I'm crazy, which is fine. If it came from any of them, I don't think I would believe it either.

"How was it there?" ponders Athena. Well, at least they're trying to be accepting.

"It was nice... peaceful. But I wasn't supposed to be there... yet." I pause. "Not... yet."

I guess there isn't much of an argument for or against what I'm saying. I'm just grateful to be back. Now that I think about it, the amount of perfection did scare me a bit. It wasn't like the normal world, plus, I didn't have my family with me. My real family, the one I tolerate because I like them, not just because of blood relations. But that's too cheesy, and I'm never saying that to them out loud.