Lost

Chapter 5

I open my eyes.

Sitting up, I choke as my body hits the seatbelt strap that prevents me from getting up all the way. I tentatively unbuckle myself, placing my hand on the clear glass cover above me.

My abs strain as I sit up, sore and stiff from staying in one position for who knows how long. I close my eyes, stretching my arms and legs. What just happened? Why do I feel so disoriented?

I open my eyes and rub them, taking a look around. Four people sleep in the tubes around me, not moving. Slowly turning my body, I swing my legs off the cot and stand up, looking around.

The air around me is still, and very very quiet. I'm not sure what is outside, and I pray that we've made it back to Earth with all the other retreaters. Five in total - there were twenty three students who escaped I think. I just wonder what's happened to the others.

Suddenly I remember every detail from the expedition day, and I almost fall over. Icaris. Dead. The traumatic escape and the school fire. Everything in between. Taking deep breaths, I try to calm myself. It'll be okay.

I turn to see Hannah in her tube, and I walk over to open it up. With a gentle push, the glass cover swings open and it reveals her calm face as she continues to space sleep. I touch her cheek.

"Hannah," I whisper, trying to wake her up. Her chest rises and falls in slow beats. I try shaking her a little. "Hannah."

Suddenly her eyelids flutter open and she gasps for air, also trying to sit up. I laugh softly and help her unbuckle the seatbelt, pulling her into my arms. She clings to me, trying to catch her breath.

"Jake," she pants, burying her head in the crook of my neck. "Jacob."

"See?" I say. "We made it home alive, didn't we?"

All of a sudden there's a little beeping noise, and I turn my head to see that it's coming from the panel. There's words on it but I can't see from here. I turn back to Hannah and surprise myself. Tears are falling down her cheeks.

"Hannah?" I ask, using my thumb to wipe them away. "What's wrong? Why are you crying? We're okay."

She shakes her head, sniffling. "No Jacob, we're not okay. You don't understand." She turns away, placing a hand on my chest to gently push me away. "Don't waste your breath on me. Go."

"Hannah?" I ask, confused. What is she saying?

"Just go!" She shouts, and I stand up, backing away from her. She bends over on the cot, crying. My breathing speeds up, and I keep backing away from her. My hand hits something, and I turn to see that it's the panel. I squint to read the words scrawled on it.

You don't have much time. Go.

I look up at Hannah with wide eyes.

But she's gone.

My eyes open with a snap.

My breathing comes out in quick, short, gasps. I realize that I'm lying down, the seat belt still strapping me to the cot. I look around and see that I'm still lying in my cot.

It was just a dream.

Shaking, I pull the straps off and push open the glass cover, bending over to bury my head in my hands. My body feels stiff and feverish, and I can feel my stomach growling. It was just a dream. That wasn't Hannah.

I open my eyes, running a cold hand through my hair. The air is freezing. I can still hear the beeping, and I tentatively walk over to the panel. The muscles in my legs are tight and cold. It hurts to walk.