Cora

Chapter Eleven

I groaned and sat up. Squinting my eyes, I then realized the previous conversation. It was 2065. How.. Was it 2065? Sitting up, I realized that I was in the room next to the conference room.

We needed to finish that conversation.

Stepping down from the table I was laid on, I exited the room. Looking up and down the hallway, I realized the conference room was to the left. Re-entering the room, I noted that Dylan and Emma were both in there. They looked up at me, though Emma quickly averted her eyes. I didn't blame her.

"Let's continue this conversation. You need to know what's going on." Dylan murmured and mentioned for me to sit down. I gladly strode over and sat down where I sat before.

"Cora, you've missed a lot," Emma explained, setting her face in her hands. "Listen closely," Dylan quietly intruded. "This is important."

"We have a new government status. Not the... Presidents or whatever was back then. This new class is called The Preservers. With me so far?"
I nodded, actually understanding.
"The Preservers... Do what their name says. They do other things, but those happen to be irrelevant at this point in time. They..." She looked at Dylan, asking an unasked question. Without looking at her, he gave a swift nod. She continued.
"They preserve bodies. For years and years and years. Re-"

I cut her off. Not intentionally, but I was curious. "How?"

There was a silence.

"We'll get to it soon enough," Emma noted quickly, waving away the question. "Back to where I was.."
She fiddled with her hands for a second, then looked her in the eyes.

"The Preservers were bombed in 2047 by the... Well it doesn't matter. They were destroyed. Every last member was hunted down, slaughtered and-" Dylan cut Emma off not wanting her to continue.

"Point being, no members from The Preservers were left. Now, your question was about how they preserved the bodies?" Dylan wondered, leaning forward in his chair.

"Yes." I noted kindly, rubbing my arms.

"Well, they were smart people. Very smart people. They took.. Tattoos."

My eyes shot wide open. Tattoos? As in.. HENNA tattoos!?

"Henna tattoos... Just like the ones on your.. Arms." Dylan noted uncomfortably, shifting in his chair.

I looked down at my arms, and examined.

"As I said before, they were very, very smart. They figured out a drug to put into the crushed Henna plant. I mean, you know it's a mashed up plant made into paste, correct?"

I solemnly nodded, and looked him in the eyes.

"Good." Emma spoke, probably wanting a chance to speak. Dylan continued.

"After drugging up the tattoos, they put it on hospital patients. They wanted to give them a chance if they didn't make it. Their plans were to have them wake up years later, un-aged, healed, healthy and protected. But then the economy fell. We lost lots of money to the Japanese. They also put the tattoos on other people, but it was for a big price. They also-"

"Wait wait, back up a little." I muttered, confused. "How did the drugs work? How did they.." Unable to get the question out correctly, I was able to tell Dylan understood what I was saying.

"The drugs sunk into your skin, into your veins. It took a few days, obviously. Once it got into your veins, it stopped your life, technically. It stopped your breathing, your aging, your everything. It took many years, because the drug was slowly working. It's job was to slowly heal you, as well as keeping you young and in good shape. I know it's a lot to consume, but you have to believe me." Dylan had concern laced in his voice, and it worried me.

"Of course, I understand. The henna contained of a drug that helped heal you." I stated, staring off into space. I needed to remember correctly.

"Exactly. The drug was called Nicholformina, in case you were wondering." Dylan added.

"How many people had them? How long did it last for?" I wondered, as many other questions soared through my mind.

"Lots. Lots of people had them. They woke up when they were completely healed." He stated, answering my question.

"The Henna also cured cancer." Emma added, pursing her lips. I sat in silence.

"Back to the bombing, most of the world was bombed." Dylan indicated, then yawned.

"So.. Where exactly are we now?" The question came out of my mouth without it intending to.

"We're in the hospital off of the Californian East Coast,"Dylan said, laying his head on the table. "We'll be leaving for The Preservatory shortly, though."

"Why are we going there? That seems like a place where The Preservers would work.." I noted, my voice laced with questions.

"It is." Dylan remarked, sitting up.

"How are we going to get in?" I wondered, confused by all this.

Emma and Dylan shared a nervous glance. Then they looked at me, the same look on their face.

"What?" I shouted, a little louder than I meant. I was so confused.

Sighing, Emma spoke up.

"Me and Dylan are the last two surviving members in The Preservers."