With Our Last Words We Lie

Blood, Body and Brain

The ten flatmates left together the next morning, offering a welcome distraction to Leo, who was filled with dread at the prospect of the test.

Nobody was willing to discuss what would happen but promised they'd talk about their own experiences that evening.

Hattie walked beside Leo, slightly behind the rest of the group. She was chatty but not in the same annoying way as Jude.

While she asked questions, she didn't push for answers, and she moved the conversation along when Leo showed any sign of being uncomfortable.

It turned out Hattie had her memory wiped before settling in. According to her, almost everyone did eventually.

'Did Jude?' Leo found himself asking.

'That's for Jude to tell you if he wants to,' Hattie replied.

Leo nodded. People here were a lot more private than he was used to. Nobody disclosed too much information about themselves, and they almost never talked about other people's business.

It made it impossible for Leo to find out more about his flatmates, as he felt awkward asking personal questions. He had no trouble answering them, though.

They'd been talking about music, which was Leo's biggest (and maybe only) passion. Music wasn't that important here, though, much to Leo's dismay, and so Hattie wasn't sure who any of his favourite bands were.

He told her about My Chemical Romance, Fall Out Boy, Panic! At The Disco, Green Day, Avenged Sevenfold, Evanescence... Reeling off their best songs, their most poignant lyrics, and which band members he idolised.

His new friend nodded along politely, but by the time he'd stopped talking they were almost at The Discovery Suite.

'Why do you listen to such sad music?' Hattie asked him.

It caught Leo off guard. He didn't view the music as sad, per se. Instead, he considered the songs to be meaningful and deep, relating to specific situations that were... well, sad.

He shrugged.

'Dunno. Just good bands, that's all,' he grumbled.

Hattie wrapped her warm fingers around his hand, squeezing gently.

'I didn't mean anything by it, love,' she said. 'You'll have to lend me your CD player so I can have a listen.'

He looked up at her and smiled, trying to tell her that he was grateful, really. He needed to stop being so defensive or else nobody would want to talk to him.

The group left him outside The Discovery Suite at 9:45am. Hattie pulled him in for a quick hug and wished him good luck. Leo blushed. Hattie was warm and kind, she smelled like Spring and Leo blushed as the girl winked at him before leaving.

Jude paused briefly as the rest of their flatmates waved and walked away, looking on the edge of words before turning on his heel.

'See you later,' Leo called out.

Jude whipped around, looking pleased all of a sudden.

'Good luck,' he replied.

And Jude was alone, standing in front the tall glass doors of a big, domed building. He told himself not to worry – after all Hattie and Jude had done this, so he could, too.

Pushing open the heavy doors, Leo was greeted by a young man in a teal suit, who wordlessly led him through another set of doors and a long corridor into a large hall.

He'd expected to see Terra, but instead a tall man strode up to him with a smile.

'Leo, good to meet you. My name's Jeston and I'll be looking after you today,' he said. A rich Welsh accent carried his words in a soothing, singsong way.