Reading Between the Lines

Chapter 11: Eye-Scratcher

Same day...

"WHAT?! Why is this paper saying I'm a werewolf?"

"Your pH falls within that range right now. But we have to make sure that this isn't a fluke. Would it be alright if we do it again?" he asks, but I'm too scared of what to say.

With how much Aarav explained everything, he was right when he said that this world is pretty wack. But what does pH have to do with anything? And how does it drop so low?! HOW DOES IT KILL A VAMPIRE?! I need answers.

I'm just afraid that it'll change everything.

Oh, what am I saying? Everything has already changed up to this point. A PARALLEL UNIVERSE EXISTS! That's enough to prove that life is gonna be different now.

"H-how?" I tremble, seeing the bolded word inked across the paper. This better be a joke. Just a machine error. If not, I don't know what that means for me.

But I want an explanation. For everything. Maybe, in some twisted way, it will give me some closure. Confirmation that this wasn't a nightmare.

"I'll do it," I agree reluctantly, and Aarav gives me a proud smile before he stands up and grabs the papers. "Don't worry. We promise that we'll help you regardless of what happens," he pats my back comfortingly, making me feel a little better. He may be pretty young, but he's definitely mature for his age. Even though I only met him 30 minutes ago, he seems very dependable.

But still... who is this guy? At this point, he's gotta be Naishal and Divya's brother. He has Divya's patience and Naishal's easygoing personality. He's literally an older version of both of them combined.

"Let's go," Aarav declares confidently as Araminta gives me a shoulder rub to calm me down.

As we walk to the clinic, I begin to realize the severity of the situation. I came to a college that wasn't even meant for me, and now there's a parallel universe with fictional creatures? And I could've been a werewolf this entire time? It's too much to process at once.

But with what I've learned today with Aarav's help, I've come to understand something else:

My life will never be the same again.

***

As we walk to the clinic, Aarav and Araminta tell me more about this place, the NWBIH. They told me that it stands for the Netherworld Bureau of Investigation and Hospital, and it's an actual combination of an investigative agency and a medical center for severe injuries and diagnostics. Araminta told me that getting a job here is a big deal since it requires two degrees: one in criminal justice and one in medicine.

No wonder they knew so much about lab reports, vitals, and blood. All the agents here are listed doctors!

"By the way, before we do the lab work, you have some visitors," Araminta tells me sneakily while she opens the giant wooden doors to the clinic.

"Who?" I wonder as I look around the giant clinic to see who she's referring to. But the moment my eyes lock onto familiar large brown ones, I know exactly who she's talking about.

"VANI! You're okay!" Divya yells excitedly before she stands up and blitzes over to us. Tusharika sees me wearing her clothes and gives me a little wink and a thumbs up, but I can see her smiling adorably too, as if in relief.

I see the others smiling as they see me walking normally, but I can tell they're holding back. Vaibhav immediately darts back from walking towards me, scratching his neck as he sees me looking at him. Instead of winking at me, he gives me a shy smile. Vinnie waves at me awkwardly with a clenched smile, having no idea what to do. Sam just rubs her elbow in discomfort but still has a smile on her face.