All Which Remains

Chapter 25

Chapter 25

Arron

We walk back to the dorms in silence. The director pointed us in the right direction before picking up his phone and walking away. I'm so tired. Mom was right. It's hard to do two simulations back-to-back. I look at White and Brown. I think Dad called White 'Ramelan'. Is that his real name?

I poke White in the arm. "Hey, is Ramelan your name?"

He shrugs. "I think it is."

I look over at Brown. "What's yours?" I ask him.

"Mine is... Um, Fad-fadhlan? I- I'm not exactly sure." I nod.

Silence once again. Thankfully, we reach the dorm door and go our separate ways. I sit on a chair in front of the fireplace. Most of the other children have gone to bed. I can hear some of them snoring.

I stare into the fire. I feel tired, but I don't want to sleep. It feels like my world was turned upside down in one night. Some of my memories are starting to come back, but they're ones from when I was little.

My most prominent memory is before my parents showed me the world they'd created underground. I was walking home from preschool with them. I was holding both of their hands. It's a rose-tinted memory, but I was happy back then.

A tear slips out of my right eye and drops down on my hand. Someone hugs me from behind. It's a comforting feeling.

I lean into it.

Fadhlan

I can't sleep. I'm lying down in the bunk bed I fell out of earlier, but the exhaustion I'd felt on the walk back to the dorms has left. I turn around in bed and look at the fireplace. The room is warm; it makes me feel lethargic. I snuggle down under my blanket and curl into a ball. I hear two quiet voices, and they lull me to sleep.

Farrah

I need to fire The director. Ever since Arron woke up, he's been on edge. I rest my head on my desk. I need sleep. I don't know when the last time I slept was.

I sigh and rub my face. I need to finish this email, then I can sleep.

I start typing again, but my mind isn't focused on it.

I hear a knock at my office door.

"Come in," I call as I close my computer.

The director opens the door.

Why is it always him? I give him a pleasant smile.

"Farrah, we need more experiments if you're going to get rid of three of them," He says, closing the door behind him.

"How many more do you think?"

"About five in case some of them die in the process." He picks at his nails.

He always has to remind me of that day.

"I'll ask Farbi," I say, shuffling some papers around on my desk.

"Good, when should I expect the delivery?"

I want to say 'never', but control myself.

"In a few weeks, at least. Oh, and, Tuhan, one more outbreak and I'll fire you," I say, locking eyes with him.

"How dare you," he growls at me.

"Get out of my room." I can be just as feisty. I swear, someday this man is going to push me over the edge.