Vicarious

3

I've just finished breakfast and am stepping outside of the mess hall when I feel someone grab my arm. The grip is firm but gentle at the same time. I turn and see Aaron, and his eyes probe mine.

"I just wanted to tell you, no matter what happens, it's gonna be okay. I'm gonna be here for you."

I smile weakly. "Thanks, Aaron."

He lets go of my arm, and I walk through the doorway and into the hallway.

The walk down to the commander's office is long, and I'm getting more anxious with each step. Once I reach the door, I raise my hand and knock three times.

"Come in," says a voice from inside.

I turn the knob and push the door open to reveal two of the commanders sitting at a desk.

One of them is Teo and the other is Lucy Hollon, who is in higher standing than pretty much anyone here.

"Take a seat," Lucy says, nodding to a fancy leather chair next to Teo.

I walk over and sit down, the leather sticky against my arms.

"I assume you're wondering why we called you in here," Lucy says, her grey eyes trained on me.

I wring my hands together in my lap. "Yes, madam."

"It's not anything bad," she assures.

I still turn my eyes to Teo, looking for some kind of tell as to whether she is telling the truth, but his face is as passive as ever.

"You, among others, have been selected to try a new medication that we've been testing."

"A medication?"

"Yes. We hope it will be able to fix any adverse conditions, no matter what they are. We have been working on it for a few years in private, and we believe it is ready to be tested."

Lucy, as one of the head commanders here, knows about my health history and probably thinks this would be beneficial to me. "Is it okay if I think it over?"

"Yes, of course."

"If you experience anything off," Tao adds, "We just ask that you let us know what it is you experienced."

Lucy nods. "And if you ever want to stop taking the medication, you are free to do so."

"I hesitate for a second, unsure of what I'm about to say next. "Can I take some of the medication and try it out?"

Lucy smiles like a proud mother. "Yes, of course." She pulls open the desk drawer, takes out a pill bottle with blue pills, and hands it to me.

I roll the pill bottle in my hand. "How many do I take a day?"

"Just one," Lucy says.

"Okay."

"Thank you, Romie," she says, and its the first time I've heard her say my name in the time I've been in here.

"Of course."

"You are free to go."

I turn and feel her and Teo's eyes on me as I walk out. I hear the door click shut as I'm walking back down the long hallway. I unbutton my pant pocket and slip the pill bottle inside before buttoning it again.

When I reach my dormitory, Anna practically ambushes me on the way in.

"What'd she say?" She asks, sounding like she's been waiting this whole time just to find out. If I'm being honest, she probably has.

I look around the dorm, doing a quick check to see if we're alone. Lucy said she gave the pills to others, but I got the feeling she didn't give them to many others, and I wouldn't want everyone to see.

I unbutton my pocket and take out the small pill bottle and get my first good look at it. There's a label with nothing written on it, like someone had decided to write something but changed their mind.

"Pills?" Anna asks, her voice quiet.

"Yeah. Apparently, they're testing them out. They've been working on them for years. They're meant to be able to heal any condition you may have."

Anna holds out her hand. "Can I see?"

I place the pill bottle in her hand, and she turns the bottle as she takes a look at them.

"Huh. That'd be really good if they worked."

"Yeah. I feel like maybe they're testing them on some of us, and if they work well, they'll be tested on the public."

Anna smiles and hands the bottle back to me. "I'm a little jealous," she admits. "You getting selected to try a brand new medication that could benefit the world."

"I'm more nervous than anything," I say. "What if they have some bad side effects or something?"

"I'm sure it'll be fine, Romie. If they do have bad side effects, you can just stop taking them."

"True, Lucy did say if they didn't work our, I could just let them know and stop taking them."

"See, it'll be fine."

"Yeah," I say, more to myself than to her. "I'm sure it'll all work out."