The Last of the Old Ones

Amber

Chapter Fourteen: Amber

At breakfast, Colin told how he had some work to do for his dad, so I decided it was a perfect day for some exploring on my own. There was so much in the house I hadn't seen yet; I was also very interested in the factory in the basement Colin showed me last night.

After scarfing down some scrambled eggs, bacon and an avocado, I headed back down to the factory to look around. I looked at the first machine, I smiled knowing my parents had been behind this life-changing thing. It blew my mind how many people they helped and how I was a part of something so much bigger I had never known. I wanted to do something just as great as they had, I wanted to make an impact and help my people. I know I hadn't known about them for very long, but I already felt more at home here than I ever had before. I thought about the countless bullies I had dealt with at school, how I'd always just been an outcast. Then I thought about the cheery faces and celebration they had had just at my safe arrival. Most had kept their distance since, but I could tell it was out of respect for me transitioning into the program. No one avoided me, there was always a comfortable amount of small talk between them and I, I had never felt something like that before.

I watched the red liquid drips plop into the vat. Drip, drip, drip. It was a calming sight. Science had always been interesting to me so I thought about how I would ask Colin's dad if I could learn about the synthetic Iodine for my science credits (I was a little behind because the Old Ones had a different learning system than I had grown up with, I had a few more credits I needed to finish my home schooling here). I found myself wondering and looking at the machine controls. I wondered what chemicals came together to make the redness that was pooling in front of me, and how it broke down the seaweed into individual components. The end product definitely looked nothing like how it started.

After quite a long time, I headed back out of the factory room and back up to the regular basement part. I walked down the hall past the theater room, it was dark now without the screen on; I also now noticed the room next to it was connected and housed the vast movie collection, what I had seen had only been a fraction of the movies...Next, I passed a wooden room with benches lining the perimeter with a stone fire pit looking waist high pillar in the center. Directly across the hall from that room was a room that looked like it hadn't been touched since its contents were unpacked. I stepped inside the threshold and flicked on the light. Approaching the first of the bookcases that lined the walls, I ran my fingers down the spines as I read the titles; the smell of old books filling my nose. These books were for enjoyment, unlike those that lined Joseph's office purely for research. Beyond the bookcases were several plush leather recliners begging to be used, I would definitely come down here when I needed to study from now on, or even just when I needed to be away from all the other residents. One book caught my eye in particular, a black book with dark teal writing down the spine: Once Upon a Blue Moon. Hmm, surely no one would mind if I borrowed it, I thought as I pulled it out of the shelf and sifted through the pages just to hear the sound of crinkling paper. I tucked it under my arm and looked down at my phone to check the clock. Not enough time today, but I would be back. I stepped back out into the hallway and shut off the light.

Then I wandered back down the hallway and into the workout room and looked at the machines that I had at my disposal; I made a mental note to ask Colin to show me how to use some of these machines (if my life was in danger just by existing, I might as well learn how to defend myself). I felt lucky, this place was so much more than I could have ever imagined in a house. I walked across the black padded floor to the back of the room; I ran my fingers across the wall to feel the smooth texture against my skin and felt a break in the wall. I looked closer and found a little dent just big enough to fit a finger into, I put my finger in and pulled. A hidden door opened into a smaller room, there were vinyl black sheets on the wall and floor with springs holding them together, I put my hand against it, and it moved... It was bouncy. I had so many questions, I had never seen anything like this before. Behind one of the vinyl sheets was a door that led to a staircase. The staircase took me up two floors to the Galaxy room.

Upon entering the Galaxy room, I realized Colin's mother was there sitting and looking at the stars. She smiled at me. "I see you found the trampoline room; you've never seen anything like it have you?" She asked me.

I gave her a confused look, "Trampoline room?" I asked.

"Yeah, those bouncy things are trampolines, you jump on them, they are for fun. Colin and Joseph's favorite thing as a child, so we made him a special, secret room here for him. It's a good stress relief for him and it's also a good workout to stay fit. They like to go down there when they get frustrated and need to blow off some steam, of course you are more than welcome to it as well. You are like family to Joseph and I." Elizabeth explained to me.

"Thank you, I really do appreciate everything you guys have done for me so far, and my whole life I suppose." I smiled and she held her arms out to hug me, I hugged her back, and my eyes teared up. "You guys are great, but I still miss them...Or the idea of them. I have no memories; what kind of daughter can't even remember her own parents?" I wish I could've known my parents. Elizabeth rubbed my back as she hugged me.

"Just remember you have people who really care about you Darling, we will be here for you if you ever need anything from us." Elizabeth comforted me as I loosened my grip on her.

"Thanks." I smiled at her, thanking her were the only words I could think of to say with everything else clouding my mind. My transition had been rough, regardless Colin's family had done everything they could to make me feel welcome and get through it all.

Later that night at dinner Colin had asked me how my exploring went, "Well.... I spent some time in the factory looking around, it all seems so interesting..." I started, deciding I'd wait until we were alone to tell him I knew about the trampoline room. "I also watched some more of those history films after," I added, after I had talked to his mom that was. "I had a good day." I concluded. "How about you? How was working for your dad?" I asked Colin.

"Oh, you know... just your typical day on the job." Colin said nonchalantly. "So, guys, what should we do tonight?" He asked Astrid and I, we both shrugged our shoulders that we didn't know.

"I could really use some fresh air," I spoke up, "Could we just take a walk?

"Yeah, of course!" Colin piped up. "Let's grab our coats and we can go." He added, so we picked up our dishes, brought them to the kitchen and headed back to our rooms with plans to meet up in 10 minutes.