Society of the Kuvek

Chapter 8

    Dujuik takes me to the outside of an old, light blue pickup truck; the same one I saw the day I died. He walks to it and, opening the door, motions for me to enter first; I begin to think that he's crazy but then I remember that he, and two other people came from there and for all I know, there are more. I decide to throw my bag in first and then, not hitting anyone, step in myself. I straighten to full height and look at the ceiling, at least two feet above me. I look around and note that, at the steering wheel, pedals, gearshift, and various maps, I've entered a driving area. I spot a doorless opening and pick up my bag before I step through; I enter a living room, kitchen, and dining area put together in one large room separated only by mismatched furniture. I look around and see many people. A light skinned brown-haired woman in her early thirties and a man in his twenties with light-brown hair and tanned skin putting supplies away. I see the woman I saw before, with light skin and almost white hair, cut to her chin, sitting in a gray chair drawing something in a small notepad. I feel Dujuik's presence behind me as an elevator loudly opens into the living area, spilling forth two identical young boys with fiery red hair and pale skin covered in freckles. Everyone looks at me with curiosity.

    "I thought we agreed it was too dangerous to take another Kuvek with the SKD down?" The brown haired woman questions Dujuik and she looks at me, though not unkindly. The blonde-haired woman looks up from her notebook.

    "You look familiar," she says. Well, at least my death didn't go as unnoticed as I'd hoped. Behind me, Dujuik clears his throat.

    "This is Terin, he died a year ago in province seven," he answers for me, going straight to the point.

    "You were the kid who jumped from the building," the blonde-haired woman says in disbelief.

    "Yeah," I respond, hating how stupid I must seem.

    "How are you alive?" The brown-haired woman asks but before I have the chance to answer that I don't know, Dujuik cuts in.

    "Terin, this is Wequ, Zhea and Ferixc," he says, gesturing to the brunette, the blonde and then the brown haired man, in that order, "and those two are Xeris and Heloni," Dujuik finishes, pointing to the red haired twins.

    "Everyone, Terin is going to be staying with us until figure out how he came back to life," Dujuik says, addressing Wequ, Ferixc, Zhea, Xeris and Heloni.

    "Hopefully, he will be able to get his Kuvek gift back as it has been missing since he died," Dujuik adds and I look at everyone's curious faces and stop at Wequ; I've always been good at reading people and her expression isn't one of disinterest but her face twists and she looks as is she's trying to look as surprised and confused as everyone else. However, underneath that she knows something. She catches me studying her but I don't look away; I know something's off with her, that she knows something, and I need to know what.

   "Come with me Terin, I'll show you where you can stay," Wequ says and walks off toward the elevator.

    "Thanks," I say to Dujuik as I follow her. In the elevator, I attempt to say something as we go up but the elevator is so loud that I wouldn't be able to hear myself speak and I close my mouth. The door opens and we step out.

    "Follow me," Wequ says as the doors shut. She walks down a hallway and I follow at her heels; she stops by the last door on the left.

    "You can stay in here, the bathroom is across to the right," Wequ opens the door and I step in after her. I look around; the bed is pushed up against the wall opposite the door a small dresser and desk are pushed against the same wall as the door. I place my bag on the floor and notice Wequ staring at me and I return the look; I know that she knows something and I want her to tell me what it is. She continues to look at me and I speak, putting my question into words.