The Deltas

Chapter 6

   The room was all black, the weightlessness stopped and I could tell that I was on the ground but I still couldn't see anything. 

   "Riley?" A soft voice said.

   Sounds, sounds are good. If I can still hear than that means I'm alive. I tried to speak but the words got jumbled up and it just sounded like a cough. Firm hands grabbed my shoulders. They were strong and sweaty. My body started violently shaking, whoever was grabbing me, they sure wanted me awake. The hands shook me harder and faster until they let go. And something that felt as strong as lighting struck my face. After it hit, my body flew outwards and I hit something hard and cold. 

   My vision came back, but everything was so foggy. I stood and my vision completely come back. I was in a very huge room with no windows. The floor was white tile that had scratches on it. The walls were gleaming with shine and the color matched the floors, minus the scratches. The room was really bright and littered along the wall were tables with computers on them.

   "Riley!" The voice said again, but this time louder.

   I spun around and the 'voice' was only Anna and based on the way her hand was up in the air, I just assumed that she slapped me. Behind her were my classmates, well some of them. It was only me, Anna, Andy, Antonio, Jamie, Eli, and the girl Andy was carrying. They were all sitting at grey desks. My attention suddenly diverted to Andy. Andy! The first thing I did was look at him. His arm seemed to be normal but just to be sure, I went over to him and squeezed it.

   "Ow! What the heck are you doing?" He said, swatting my hand away.

   "Um I was just...checking blood pressure?" I said with a fake smile. I desperately tried to change the topic.

   "Anyways, how'd I even get he-" 

   "Experimental Davecorp Teleporters." Rohan said. 

   Davecorp. Like in my dream.

   "What's Davecorp

   "A multi-million dollar company owned and operated by genius philanthropist Rishabh Dave. They produce many devices that are considered modern technological advances in the science field. Teleporters, space ships, radioactive weapons."

   "Ok?" I said, walking over to the group.

   "So, you all know why you're here right?" He said to us. There were a few yes's from us.

   "Ok then! Let's begin with science as soon as my colleague gets here." He said glancing at his watch.

   I heard footsteps behind me and everyone, including me turned around. Her. It was the woman from my dream. But that was impossible! I'd never even met her! She was wearing jeans with a grey shirt and a leather jacket with it. Her hair was up in a Princess Leia type bun. She looked straight at me and extended her arm. I just stared at her, words weren't working for my mouth.

   "Birdie." Was all I could say.

   I heard Antonio's irreplaceable laugh behind me. She cocked her head at me and smiled. It seemed like she was humored more than she was confused. I took that as my cue to sit down. I took a seat next to Antonio and turned around to look at her.

   "Hi, I am professor Zaina. Rohan's...colleague." She said to the class.

   "Alrighty! Let's start science. I talked to your science teacher Mr. Evans and I plan to pick up on where you left off in your classes." Rohan said.

   "So let's start with the basic concepts of speed and time. The aspects of speed are based upon the relative-"

   I stopped listening to him because Antonio pinched my arm.

   "So what was the birdie thing all about?" He whispered to me.

   "I don't know I just...um...I was daydreaming."

   "Yeah right."

   <Pay attention Riley, you will want to listen to what I am trying to teach you.> Rohan said.

   "Sorry sir." I said a little too loudly.

   The entire class, including Antonio stared at me looking puzzled. I sank back in my seat feeling embarrassed. I decided to start listening to him.

   "Anyways, let's start talking about different changes that you may have been going through. Not puberty, but anything else. Are you feeling small, angry, confident, stretchy or even fast. Anyone care to share?" My first thought was the time-slows. I considered standing up but Andy beat me to it.

   He stood up and Rohan stepped back to make him the center of attention. Andy was the toughest and most confident guy I knew but right now he looked vulnerable and scared. His eye bags were so big that it looked like he hadn't slept in days.

   He took off the gray pull over he was wearing and underneath he revealed several metal wires tied around his arms, legs, and neck. I got really confused on what was happening. Anna looked more intrigued than confused. 

   He took off the wires by sliding them down his long, muscular arms. And they drooped to the ground. He was standing up but his arms reached to the ground and were stretching and forming a spiral on the ground that looked like vanilla ice cream. The entire room went silent. I was half believing and half hoping that this was another dream. I looked up at his face and a single tear dripped down his cheek. The only words that broke the silence were:

   "What is happening to me?"