Inbetweeners

Untitled Part 2

The periodic bright light I noticed is coming from a disco ball, held up by a dirty white shoelace, and hanging about 15 feet in front of me, reflecting natural daylight from the window to my left. There was a low, beaten up, red couch against one wall, with a stained white-and-blue stripped love seat creating an L shape. A glass coffee table occupied the middle, littered with papers, magazines, a couple books, and the odd mug or bowl. The bookshelf to my right towered almost to the ceiling, and was packed with all books imaginable. Textbooks, novels, journals, etc. There was a wood door directly behind me with a window pane near the top that had spider cracks all throughout. I ran a hand through my hair but stopped when I heard footsteps slowly approaching from the other side of the door. 

The door opened to expose a young child, about 6 or 7 by my estimations. She had beach blond hair that fell into tight ringlets in front of her striking blue eyes. Seriously this was the prettiest kid I had ever seen in my life, hands down. She starred at me without blinking or saying a word. Despite the 10ish year age gap between us, I was starting to get a little intimidated my her. I open my mouth to ask her what the hell was going on, but I had no idea where to start, so I just closed my mouth again. 

"Whatchu die of?" She asked.

"Osteocarcoma" I replied, "bone cancer" I added when I saw the look of confusion on her face.

"Ostiocercuma" she tried repeating. I said it back to her until she got it right. "I think thats what Johnny had, but he left us now." 

"I'm Annie" I said, extending my hand.

She shook it, and it was then that I noticed my hand actually resembled one of a regular teenage girl, and not a dying and sick one. It was beautiful to look at.

" Michelle, but everyone calls me Mickey"

"I uh, well i don't - what did.. are you dead?" I finally sputtered out.

She walked past me to the red couch and sat down. I followed and sat on the love-seat, which was much more comfortable than I expected. 

"Yup, since I was 2. Died in a car crash, thats what Isaac told me." She sat up a little straighter and puffed her chest out, "he's the best."

"I'm sure. Do they live here too? Is there an adult I could talk to?"

"No adults, but older kids should be coming back soon."

"Do you know how many people live here?"

" Seventy-six, but I reckon seventy-seven with you now" Said a deep voice behind me.

"Isaac!!" Shrieked Mickey, as she ran and jumped into his arms. 

"Hey there sport! "He said as he rubbed her hair, much to her dismay. "Whose our new friend?"

"Thats Annie ocreostocoma "She whispered the last part.

"Osteocarcoma" I corrected, "but Annie works just fine."

Isaac extended his hand to me, "Hi Annie its a pleasure to meet you. Isaac. If you want, I'll do my best to explain whats going on."

"Yes please, I'd love that"

He sat down on the red couch with Mikey on his lap.

"Welcome to tower 1854. There are towers like this all over the world. Sometimes multiple in big cities, sometimes only one in smaller towns. Some really small towns don't have any but nearby towers will be sent there in case of an emergency." He must have noticed the absolute look of confusion on my face.

"Right okay, lets start at the beginning. You are dead. I am dead. Mikey is Dead. Everybody living in this tower and all the others are dead. But you'll come to notice that nobody is older than 20. Essentially, we're too young to go to the next level. And no, before you ask, I don't know what the next level is. So we're kept here, to, well grow up. But its not without work. 

We're like, the first responders of the dead. See in in crisis situations, when someone can choose to keep fighting or to give into death, we come along and do our best to encourage them to keep fighting. It doesn't always work. Sometimes they just can't physically continue, sometimes they just don't care anymore. But for as many as we loose, we do save a good chunk. Right any questions?"

"Yes, well lots. I'm uh, I'm not sure where to start. How long have you been dead?"

"I died of shaken baby syndrome when I was 2 months old. I'm now one of the longest residents here. Laquisha, she's been here the longest. She died of a rare genetic disorder just minutes after birth. Tony's been here the second longest, he got a nasty case of bacterial sepsis, and died at about 3 weeks of age. There's about a 2 year gap, then there's Francine, Ayita, Nick, Ethan and I who are all about 17. How old did you say you were?"

"I didn't, but I just turned sixteen about a month ago. Who takes care of the babies, like when you first came?"

"The older kids. We set up a schedule so there's usually about one to every four infants. Once they reach five though they're kinda given a lot more free reign, but for some reason being a dead child kinda gets rid of all the behavioural problems so its pretty easy."

"Isaac? Hun where are you? It's date night babe, and I want some pizza." This beautiful girl turned the corner. and immediately went to give Isaac and Mikey a kiss. She was First Nations and had long, silky black hair and deep chocolate brown eyes. 

"Ayita, honey, this is Annie. She's new here. Osteocarcoma."

Ayita smiled warmly at me. "Welcome" she said, "I'm sorry you're dead. But you'll like it here. Its like a big residence. Well, what I would imagine a residence to be, see I died when I was thirteen from drowning. But thats all in the past now isn't it? Have you met the gang? No? You look about  15, 16 yes? 16? yes well you'll fit in smashing with our group. Let me show you around, since Isaac is inapt when it comes to welcoming newbies."

"Oy, thats not fair, I gave her the run down!" Isaac exclaimed. 

Ayita patted his hand condescendingly, "yes i'm sure you did a fantastic job. Why don't you go change into something less grungy and I'll give Annie the grand tour, ya? Just do it, k? Thank you." She gave him a deep kiss to which Mikey started to pretend throw up, making me laugh and Isaac to put his hand on her face and shove her off his lap onto the couch. 

"Mikey help Isaac pick something out, ya? Everybody knows you have the best taste in 1854." Mikey giggled but proceeded to take Isaac's hand and lead him out of the room.

"Right, ready for the grand tour?" She said, and led me out of the room.