Underground

15

August
"So who loves who more?" I ask, flopping on the couch next to Trisha. 
She smiles, flicking her hair over her shoulder. "I think it's pretty equal." 
"I doubt it." Kathryn says. 
"Yeah, he totally loves her more." Rebecca chirps. 
I tilt my head. "I thought Jakob was a scumbag." 
"Not Jakob, you." Trisha clarifies. 
I roll my eyes. "Stop." 
"But that was her right?" Trisha asks. 
"Yeah, she says hi, by the way." I answer. 
The girls all do that annoying high pitched scream. 
"What are your wedding colors gonna be?" Trisha asks. 
I sigh. "Guys, she may not even feel the same way." 
"Are you kidding?" Rebecca asks. "She's the one who basically initiated your first kiss." 
"Second, technically." I murmur.
"What?!" Trisha says.
Kathryn laughs, filling her mouth with popcorn. "Aug, spill." 
"Well I may have kissed her for a cover-up once." I respond. 
Again, the annoying high pitched shrill. 
"You guys are the breathing definition of chick flicks." I say.
"Speaking of chick flicks, I say we watch Clueless." Becca says, covering herself and Atlas up with a furry blanket.
"Ugh!" I groan throwing my head back as we start to watch Clueless for the third time since they've been here.

Estelle

~2 weeks later~

I think one of the best moments of my life was seeing the sign: 'Now Entering South-Side Oregon. 
The chipped, worn, paint screamed I was nearing home, and I would see my friends again. 
"South-Side Oregon?" Luca asks, cocking his head. 
I look over at him. "I live here." 
"Oh, I've never heard of it." He says shrugging. 
"Well, welcome home Estelle, we've still got like 10 minutes til we get to the labs." She says, focusing on the packed roads. 
"Great." I say, smiling, looking at the brick walls of the office buildings lining the street. 
Luca was looking outside in amazement, obviously never being in such a big city. 
I point at a brick building. "That's my apartment building." 
"Cool." Luca says, watching it go by. 
After a couple minutes, we sped past Nigel and Jane's house, a few of the lights on, signifying Jane and Logan were home. 
"We'll have to take the back entrance." Felicity says, taking a right. 
"Why?" I ask. 
Felicity scoffs. "This is the first place they'll look for you." 
"Then why are we going?" I ask, perking up. 
"Touch your bloody bandage." 
"Oh." I say. 
She pulls into the parking lot, hastily parking the car before ushering us out, into the back entrance. 
We walk to the front, nonchalantly. 
A new girl sits at the front dest, her curly blonde hair pulled into a ponytail, and her clothes dark, she was obviously just out of college.
"Hello." She says in a light voice. 
I smile. "Hi." 
"Do you have an appointment with any of the scientists?" She asks. 
I shake my head. "I'm an intern to Dr. Needly and Nigel Hormin." 
"Oh, do you want me to ring them and tell them that you're here?" 
Again, I shake my head. "I'd like it to be a more surprise." 
"Are your friends gonna wait here?" She asks. 
I nod. 
"Go right up." She smiles. 
I turn to Felicity, shoot her a look that says: 'Wait here.'
Then, I turn away and walk up the stairs, scanning the familiar doors until I see the one reading Dr. Needly and Hormin. 
I rap the door with my knuckles. 
"Abagail, how many times do we have to tell you she fell off the map?" Nigel asks from inside. 
I stay silent. 
"Abby?" Jackson asks, ripping the door open. 
I look up and meet his surprised eyes. "Hi." 
"Nigel." Jackson says, looking back at his older friend. 
I hear footsteps then Nigel appears next to Jackson.
"Oh, hello." I say, looking up at him.
They both look at me, mouths agape.
"Atleast invite me in." I joke.
Nigel was the first to move, wrapping his arms around me. "We thought you died."
I smile. "Thanks for the concern."
"Call Logan and Jane." Nigel orders. 
Jackson nods and scurries into the office. 
"Did you walk?" He asks. 
I shake my head. "Somebody helped me escape, along with someone else." 
"Who?" He asks, holding me at arm's length.
"Her name is Felicity Poppins, the other person is Luca Abernathy." I say, nodding my head. 
"Where are they now?" He asks. 
"They're in the lobby." I answer. 
He nods. "I'll have Sunny send them up."
He pulls me into the familiar office, where my journey began, except as of today, it was filled with empty energy drinks and to-go cups, along with a few burger wrappers. 
"It's a mess in here." I say, looking around. 
Jackson nods. "We started freaking out when you fell off the laboratory's security cameras." 
"I should've called you." I say, holding up my phone, which was quickly snatched by Nigel, who gave it a look over. 
"We're gonna examine this for a few days." He says, pocketing the phone. "Just in case there's some sort of chip in it." 
The door creaked open, revealing Felicity, with Luca behind her, fear in his eyes. 
"This is Felicity and Luca, correct?" Nigel asks. 
I nod, opening the door and ushering them in. 
Luca stood, looking at the floor, his shoulders shaking in fear. 
"Luca." I say softly, looking at him. 
He looks up at me, a pink flourish on his cheeks. 
"They're not gonna hurt you." I say, once again softly. 
He nods, walking quickly to my side. 
Nigel smiles softly at Luca, before continuing his intellectual conversation with Fizz and Jackson. 
"See?" I whisper in his ear. 
He nods, still looking absolutely terrified. "I'm still scared, no matter how much you reassure me, I'm going to be afraid." 
"Do you want a hug?" I ask softly, feeling quite silly at my comfort method. 
He shakes his head. 
I nod, leaning against Jackson's desk. 
The door creaks open once again, revealing a tired-looking Jane and Logan. 
"Do you need something deary?" Jane asks. 
Logan's eyes darted around the room looking around in confusion. 
"Well, we found Estelle." Jackson says. 
Logan's eyes land on mine. "E?" 
"Yup." I smile. 
She pushes past her mom and throws herself in my arms. 
Jane looks wide-eyed at me. "Estelle, sweetie, your head." 
I reach up and touch my bandage, which obviously wasn't very absorbent anymore.
I felt warm, thick, liquid draining, just below the cotten-y bandage.
"Oh yeah." I blick, feeling myself go lightheaded. "There was a reason we're here."