The Playground (Book #1)

twelve

I'm vomiting, vomiting, vomiting.

My head begins to pound and my body starts convulsing. I hear Oliver calling for me, and running towards me fast. He takes my face in his hands. I fall to my knees. "Oliver look!" I say pointing to Peter. "Oh my god," he says. "That's---" "Peter Vanderbilt," I say. 

The most perfect Human in the world is dead.

Humans like that, in fact, no humans at all just appear dead in the middle of your Playground test, on a sandy beach, that some creepy ghost-like girl leads you too.

This doesn't happen. This never happens. It can't be real.

"We can't stay here," Oliver says. "We have to go." I know he's trying to sound unphased but I can tell he's just as scared as I am. "Oliver, stop! Oliver, please! We can't go!" "What do you mean we can't go Laelia. Look you found me." I really look at him, in the eyes. He is sweaty and pale and tired. "You came to find me. Not...something else." I swallow. "Now, to the package we go." He picks me up and carries me over his shoulder. "Goodbye, Ruby." He snaps at the little girl. She just stands there, looking pleased with herself. We go back up the trail and back into the frostbitten forest and he secures me into the package. I brace myself for the package to drop knowing that it will push another wave of vomit out of me. There is no doubt in my mind that what we just saw was never supposed to be revealed to us. The Enchantment would never show you a dead Doll. Dolls don't do die, humans do. Dolls simply pass on. If Ruby is showing me something real, there is absolutely no doubt in my mind that all hell will soon break loose.

-----

When we get back to The Safehouse, it is is a grassy field just side of a hill. there aren't any trees for miles. I don't take much notice of this though, because all I'm doing in crying, screaming, shivering on the floor. Everyone is surrounding me, screaming at Oliver, demanding to know what happened back there. Basil tells me not to cry, that we've won the game. Opal tells me to dry my eyes and implores me to tell her what happened. Raveena tells me to suck it up and that there's only one more game left before the test is complete. Only Basil's statement interests me because since we've won that means we are given back privileges. And of them is one we haven't used before. "Haldis," I say. "What?" They all respond. "Haldis," I repeat. "If we won, we have the ability to contact her. Haldis! I need Haldis!" "Laelia, there's only one game left," Opal says. " And based on the stats it looks like we're going to finish strong. I don't think we really need her advice this deep into things." "Oh but we do," I say. Their expression changes and they start realizing that my hysteria is no longer about Oliver. "Trust me we do. And I can't just sit here without telling her what I just saw." "And what did you see?" Raveena says. I blink at her. "What could've been so bad? I know you see things Laelia. I overheard you that day. Stop scaring everyone and just play the games." "I'm not making these things up! I'm not!" "How can we be so sure? We've never seen her. That girl." "Ruby," I say. "So the ghost has a name." She says. "Raveena, what is it with you? Why can't you just have a normal conversation without being on your high horse?" She says. "Laelia there is not a single thing I wouldn't do to get out of here. I want to leave and finish this stupid freaking test just as much as any of you. It's not a high horse your seeing sweetie its high anxiety. And it's because I have you two." She points at Oliver and I. "The two weirdos who see ghosts. I mean what the heck is that?" "Raveena..." Basil says. "Raveen nothing!" They look at each other, fire in their eyes. I wait for Basil to stand up for himself, but he doesn't. "Just let me speak to Halids," I say finally. "That's all I ask." Raveena looks at me a long time before speaking again. "Fine. But after that no more ghost stories. I mean it." Opal rushes over to the computer and requests the yellow vile, which according to her screen has the liquid of communication. It comes up the shoot and into our Safehouse. "Drink this." She says handing it to me as I sit on the couch. "And when you come back, tell us what she says." I nod. I take the vile from her hand and I drink.