Losing Eight Lives

29 | Eight Extra Lives

My eyes focused on a white dot as I waited in the small box. It smelled like cleaning wipes and glowed every time I inhaled.

"Alright, a light will scan you, and when you hear a buzz, you can step out of the machine." A female voice instructed.

I took deep breath after deep breath, letting the white light glide up and down my body. My legs felt suddenly weak and my arms felt heavier. But not as heavy as death.

A loud buzz filled my ears and I sidestepped to my left. Scientists greeted me with a smile and handed me new clothing. They offered me a shower, but I told them maybe later.

I tried to look passed them, at the screens that others examined.

"Results are in," said a woman flatly.

Becka stepped into the machine next and waited to be scanned.

The machine was supposed to tell us how many lives we had left. It also told us how we died.

"How many lives do I have left?" I asked innocently.

"You have . . . five," said the same woman, but this time her voice sounded confused. "The school fire was a given. Then you died of hypothermia, during the walk after the fire."

"She did?" asked a man. He approached the screen showing my results, and my ears filled with the echo of the message I heard in the machine.

"I didn't think that killed her either," the woman responded. "Then the helicopter crash. And . . . it also shows a chest wound."

They both looked at me.

My heart started pounding slightly faster as I tried to think of a believable lie. "A chest wound?" I asked, trying to sound clueless.

"Yes. Were you stabbed or shot in one of the stores you searched?" the man asked me.

"Oh!" I said, creating a lie in my head. "That's right. In an appliance store I found knives, so I kept one, tucked in my pants right here." I showed them the elastic of the front of my pants, "And I then tripped over a cord, stabbing myself, I guess. I just thought I hit my head and passed out, or something."

The man nodded, but the woman looked unconvinced.

Becka stepped out of the machine and stood next to me. She played with her fingers while waiting for a result.

"Becka," said the woman, "You now have seven lives. The school fire, and the helicopter crash. It's a good thing you weren't playing with any knives in appliance stores." She looked up at me and I felt my cheeks turn red.

Becka just nodded, and looked at me.

Even when her face was unreadable, I knew what she was thinking. Seven lives to lose.

"The scientists are going to run through the data that the scanner collected." The same two guys dressed in black stood on front of me. The shorter one spoke, "They are going to make sure your bodies are still healthy."

And worth the same amount of money, my subconscious added bitterly.

"In the meantime, you can reunite with friends. Follow us." The taller one spun around and they both started walking towards an exit.

-=-=-=-

The men opened the door to reveal the same room they put us in before Lab 6. The TV was off and the huge window still looked out into nothing.

Jace sat on the bottom bunk of the bed with his head hung low. He rested his elbows on his knees and looked at the ground. When I entered he didn't look up.

And I realized it was because he had lost hope.

"Jace," I said under my breath. He looked up at me, and his eyes lit up. But he didn't move.

"You guys will stay in here until we tell you otherwise." said the tall man.

Like we have a choice, I told him silently.

Becka and I walked into the room, and the men shut the door behind us.

As soon as the door was closed, Jace jumped up and walked towards me. He stopped right in front of me, and gave me an angry look.

My heart sank as I looked back at him. I searched his eyes for an explanation but I only found anger.

He abruptly wrapped his arms around me and held me tight. I let out a sigh of relief and hugged him back. I buried my head in his shoulder and listened to his heartbeat until I finally got the strength to speak.

"Are you mad at me?" I whispered weakly.

He let me go from the hug and stepped back, refusing to answer my question.

Carter suddenly appeared on the top bunk of the other bed. "Phoebe . . ." he said breathlessly.

"And me," Becka reminded them. "I think you forgot that I'm here too."

"Becka," Carter responded snobbishly. "We're so grateful to have you back." he said sarcastically.

Becka rolled her eyes, "Yeah I'm so excited to see you here, too."

"Guys," I said softly.

Carter groaned and rolled on his back, watching the ceiling. Becka took a seat on the floor by the huge window that took up an entire wall.

And for hours after that, we all just stayed silent.