The Inferior

CHAPTER EIGHT

Chapter Eight

I am vaguely aware of my surroundings as I hear a distant voice calling to me. "Ember, hay! Ember, come on, wake up! Come on."

     Black.

I  feel the gentle sway of being carried, although, my brain doesn't quite process it yet.

   I wake up in a room covered in white curtains, surrounding me like the inside of a box. I look over to see Colt sitting next to me in a chair. I consider closing my eyes and pretend to be asleep, but he looks up and catches my eye, and it's too late.

"What happened." I groaned.

  "There was an explosion in the science building, and you were right next to it. You got knocked out when you hit your head." He concluded.

I try to process about what he just told me.

"How did the science building just explode like that?" I ask, puzzled.

"There was a chemical reaction that went wrong, hit a gas line, and it all just blew up." He says.

"Are there any survivors?" I brace myself for the worst. But I can't help but feel glad that I was only next to it, not in it. I doun't know what it feels like to burn to death, is it long, and excruciatingly painful? Or is it more like a loud sound and then black? I hope I never have to fine out. But it could happen, if I'm not chosen, it could happen. No one has ever come back form the Relms, for all We know, everything could be on fire, or acid.

I must not think like this. if all I think about is about a possible, negative future, is't that how i'll do? Negatively?

"No. There weren't any," he said, sadness ringing throughout his voice.

     "Why were there people conducting experiments? I thought the academic phase was over?"

     "They let those who are training to be Savvyets use the labs."

Sawyets are those who are especially talented at science. They go to school for four more years to learn about stuff like medicine and technological advancement. I could never be one of them, I know that much.

    "Oh," was all I could muster up as a reply.

"Heather and Eve where he earlier, but they had to go to basketball." He said.

   "What about you? Don't you have to go to class to?" I ask.

     "I was near the explosion, so they wanted to check me to make sure I didn't get a concussion or something." He finished.

      I don't know what to think.

"How long have I been out?"

       "About an hour. Doctor says you can go when you're ready."

"Okay," I say, getting up,"let's go."

     The moment I stand up I feel nauseated and dizzy.

  "Are you sure? You don't look to good." He said.

  "No, I'm fine. We're are they?" I ask.

"In the gym. north court."

    As we start towards the shuttle stop, I notice a headache that I've had since I woke up, but never seemed to have noticed it. We ride to the gym in silence. When we walk in they are practising shooting.

     Heather notices me, and her and Eve come at me with a hug.

     "I'm so glad your okay!" Heather said relieved.

      "Well, I feel a little dizzy, but I'm fine," I smiled.

    "Well your just in time, we've only been practicing for twenty minutes."

      We all jump into line and continue with drills, and conditioning over the next four and a half hours.

I ate a big dinner, considering my lunch hour was spent in the infirmary.

"You could be related to an Elephant with that appetite," comments Eve as I devour my second hamburger.

"Do I look like the last known relative of the largest land mammal?", "Besides, I missed lunch, I'm hungry." They left me alone after that.

     When we get to the dorms, I see there's still a couple hours left, so I decide to go back out and walk around.

      I've always wondered about that giant mountain in the middle of the Academy, so I decide to go there.

     There were only a few people out, which was surprising since the weather was amazing tonight. As I approach the mountain, I notice a bunch of wires running up and down it from base to peak.

     The top looks as though it is scoping up a bunch of stars, and sprinkled them all over the peak. It was beautiful. Then I realize I'll probably have to climb it. That puts a lump in my throat. I guess I'll just have to deal with it.