Sky Gallery

~Chapter 11~

A girl, probably around 15, entered our room. She had long, golden hair. And 'long' is an understatement. Her hair was up to her ankle, tied at the end. Her eyes... had no pupils?

"Here is Natalia Evergreen." Sir Oaken said, clearly not noticing her eyes, I think no one else did. Everyone was so absorbed to her hair.

"Natalia, introduce yourself."

She looked at Oaken then back to us.

"Hello, I'm Natalia Evergreen. 15 and..." She broke off when her gaze met my eyes. I was taken aback, causing me to let off a quiet yelp.

"... I've come here to accomplish something." She continued, not taking her eyes of me.

"And what is that?" Oaken questioned.

"That is confidential." She finally turned her head to Oaken.

"Okay. You may sit-"

"Can I sit beside him?" She pointed to me. Shivers went down my spine.

Oaken looked stunned. "O-okay." He stuttered. Natalia walked towards me, and when she was beside me, her face wasn't facing me, but her eyes were. Those pupil-less eyes stared at me for God knows how long. When her face turned to mine, those eyes shone and turned normal.

"Is something the matter Ms. Evergreen?"

She let out a silent gasp and gracefully sat. She took a notebook and a pen out. Then she began scribbling things. I faced in front and tried to focus on Oaken's lecture.

~Puck~

A folded piece of paper softly landed on my desk. I looked at its sender. Of course, it was Natalia.

I opened it. The letter said:

Try hard and remember me, mundle.

I didn't get to finish it because my head started pounding horribly strong. Everything around me started swirling, the last I saw was her face... smirking or worry?

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"... complete. Is it time?"

It was Neal's voice. I opened my eyes to see that I was in some sort of transparent pod.

"All wires?" I'm guessing that was Kepler.

"Yes. He might awaken anytime soon in the real world." Neal explained.

All I could whisper was, "What?". I really couldn't understand. I thought I was in the real world.

"He's awake now. You better assist the poor mundle."

She glanced at me. And then she looked away and gulped. She walked towards me.

"How are you...?" She smiled sheepishly. I tried to sit up and reply but instead I was straped down to the pod.

"Oh dear. Don't. Um... you can't talk... nor can you move a muscle. So..." she stammered. "We're going to do a simple test you."

She walked back to Kepler. I couldn't hear their conversation. But it looked like Neal was begging for something.

Then as Kepler pulled a lever, I shut my eyes tight.

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-Beep Beep Beep-

"...Rew. ...Drew. ...Andrew!"

I violently sat up, and started panting like I was running a marathon in hell.

"It worked!" said a voice. Then my vision started clearing, and so did my memory.

"Andrew! Are you out of it yet?" said a voice that I think was Gab, while shaking the crap out of me.

"Huh?" I looked around. I was in a hospital. Something was connected to the back of my hand.

I felt someone hug me. Though my body ached, I returned the embrace with my free hand. The other, was of course, supporting me.

I looked around, and saw the gang looking at me with worried faces.

"Hey." Gab finally said.

"What's going on? Why am I in a hospital?" I asked.

Christa pursed her lip, looking away. While Gab was looking down on the floor.

"Answer me, you guys."

The one who's hugging me finally pulled away. It was Charlotte.

"Charlotte?" I tried to get it out of her.

"Andrew..." she said sucking her breath.

"What?" I replied.

"What's happening to you?"

I thought hard what was happening to me. What was happening to me?

"What... do you mean?" I managed to say.

"We meant why do you keep fainting?! Do you have any idea how worried we are?" Maja's voice cracked while her eyes started to water.

I was taken aback. Then the door slid open.

"Natalia?" Patrick said.

I looked at the girl walking towards me, the heels of her shoes clacking on the tiled floor.