Project: Revenant

Chapter 3

[Hector]

I had placed the picture that Esther gave me on my desk. It's strange; that is it's strange to see them. My dad used to take me all over the world; he wanted me to see every corner of it. So from the great mountain ranges of Nepal to the beaches of Thailand, all the way to the lakes and mountains of Skardu, Pakistan. And my mother, she always loved me. If I ever felt small, I could count on her to help me get back up on my feet. They were excellent people, and all I want is to be home in their arms. Nothing else matters.

Somehow I knew about Esther's name. How? I had never read The New Testament, and I hadn't a clue about any Irish phrases. Yet in the depths of my mind, I could hear her voice telling me her name. It was as if her unprotected thoughts were no longer just hers—just a whisper in a never-ending void.

I immediately knew why this was, I don't understand how I knew, but it was a feeling.

I sit on my bed, where I always sit. The meal that Esther had brought me remains on the desk, untouched. Dust lies on the books that were on the shelf, and the TV remains lifeless, like me. I stand and walk over to push a blue button on the glass wall. 

 A few moments pass, and Dr. Gillespie enters the room. "Yes, Hector? What can I do for you?"

"I want to get out of this room," I said.

She shuffles closer to the screen, "I told you, Hector, you can't leave until I examine you more."

"I don't care if I can't leave the building or wherever we are, but I want to leave this room." 

She stands still and thinks, and it didn't take long until I heard her voice, but not from her mouth. It's not a thought but a feeling. Fear.

"Why are you afraid of me?" I demand.

She seems surprised by my question. "I'm not afraid of you."

"You are. I know you are. I don't know how I know, but I can feel that you are afraid of me. Did I do something?" 

"No, of course not." She said.

"So then what are you afraid of? I can tell that it's me, but I don't know why."

"Hector I-" She falls silent, and she appears to have some sort of new understanding or idea. "Earlier this morning, what you said about my name, you never read about it, did you?" She asks. I shake my head. "But it became clear in your mind?"

"Yes." 

"Look, Hector. There's so much more I need to know about you, the off-world particle is a dangerous thing, and now I am afraid that something is going on inside you that I do not understand."

Anger becomes apparent in all of my mannerisms, "Don't talk to me about not understanding! I don't understand how I'm alive, I don't understand how I'm twenty-three, and I don't understand what you're doing every day while I sit here in this fucking room like I'm some sort of prisoner! I don't care if I have to wait to leave this place, but I am so sick of not knowing what is happening to me! I want to be apart of this, and I want to get out of this room!" I shout.

She takes a step back. I can feel her heart race. Now she really is afraid. I submit to my bed, "I'm sorry," I said.

"It's okay, Hector. I understand. I-I think you have an excellent point. It's not fair for me to leave you in the dark."

A moment of silence passed. "Can I ask why I still feel your fear?" I ask.

She looks at me, unsure of how to answer. "I'll be right back." She said as she walks out the door. When she came back, she held a heavy-looking case. She enters my room and places it on my desk. 

"What is it?" I ask.

She opens it and says, "It's what is inside of you." 

I centered my sight on a sealed vile with a swirling substance inside of it. It was beautiful like someone had placed a piece of the galaxy in a glass bottle. "Can I?" I ask, indicating that I want to hold it. 

"Yes." She said.

I pick it up and observe the substance. "It feels like a heartbeat," I said.

"Isn't it fascinating?" 

"I thought you said that there was no more left."

"There wasn't. This came from the blood sample that I received from you this morning." She said.

"I thought you said the toxicity in my blood was going down."

"It is. I suspect that by the end of this week, the toxins will be completely terminated."

"So, how is this happening?" I ask.

"Are you aware of bone marrow?" I shook my head. "Well, bone marrow is what makes our blood. Now for some reason, your bone marrow has been influenced by this particle, meaning it has taken it over completely. It took me most of the day to come to this conclusion."

"So, instead of making blood, my bone marrow is making this particle?" 

"Correct."

I stood in awe for a moment until the glass began to crack. "What's happening?" I ask with concern.

"I'm not sure. Put it back quickly!" She demands.

I try to place it in the case, but the glass fractures in my hand. Esther took a step back as a dark void began to emerge in the air. It swirls and folds and then seeps into my hand. Now all that was left was broken glass from the vile and empty air.

I look to Dr. Gillespie, who stares at me stupefied. "How did you do that?" She asks. 

"I-I don't know."

"Do you feel any different?" 

"No," I said, but quickly changed my response, "Wait, yes, I do actually. Somewhat... More robust or more energized."

"I think it's time I take you upstairs." She said, "I think the moment is finally right."