expire

Chapter 8

Chapter 8

The room turned out to be an elevator, despite its large and roomy size. It jolted downwards just as I had settled myself into a comfortable standing position, and I ended up halfway to the floor once the ride had ended, clutching tightly onto the smooth handrail that ran around the full length of the lift.

Solstice laughed, “Alright down there?!” , and thrust a slender hand in my direction. I took it gratefully, tugging on it as I drew myself up to full height. I was at least two heads smaller than Solstice, although I had been the tallest in my class back home. If I could even call it that now.

“We're almost there. This elevator just took us half the way,”

An exasperated look flooded my face.“There's more?”

Solstice gave me a look that said more than I could read, and I followed her out of the sliding doors into yet another large, white space.

“Is this another elevator?”

“No. This is just the crossover point. We call it the crossroads – it's where you decide whether you want to go back, or forward.”

This made no sense to me, but I made a mental note to remind myself to ask about it later. And another question...

“Who's 'we'?”

“That would be Vicinity Twenty-four, Bi-section seven. But that's all technical; you won't remember that. We call ourselves the Dimes, short for Dimensions,”

“Dimensions?”

“The past, the present...and the future. You'll meet the rest of us soon.”

“Oh...” My voice sounded wary and unconvincing, and I suddenly realised the silent nerves sending shivers down my ceramic spine. I was so nervous I didn't even know it. Solstice gave me a comforting smile – if a glass smile could ever be considered that – and led the way into another elevator, identical to the one I had just exited, my reflection continuously shadowing me as I trailed behind her, the sight of my eyes emulated in the mirror still giving me the creeps. She pressed another of those invisible buttons – how many of them were there? - and a soft green glow shone through her hand like a light would through water. Then the doors drifted closed and the lift suddenly descended downwards, throwing me completely off balance, and not for the first time today.

Solstice, always the charmer, laughed (again), and lent me a hand. After pulling myself up, and brushing non-existent dust from my blue-dinosaur hospital gown, I looked up to find her perfect lips concealing more unuttered laughter . “Careful. Maybe next time I won't be here to help you up. But you'll get used to it. I promise,”

A small ping sounded as the lift announced we had arrived at our destination in a soothing, computerized voice.

Then the mirrored doors opened, revealing what I could only describe as a huge warehouse. Solstice placed a gentle palm on the small of my back and propelled me forward, since my body refused to move itself. I stared on in awe as people, or rather, glass models, waltzed past, with only the swish of their pattern-rich clothes and the sweet scent of perfume pursuing them giving any evidence of them having been there. Their feet made no sound, as if they were all wearing some kind of invisible slippers. In one person's hands, a wafer-thin screen was balanced, their eager eyes glued to whatever wonders it may be displaying. Larger copies of these hovered on the walls, displaying large images of new clothing, food and drink, and boxes of text my eyes flickered past too quickly for me to read. The whole place was white, with numbers glowing in a pale blue colour every couple of metres or so along the walls. It was all so futuristic, with fancy clothes and complex technology flashing everywhere you looked.

The floor was flat and shiny, it's white surface reflecting my face, along with Solstice's, and the shadows of many other passers-by. It was split only by two rounded rectangles of bright, exotic green plants, casting broken shade on the smooth slick floor. It was very much like a modern reception area, but a whole lot more beautiful, and so squeaky clean. I felt like an imposter as I gingerly took a step onto the clear white flooring. I had suddenly become incredibly self-conscious over my choice of clothing. A shapeless, blue-dinosaur-patterned hospital gown was obviously not the trend here.

Through my translucent feet, I could see the slightly wobbly image of the floor below, refracted through my glassy foot. My toes glistened, as if they were made of diamond, and I was suddenly fascinated by the thousands of tiny sparkly facets embedded within my toenails. It was like wearing nail varnish, minus the nose-burning stench and the vivid colours.

“Having fun there?” Solstice's voice carried over the gentle hubbub of murmurs and rushed speech, an air of dignity laced through her words, the sound of it like wind chimes being whisked away with the breeze. For a moment I was mesmerized, before I collected myself and realised that I must look like a total dork, just standing there staring at my toes. I'm sure there must be more interesting things to look at than my feet.

“Hmmmm...where are we going, exactly?”

“The Acquisition Room, first, to get you all sorted out. You'll also get some new clothes. I hope you weren't planning on staying in that thing,” She eyed my gown warily, before laughing at my expression and leading me across the slippery floor, she gliding, me sliding, until we reached a small alcove in the polished wall. In glowing blue lettering were the words : Acquisition Room .1 , positioned beside an almost imperceptible doorway, and yet another one of those invisible buttons. Just as I knew she would, Solstice reached out her slender fingertips and pressed the circular door-opener. Then a green light blossomed beneath her hand, and the door silently slid open.