I tilt my head up from the floor and am startled when I realize everyone's attention is directed towards me. The eyes around the circular table are intently staring me down, as if they were waiting for an answer.
I fumble for something to say to them, even though I never really herd what was said.
I hesitantly clear my throat.
"I'm sorry, could you repeat that?" The words come out slow, quiet and confused.
Vivian immediately jumps on the opportunity to embarrass me when she says:
"Oh my god Ava! If you were paying the slightest bit of attention to our conversation here, you might know what the heck is going on!"
There is an awkward silence between us. The tension in the room is heavy like a thick blanket of fog resting on our shoulders. Minutes go by before someone speaks again.
"Anyways, genius here, " Vivian smirks pointing to Kass. "Actually came up with a fairly decent plan."
Kass' face lights up at the recognition.
I shine a bright smile in Kass' direction. "That's great Kass! Let's hear it!" I beam.
She straightens her spreadsheets and journals on the hard wood in front of her.
Her voice is bright and hopeful as she speaks. "Okay, so I did some research and found out that there is a way to end the stages."
She looks around at all of us, and notices that we're hanging on to every word she says. She smiles with satisfaction and continues.
"So you know how a few years ago the scientists were working on some kind of contraption that was supposed to sustain Earth's atmosphere and stuff?" She says this with an enthusiasm that makes me think for a moment that she's just joking, and that she is just playing a trick on us.
All of us nod slowly and apprehensively, not knowing exactly where she is going with this.
"And do you remember when the project failed and was shut down entirely?"
"Yeah." We all say in an indifferent monotone that contrasts so much with Kass' growing excitement.
"Well what if I told you...that there was a way that we could open the project back up again? - and this time, I know exactly what we need to do."
Everyone just sits there for a moment, awestruck by this sudden opportunity of hope that is being presented to us.
"That's impossible! The Stabilizer Project has been shut down for years! There is absolutely no way we are opening that one up again." As always, Vivian feels obligated to rush in and strike down the plan even before it becomes one.
I roll my eyes and look around the circular table to catch a glance at the other's expressions. I can tell from the looks of their faces that they are still processing and understanding the sudden opportunity.
"So if we were to open The Stabilizer Project back up, what exactly would we need to do? - like what's the plan?" I ask skeptically.
With an un-phased smile, Kass says: "I'm glad you asked Ava! So I was sifting through the observation sheets and closed files of The Stabilizer Project, and I discovered the real reason the experiment failed...apparently, the machine that was supposed to stabilize the Earth, had a few missing pieces, that the scientists were never able to recover. So the here's the plan: we would need to find these 5 objects that were once scattered among the planet in various unknown locations." She says as she gestures towards her journal of sketches.
Everyone leans in towards the center of the table, eagerly trying to steal a glance at Kass' sketches.
As I wedge my way through, trying to catch a glimpse of the drawings, the first sketch that catches my eye makes my heart stop.
It's a drawing of a beautiful flower.
The exact same flower that is engraved in the golden locket my mother gave me before she disappeared.
Instinctively, I grab my necklace which is hanging loosely around my neck. I hold it tight with my fingers and don't dare let it go.
"When do we start?" I manage to choke out in a stunned voice.
"We just did." Kass beams.
