Error Code 503

Chapter 7- A Needed Explanation

No matter how many times I watched her practice, I still couldn't believe it was real.

"The rest of you still have the chance to gain powers. Again, I brought six vials." Aleksandre reminded us.

"Is that a good idea?" Tara said, her voice quiet and dry.

"I don't know. It could be useful to fight those guards and to save Karina." Nate stated.

"Did you take the information on the drug?" Aleksandre asked Nate.

"Yeah, I took it all and wiped the system." Nate answered, taking out the bear flash drive.

Cedric got up and stretched. "I'm gonna get the beds ready. Want to help me?" He asked Irene, Tara, and I.

"Sure. Is there enough for everyone?" I answered.

"Yes. My room has two beds--my queen and another pullout queen. We can grab the air mattress and someone can sleep on the couch." He said.

"I'll go grab the air mattress." Irene said, marching upstairs.

"Could you grab the pillows in the closet? It's right down the hall." Cedric asked us.

We walked to the closet--Tara got the blankets and I got the pillows--and headed back into the living room. The boys were hunched over Michael's computer talking about the drug.

"Ah, see the information's all here but not very clear. It's quite sloppy." Michael said.

"Hey, I was on a time crunch. Had to do something quick just in case Mairi and I were attacked or someone came into the room." Nate argued.

Irene dropped the air mattresses on the carpet in front of the tv as I pushed the coffee table out of the way. Cedric jogged back into the living room.

"So who's sleeping where?" Cedric asked, panting a little.

"Jairi in a bed and Cedrene in another!" Nate joked.

Both Irene and I slapped him on the back.

"Kidding kidding!" Nate surrendered, putting his hands up.

"I call the couch." Tara said.

"I'll take the twin air mattress." Aleksandre added.

"So that leaves Michael and Nate--Natechael--on the king mattress." I said, giving Nate a taste of his own medicine.

Tara laughed and high fived me.

"So the Jairi and Cedrene plan will actually happen?" Nate asked.

"I guess so..." I answered.

"Alright, there's three bathrooms. One down here, two upstairs." Cedric said, pointing down the hall and towards the stairs.

"Cool." Michael replied.

"If you need help, ask me." Cedric said as he walked to his room.

Irene

I scrubbed the dirt off of my shoulders and arms, avoiding the spot on my arm where they injected the d86e into me. I studied the drops of water and tried forming an orb with them.

My vision blurred slightly and the blob of water splashed on the linoleum shower floor. My knees started to buckle, but I grabbed the bar on the shower door to steady myself. The drug came with great perks but they certainly didn't mention side effects. I'd have to do it ten thousand times a day to get used to everything.

I rinsed my hair one last time and then focused on the faucet. It spinned twice to the left and the water turned off. There was a sharp pain above my brow and I held my hand up to it. Pacing. I just needed to practice some more.