I - Reincarnate
1063 Words
Ding.
Came the voice somewhere in the night.
But for the red light, blinking some pace away from her, the whole place was covered with darkness. Nothing stood for as far as her eyes could see. She must have fallen into a void. But what is this place and why is everywhere silent?
Celeste tried to move her body but couldn’t. Something held her. Perhaps it was a rope or belt, she couldn’t say for sure. It held her hands and her legs to the bed. She would also feel its hands rounding her stomach and keeping her in place. It also held her neck, making it difficult for her to swallow.
Where am I? She thought as panic started to flood her body. She could only remember drinking and dancing with her husband before…
Celeste heaved as the memory flashed before her eyes. She could still see the strong smooth face of her husband as they faded into oblivion. She had faded too. But where had they faded too? Was this the underworld or was this the cell of death?
She licked her lips, turning her head to the side and hoping to catch a glimpse of anything. But the darkness that stretched cloaked the whole place. Even the red light that was blinking seemed to be faint in the thick darkness that could be woven into clothes.
Oh, God. Celeste sobbed, hoping against hope that a light will come into the room, no matter how small.
As if in answer to her silent prayer, the ding sound echoed through the darkness again and the bed or whatever she was lying on started to move gently.
“She must be awake by now.” A deep voice echoed.
Celeste turned her attention to the direction and was glad when the bed she was lying on, finally slide into the light. Pain coursed through her retina as the bright lights showered into her eyes. She closed her eyes for some time, hoping to let them adjust to the comforting light.
“I told you the procedure will work,” The voice that had spoken earlier said.
Celeste opened her eyes and frowned when she saw the face smiling down at her. Strong hooded white eyes with a blue mask hiding the details of his cheeks.
“How are you dear?” The man asked.
His voice was not audible enough, but she was able to pick out the deepness which reminded her of her husband.
“But it took you so long,” Another voice said. This time it was a fair woman twice the age of the man under the blue mask.
“The duration of an experiment doesn’t always matter. It is the result that matters the most” The man responded and pushed something on his notepad.
Until the glass started lifting, Celeste did not know that she had been sleeping inside some cylinder. The man with the blue mask walked towards her and undid the belt that held her hands and feet together.
“Where am I?” She asked as her eyes flickered from one side of the room to another.
“In safe hand,” The man smiled again. He took off the glove and the face mask, revealing the strength that lined his cheekbones.
“Am I dead?”
“You were dead. But not anymore.” The man stretched forth his hands, “Can you walk?”
Celeste nodded and took the slender hands. Her feet wobble when they touched the ground, but became steady after some time. The man helped her towards a small chair and she sat, still trying to place the puzzle.
“Do you remember anything?” The woman who had been silent all these while asked Celeste.
“Kate” The man grumbled, not happy by the older woman’s question.
“Just trying to help, Kyle,” Kate said and folded her arms around her breast.
“Let me do the talking,” Kyle said and picked up a small torchlight. “Any strange feelings, like headache or pains?”
“What pain can hurt more than confusion?” Celeste asked.
“Hmm, I like this one” Kate laughed.
“Okay, I guess that means you are okay, ”
Kyle removed his hands from her face and returned the torchlight into his lab coat. “My name is Kyle Adam, and this is my partner, Kate Robison.”
“Nice to meet you, Kyle. Please can you tell me what is going on?”
“The one big question,” Kyle smiled and hung his lap coat on one of the stands.
“Why not see for yourself? I will explain on the way” He said and nodded to the only door in the room.
Celeste followed him out of the lab, into the hallway which was made of glass and some transparent metal. They were in some kind of space ship which obviously was revolving around the galaxy.
“It’s beautiful” Celeste whispered, letting her eyes wander. The stars twinkled in the dark world, giving life to every sphere.
“But how can this be? I saw myself die”
“Oh about that?” Kyle shifted his weight to the other foot as if deliberating how to say the next words. He was about to speak when some three men walked towards them.
“Hello, honey pie,” A man in his late fifties said.
“Daddy?” Celeste chuckled and ran into the open arms, “I am so happy to see you.”
“Me too, my dear, how do you like your new body?” Her father said as they pulled apart.
“My new body?” Celeste looked down at herself, noting the tanned skin for the first time. “But how is this possible?”
“See, my dear. What do you remember?”
“Dancing and drinking with my husband.”
“Correct. That is the reason why you are here. Your husband gave you the RI pill. We planned to bring your spirit for 4023 back to 4020 and here you are, reincarnated in this beautiful body.”
“This does not make any sense,” Celeste said, still trying to place the puzzle.
“Let me put it simply.” Her father said and rested his hands on her shoulders, “Your husband sacrificed the RI pill so that you will travel back in time, to the very time the Ozone layer was destroyed and everyone on earth died. You were sent back here to help prevent that.”
“Prevent it? But I am no hero or savior.”
“Honeypie, you really don’t know what you are capable of,” Her father said, still wearing those calm smiles she remembers from her childhood.
- Writer
