Skye’s disease was all over the news, even the TV in the cafeteria I was in was broadcasting it. Random people around town were reported puking out butterflies that weren’t seen anywhere else. Those butterflies were being researched and a mandatory checkup was made for people who were reported to puke them out. Meanwhile, other reports stated that the atmosphere had traces of an unknown substances.

Life was moving on. The world was starting to be aware of a disease that Harper and I cured over a month. The world, however, may have been pushing forward but Mr. Silver was still. I didn’t hear from him for the past few days despite our promise. The person behind the voice must’ve been really popular with girls cause he sure knew how to keep one waiting.

“Oh, hey April,” a familiar voice called out amidst the wave of murmurs in the cafeteria. I turned to see Harper holding a tray and waving at me. I smiled and beckoned at her to sit.

“Nice view,” she said. “You have a good taste in seats.”

I usually used to sit by the large window in the cafeteria instead of our spot at the courtyard where Vi and I sat when Vi wasn’t around. Lots of light filtered through. Outside you could see trees in bloom and the school lawn lined with hedges.

“Nobody likes being seen while eating so nobody sits here,” I said. “It’s perfect.”

“That’s great,” Harper said and took a bite of her sandwich. I stared at her face, and she looked tired. Even after curing her best friend of a disease, she didn’t look as if she’s been getting enough sleep. “I just wanted to thank you for you know, helping me out with Skye. I really appreciate it.” The sincerity in those tired eyes was so pure it made me want to look away, but I held her gaze.  

“No problem,” I said. “It’s the least I could do.”

Even though it took some prodding from Mr. Silver to do it, the sincerity in Harper’s eyes made it so that I wouldn’t mind doing something nice every once in a while.

“How is our little test subject?” I asked.

Harper stopped meeting my eyes and looked out the window instead. It seemed I’d struck a nerve.

“I’m sorry,” I said quickly. “I understand if…”

Harper sighed. “No, it’s okay. She’s transferred to another school. I tried texting her, but she hasn’t responded. 8 years of friendship down the drain like that.”

“You did everything you could,” I said. “You shouldn’t beat yourself up about it.”

“You know what sucks after finding out your friend just viewed you as an object all the time,” Harper said. “Trying to figure out what was real and what wasn’t. Was it always like this? Did the moments that matter to you, matter to her? I just…” She sighed. “It sucks.”

“I understand,” I said. “I had that moment with a friend not too long ago, but we sorted it out.”

“But on the plus side we cured a disease,” Harper said, staring at me with a smile. “Unethically and violating a lot of oaths but we did it. Who could say they’ve done something like that?”

I chuckled. “Who could?”

Harper finished her sandwich. “I have to catchup on some assignments, but I’ll see you around. Wanna meetup for coffee this weekend?”

“Sure,” I said with a smile. “I know this place, the service is fucking terrible but the coffee…”

Harper smiled. “I’d love that, see you around.”

“See you around.”

Harper walked off and I found myself sitting alone, eating a sandwich looking around at the other tables with couples and groups of friends laughing and smiling. Suddenly, being alone didn’t seem all that appealing anymore.

I didn’t have time to process that as there was a small flash and there, on the bracelet was another bead. This one was a pure red, heart-shaped with antenna sticking out the top. Amusing. Though I wondered where these beads came from.

Mr. Silver flashed into existence. “Aww would you look at that? Little April made a friend. See how doing what you want to do instead of chickening out can lead to new opportunities?”

“Hardi har, asshole,” I said. “I was promised answers now give em to me also where the hell do these beads come from?”

There was a pause. A very long one. I was about to curse when Mr. Silver spoke up again. Only this time his voice was grim.

“Those other people your friend was talking about, the ones out of time,” Mr. Silver said, very quickly. “They’re all part of the experiment…”

“Experiment, which ex…?”

“Shh,” Mr. Silver interrupted. “I don’t have much time. Just know you’re not alone in this. I wasn’t supposed to talk about it…”

His voice cut off, the silver glow turned black for a bit as another deep voice said “E… what are…”. I couldn’t make out the rest of the voice as it started to cut out.

The five-minute pause afterwards was excruciating. “I almost got into trouble; look April I don’t have much time. I’ll need to save face tomorrow. Just know I don’t agree with what they’re doing with you.”

The black again. “E… Not enough time…”

“Experiment, what are you doing with me?” I was confused, I felt a sick feeling creep through my stomach. “Silver, what the hell is going on?”

“Look for Thanatos Inc,” Silver said. “Anywhere you go, look for them. They have your answers.”

“That didn’t answer my question,” I yelled. “Silver!”

The light went off. I tried tapping it but Mr. Silver didn’t come back on.

Thanatos Inc, huh.

I looked around the cafeteria, people were starting to leave, others were just starting to eat. On the table in front of me I saw Aaron, a fellow loner sitting on his table and looking out the window.  By the ordering table, Elam was chewing out Lloyd about trying to start another food fight, again. It was business as usual.

But I couldn’t shake the cold feeling in the pit of my stomach that I was being watched. I looked behind me, nobody was there.