Chapter 7

09-02-2029

I really wasn't expecting the laboratory to be an old summer camp.

The main building used to be the cafeteria from the looks of it. There's a couple smaller buildings attached to it that serve as offices and a small makeshift laboratory. Housing for test subjects is a number of small houses that were dropped off as donations.

I just picked up and moved them by hand.

It felt normal to do that even though I know that should've been super fucking weird. I guess it was a bit awkward since my clothing doesn't change with me. I got undressed and used my powers to make it look like I was still wearing something. I really hope we figure out a solution for that problem soon. I don't want to be naked anytime I need to use my powers to become giant.

- Personal journal of Page Simmons, volume 1, page 60

"I do not believe this!" Neoni shouts after getting out of the car. "You were suppose to ride your bike here!"

It's been a couple hours since I visited Ash. The sun is setting and the temperature has begun to drop. I'm glad Neoni made it before nightfall. The road to the CoL lab winds a lot. It would be Hel to travel on in a snow storm.

"I rode it part of the way," I reply with a smirk.

"How could you, Page?!" Neoni shouts even more dramatically.

She's drawing attention now. A few of the people from the cafeteria look through the front windows of the building while others hang around the doorway. Rex is among the people watching.

I hold up my hands. “You are not gonna pull the same thing you did at the airport. We are not re-enacting a scene from Book of Secrets again, Neoni.”

She blows a raspberry. “Joy kill.”

“That’s me, Book: the killer of joy,” I reply dryly. “Let me get your bags or something. I think I’m making your driver nervous.”

The person sitting behind the wheel of the car smiles awkwardly and gives me a little wave then a thumbs up before popping the trunk. I get to work removing Neoni’s belongings from it before shutting it. The rideshare driver doesn’t wait for a tip. They drive off pretty soon after I walk around the side of the car.

"I can't wait for you to show me around,” Neoni says as she follows me. "I'm so excited to meet Ash!"

"I think that'll have to be tomorrow," I say.

"Really?" Neoni asks. "It's not that late."

"New volunteers have to check in with Doctor Hailu first and get settled. You need to pick out a locker and be assigned a house. There's a whole procedure in place," I explain.

"Can't that wait?" she asks. "I want to see the tree guy."

I stop at the front doors of the building and look down at my friend. I don't like looking down on people like this for long but Doctor Hailu would kick my ass if I made myself shorter.

"I'm not in charge here. Hel, I've got to follow Dr. Hailu's orders, myself. Why do you think I still look like this?" I ask.

"Because you like being incredibly hot," Neoni says firmly.

I roll my eyes. "Oh my gods, Neoni. No."

"Page is right, I make the rules here," Doctor Hailu says from the front entry way. "Welcome to the CoL Lab. Please come in."

Neoni walks past me into the building. I go to follow her but stop when Hailu places a hand on my chest.

"See? Your friend Neoni doesn't find you scary at all," she says with a smile.

"It'd be nicer if she did,” I huff.

"Hah, just for that you get to explain the rules and show her to the lockers," Hailu orders. She pats my chest before cackling as she walks away.

***

The main building has a locker room built into one end. Another remnant of when the property was a summer camp. It’s been handy as a place for everyone to store personal affects more securely. I didn’t intend to memorize most of the combinations but over time I have, save for the locker belonging to Ash. He'd always cover it when he unlocked it. I haven't cracked it while he's been a tree.

The lock's cheap.

I could figure out the combination even without my powers but respect him too much. Even as a plant, he deserves his privacy.

"Oh, I want this one on the end," Neoni says.

"No. That one belongs to Ash," I say. "No one gets number eighty."

"He's not using it."

"Yes, he is," I counter. "Just because he's been a tree for the last six years doesn't mean he's not here."

"What do you think's in there?"

"Probably his whittling gear," I say. "He was always carving on sticks and making canes and stuff. Made me a set of idols once."

Neoni crosses her arms. "He liked plants, right? Why cut them?"

"I asked him that once and he said they were already dead and it was relaxing. Helped him find peace," I explain.

"Weird."

"Not that weird."

"Which ones can I pick?" Neoni asks.

There are pieces of tape with names written on them on several lockers, including Ash's. His is a bit faded. I grab the roll of masking tape from the top of the lockers nearest me and the marker.

"Any locker without a name on it," I say.

I don't want to cover up the name on Ash's locker since it was written by him. Instead, I stick a new piece of tape under it and write 'Ash' on it with an arrow pointing up to his name.

"Which one's yours?" Neoni asks.

"I don't have one right now but I always got number sixty-one," I reply. There's a piece of tape on it with a name that makes me snort.

"What's so funny?" she asks.

"Oh, nothing, just the guy with my old locker punched me earlier," I explain. "If he finds out that one was mine he'll probably ask for a different one."