Chapter 3 Part 3: Girl Ran Towards The Starting Point.

I played games with Ramonax. His casual friendliness was absurd. Almost funny. I appreciated the snacks, but he was still too much.

“Coming back tomorrow?” he asked.

“If I let you.” I avoided his gaze, crinkling the snack bag. He was intimidating, looming over me.

“Too bad. Can we at least have lunch and dinner together?”

“Fine.”

He waved goodbye and left. I closed the door and sat on the bed. I didn’t usually eat snacks, but these were good. Salty, crunchy.

I watched TV, munching on chips. The news showed protesters against human experimentation on powered individuals. They were attacking labs. I clicked my tongue.

I tossed the empty bag on the table and lay down. I should brush my teeth, but it was only a temporary body.

I buried my face in the pillow and closed my eyes.

I woke up early. Habits die hard, even in a different body.

I showered. The warm water cascaded over my long white hair. Long hair was inconvenient.

I shampooed, rinsed, and scrubbed myself with a soapy sponge. Washing this unfamiliar body felt like washing someone else.

I wrapped myself in a towel and stepped out. Water dripped from my hair. I didn’t care.

I sat on the bed and dried my hair. It usually dried quickly, but not this long hair. I needed a hairdryer.

I found one in a drawer. A bit large for this body.

Whirr! The hot air blasted my face. I flinched. I redirected the airflow. My wet hair flew around, spraying droplets.

My wrist started aching. I gave up and tossed the hairdryer aside.

I dressed, put on the blue gown and ID card, and checked the mirror. A tired-looking girl stared back. One day in, and it still felt strange.

I forced a smile. Not bad. Maybe it was the girl’s natural features. I wondered what kind of expressions she would make if she’d grown up normally, not in a lab. I shook my head. Pity was a useless emotion.

I shook my hair. The silky feel was nice. Still inconvenient. I wanted to chop it off, but the contract forbade altering this body.

I found a hair tie in a small box. I held it in my mouth, gathered my hair, and tied it back. Some strands escaped, but at least it wasn’t in my face. It felt much better.

I left the room. I wasn’t usually hungry in the mornings, but this body was.

I found a convenience store in the hallway. I decided to get a pastry and some milk.

The clerk greeted me tiredly. I waved back and looked around. I’d worked here for a year, but never been inside the convenience store. It was like any other, just different products.

Pastry or milk? I’d usually get both, but my smaller stomach couldn’t handle it. Better to have leftovers than not enough.

I grabbed a large mocha bun and a carton of milk. I paid and left, swinging the bag.

I still had time. My commute was usually long. I decided to borrow a book from the library. The lab had excellent employee benefits, including a library.

I chose a few short story collections. They were heavy. I’d need a bag next time.

The library was empty. Perhaps everyone preferred e-books. A sign of the times.

The librarian was dozing. I placed the books and my ID card on the counter. He blinked and looked around.

“I want to check these out.”

He looked at me, then at the ID card.

“Jeff?”

“Yes.”

“Really?”

“Was there another Jeff?”

He stared, then scanned the books. Beep, beep. He handed me the books and the ID card.

“Why?”

“Why what?”

“Why are you like this?”

“Things happened.” I didn’t want to explain. He didn’t press further. Instead, he offered me a candy.

“Want one?”

My hand reached out instinctively. Peanut butter flavor.

“See you tomorrow.”

I left. A girl in a blue gown, carrying books and a convenience store bag. I drew stares.

On the way to the girl’s room, I noticed a light on in Hebrum’s lab. That fat man was here early. He should be home, snoring.

I entered the lab.

“Doctor?”

The lab was bright, but Hebrum wasn’t there. A man I’d seen a few times from a distance sat at Hebrum’s desk. An older gentleman in a black suit.

“Hmm?” He looked up from Hebrum’s files.

I froze. The Director. Here? I hadn’t expected this.

“You’re Jeff, I presume.”

I bit my tongue. Tears welled up. He knew me. Maybe this was his idea.

“Good morning, sir!” My enthusiastic greeting sounded like a child’s squeak.

He chuckled and waved his hand. “No need for formalities.”

I felt a chill. The highest authority in the lab. I remembered his stern face, his decisive punishments.

“So, Jeff. Anything unusual?” He held up my reports.

My head spun. I stammered, “Nothing, sir. She still doesn’t speak.”

“Anything else?”

“She… looks at me now. Instead of staring into space.”

He nodded. He seemed interested in her. Her power must be significant.

“Good work. Tell Dr. Hebrum I stopped by.”

“Yes, sir!”

He vanished. Teleportation. Rare. I’d never seen it in person.

I stood there for a moment, frozen, wondering if he was still watching me.

I went to Hebrum’s desk and left a note. He wouldn’t be in for hours.

The Director was here.

My small hand struggled with the writing. I chuckled at the crooked letters and added another line.

Jeff was here too.

The note looked bare. I drew a pig in a white coat below it and left the lab.