In the end though, I decide to stick with the tour Rian is giving Megan. It takes longer to finish it, but only because Megan asks too many questions.
At least I learn a few things. Like where Janelle’s office is located.
I feel proud of myself. I’m slowly learning how to find each room.
We find ourselves spending the day with Megan. She doesn’t seem to care about her sister at all. She seems to have forgotten about the tattoos because she doesn’t mention them again. She tells us she’s been classified with the number 42-21, which reminds me of my classification: 42-2. I guess she's the next revived human after me.
We eat lunch outside the cafeteria while we talk. Rian seems to be having fun because he’s smiling all the time. And I have completely lost interest in my job. Megan actually gets comfortable enough to start asking us personal questions like:
“What year were you born in?”
“2024,” I answer. Rian says his year is 2023, which made him one year older than me in the past, but when I think about it, he's three years older than me (only because he has been alive for two extra years while I lay frozen in a container). But when I try to go in depth with this, I just confuse myself, so I stop.
“When’s your birthday?” Megan asks.
“I—uh…” I trail off, completely clueless to the answer. I know the year I was born in but I have no clue what month or day it was. I’m not even sure if they have months anymore.
Does Megan even know she’s in the future?
Rian answers with, “I think mine is somewhere in February.”
I don’t answer and they don’t press me.
“You think? Don’t you remember?” Megan asks. “Mine’s in June 15th, 2017,” she adds proudly.
“Did someone tell you?” I ask.
Megan shakes her head. “How could anyone forget their own birthday? What month is it, anyway?”
That’s what I'm wondering.
Rian says, “October, I think. You’re gonna have to ask Welds if you’re curious. He keeps track of the days.”
I decide to take a risk asking Megan, “You do know what year it is, don’t you?” I don’t know the exact year but I know we’re somewhere past the year I died. I think.
Megan nods and says casually, “Dr. Janelle told me we’re in year 2075.” She gives me an innocent smile and doesn’t seem bothered by this at all.
My mouth nearly drops open. “2075?” But that’s—
“I was surprised at first too,” Megan says, still smiling. “Then I just accepted it.”
I look away from her. Year 2075? Does that mean I’m really old?
Rian tells us we are going to meet Jack Welds again for dinner. I groan with annoyance but Megan seems excited. It doesn't take me long to get myself ready, but once I do, Addison—the girl who’s part of the dinner group—helps me get Megan ready. Addison is the one who provides a dress for Megan, while I stand there and throw out a couple of comments. Not sure if they help Megan.
The dinner with Mr. Welds is as dull as last time. When Megan meets Mr. Welds, she greets him by shaking his hand and saying hello.
Fox—the guy who's also part of the tattoo group—behaves the same way he did last time.
At the dinner meeting, I know Megan notices everyone has the same tattoos, but she keeps quiet and doesn't ask about them. Either Rian told her not to, or she feels no need to ask. No one would answer her question anyway.
By the time the dinner ends, I have trouble keeping my eyes open. The walk to my room is long, and I feel myself swaying with every step.
I don’t know if Rian and the others are in front or behind me. I’m too tired to look around.
In the large hallway, the lights have dimmed and it’s empty again. Without knowing how, I find myself in my bedroom, kicking off my shoes. The time reads 10:04 PM. I think I’ll be able to fall asleep this time.
I change out of my black dress and throw on jeans and a tank top. Sleep comes quickly and I find myself lost in a dream.