The Reincarnation

Donna stopped the Bug on a hillside outside a security fence. David gaped when he saw the building enclosed by the fence.

“God, look at all the security!” Laura gasped.

“And cameras everywhere,” Donna said. “We’re gonna have to wait to get any closer.”

“Guys...” David interrupted.

“Any idea what’s going on?” Laura asked Donna.

“It doesn’t look good. Since Media’s down there, they probably went ahead and defrosted some others. They’re probably celebrating.”

“Guys,” David said, finally getting their attention. “This is the Lab?”

“Sure, silly,” Laura said. “You were in there for a while, remember?”

“Of course. But I was inside. I wasn’t awake when we left, remember? I’ve never seen it from the outside before. It looks like a tombstone.”

“Weird,” Laura said, glancing at the building and back to David. “I never realized that.”

“I think John may still be alive,” David declared.

“What?” both women shouted in unison. “How?”

“My dreams – they’ve taken on a whole new dimension. I think I’m seeing the world through John’s eyes in them. I recognize this fence. The building. Everything. I think John’s inside the Lab.”

“Holy Christ!” Donna exclaimed. “Where?”

“He’s in some sort of cage – a prison of some kind.”

“I know exactly where you mean,” Laura said excitedly. “Can he get out? If he can, we can scrap trying to sneak me in there somehow. If he’s already inside...”

“He could destroy the computer,” Donna said, her eyes glowing. “But how are we going to tell him what to do?”

David smiled. “Leave that to me. I think I’ll take a little nap. Laura, two questions: What’s the password to the computer room and how did you plan to destroy the computer?”

Melvin Waters awoke. He smelled the air. It smelled like rotting meat. He smelled his arm and realized the powerful odor was him. He woke up Rob. Getting close to the boy, he realized Rob smelled as well. He didn’t look right either. His skin was pasty white, almost see-through.

Father Dante rose. He went into the bathroom and looked in the mirror. He noticed he didn’t need a shave, even though he knew he should. The air was stifling. He took off his shirt, which he had slept in. As soon as he undid the buttons, he was greeted by the odor of death. It rose from his skin like smoke from a fire.

He quickly undressed and showered. The soap and shampoo filled the tiny room with pleasant smells that lingered in the humid air, but putting his nose to his arm, Father Dante realized the shower was in vain. He still stank.

Hoping Tracy wouldn’t notice, he toweled off and dressed.

Juliet Ward hadn’t sweated all night. Despite this, she still woke up smelling like she had. She cursed her rolls of flesh, which suddenly felt like they were encaging her. Her skin was lucid, and she noticed the lines that appeared wherever it draped in layers.

She could see them right through her skin.

Rudy Johnson sat up in his car. That ain’t right, he thought, rolling down his window. If I didn’t drink nothin’, why do I smell like I do after an all nighter?