The Reincarnation

“No, I’m sure it’s nothing. I’ve had Grey go down and check on it. Nothing to worry about.” A problem with the computer system was the last thing Dr. Persey needed now. He changed the subject. “Our guests should be arriving soon, don’t you think?”

“Assuming your hunch is right. We should have shown the patients on the air like last time,” Bishop objected. “Anyway, I am going to the cafeteria.”

“We can have the cameras come back in, sir. We can have them go through all the rooms, take everybody’s picture.”

“Later. Right now I am famished,” Bishop said before he left the men.

“Where’s Ralph Junior?” Dr. Persey asked the doctors, “I haven’t seen him since before the press conference.”

“He’s gotta be around here somewhere,” offered one of the doctors.

“Well, shall we wait by the door for our young guests?”

Ralph Bishop Junior was sure he had found the right room. This was the one, the crazy empty feeling inside himself told him. The one that holds your salvation. He had the nurse wheel him in.

A young girl lay on the bed, asleep. Ralph motioned to the nurse to leave him alone with her. The nurse, not having any say in the matter, complied.

Ralph had trouble moving, trouble doing almost anything. But he had been saving his strength ever since he woke up feeling so horrible days ago. He crawled out of his wheelchair and wriggled onto the bed.

His hands didn’t work well, but his desiccated lungs had other plans.

“Get up.” Laura shook David awake. “They’re here.”

“Who’s here – Laura, I need to stay asleep! I think I’ve finally got it –”

“Sorry.” She was taken aback by his outburst, but understood, feeling foolish for trying to wake him. “Go back to sleep.”

John blacked out briefly, but remained standing. Coming to, he faced the man. Grey was standing in front of the metal door that led into the room, shifting his weight from foot to foot as if trying to make a decision. John was in control of his body again, and used it.

John lunged at Grey, wrapping him in a crushing grip. He continued his assault by running the back of Grey’s head into the metal door.

Grey’s legs splayed and he fell to the floor.

“Look at them. They look like ghosts.” Laura stood with Donna outside the fence.

“From what I understand they are ghosts.” Donna raised her binoculars at the people thronging through the security gate. And they’re all so young, she cursed to herself.

The gatekeeper let the children in, pointing them to the Lab. He picked up the phone in his booth as they passed.

There were at least sixty of them.