"Lilly, get over here! I think I found something!" [Sara]

"It better not be more junk, we are far from town and you know we only have so much space in the back." [Lilly]

"No its a body, I wonder how long It's been here. Should we bring it back to the town? We might be able to get a reward from the family of the deceased." [Sara]

"Ugh, I don't know. It'll be a real hassle. Check and see if the body has anything that could help locate the family. If you find something I guess we could take it in. If you don't find anything of the sort, then just take anything that looks like it could sell." [Lilly]

"Hey, come look at this sculpture! It might be his family or something. It's a good sculpture though, think we should sell it?" [Sara]

"No, we should play it safe. I don't want to get in trouble with the chief again. lets put the corpse on the back of the truck and send it to the old man for him to deal with. He was asking for some cadavers anyways. Lets sell them both to him if nobody knows the people in this sculpture so we can at least get something from this trip. Now lets hurry up, I just want to get back home as quickly as possible. I'm freezing out here." [Lilly]

------

"Open up! Its Sara! Lilly and I found a body a few miles north and we're dropping it off." [Sara]

"Hurry up will you! It feels like it's negative 50 out here!" [Lilly]

"Hold on, hold on, it's not that cold out. Now what did you say about a body? You kill some bandits or something?" [Old Man]

"We found a person huddled under a stump in the old graveyard up north and thought we would bring it over to you and see if anyone recognizes the people in this sculpture. If he doesn't belong to anyone here I thought I'd sell him and the sculpture to you. You were asking for cadavers for whatever black magic you do." [Lilly]

"First of all it's not black magic. Second of all, I'm unfortunately giving up on that due to certain complications." [Old Man]

"Did the chief find out what you were doing or something?" [Sara]

"No, it's just that I have hit a roadblock in my research. I know why my experiments aren't working but... well whatever give it here. Let me check it out and I'll tell you how much I'm willing to pay." [Old Man]

"By the heavens!" [Old Man]

"Something wrong?" [Lilly]

"Don't tell anyone about that body, here is 100 gold shillings for you to keep your mouths about that body. I think I may owe you two big time. Leave the body and the sculpture here and leave quickly. Don't tell anyone about today you hear me?" [Old Man]

"Sure sure, just make sure to pay us extra if whatever you're doing pays off." [Lilly]

"What was the Prof. Martin freaking out about?" [Sara]

'I don't know, that's why I call him an old man. He's going senile I tell you." [Lilly]

------

[Main Characters point of view]

 ...Dark. It's so dark. Where am I? Whats happening. I was so warm just a minute ago. Does this have to do with that explosion? Am I dead? I can't be. This can't be it...

... I've been in this darkness for so long. I've been trying to keep myself sane by counting but, just how long am I going to stay like this?...

The Pain, I hurt, whats going on. I can feel pain that must mean I am alive. It has to. I didn't want this.

...sounds, murmurs, high pitched ringing, I'm scared help, anyone. someone please. It's bright. It's so bright. patterns, tiles, bulb, ceiling, I can't turn my head. Someone help please. Mom I'm sorry for leaving you alone...

...I can see a man every so often...

...I think I have calmed down a bit. I still can't move but my senses are mostly working. I can't move my eyelids, or my eyes for that matter. The man has to put eye drops on my eyes every so often. They start to hurt if he doesn't do it for a while...

... The pain is slowly going away. I can blink and slightly move my eyes. I tried communicating with the man, but he doesn't seem to understand. He just looks at me like he is studying some kind of animal.

I'm able to look around a little bit and it seams like there is some kind of mass on my chest. I still can't move my arms much so I can't investigate...

...I think It has been at least half a year, my body has changed. somethings different, I don't know what it is. but something is different. I can feel some sort of energy that wasn't their before. It has been helping me heal faster. I don't know how I can tell but I just can.

I tried walking today with the help of the man. I stumbled a few times, but I got back up. I need to get better...

I still can't talk or hear perfectly. My voice comes out all jumbled. The man's dialect is so hard to understand. I think his name is Martin...

 ...He took  me to a bathroom and washed me. There was a mirror and I saw my reflection again for the first time in a long time. This body, it doesn't belong to me. Before I would look into the mirror everyday to see the same face. But today it was as if I was looking through the eyes of someone else. who am I...

...I have long black hair, blue eyes and skin as pale as snow...

...I talked to the man for the first time. he was strange. It was almost as if he wasn't expect me to be able to talk. Like he thought I was just some kind of zombie...

...Whose face is this? It belonged to a girl...

After I spoke the man ran off somewhere, like he had to get something ready. when he came back he grabbed my hand and led me to a room with a couch, a chair, and what looks to be a homemade camera. It seems like I'm some sort of test subject I have to find out whats going on.

------

[Main Characters point of view]

"I am going to ask you some questions. Are you okay with that?" [Prof. Martin]

I nod my head. I have questions of my own, but I can wait.

"What is your name?" [Prof. Martin]

"Henry Lee Baker. "

"Why were you huddled under that tree?" [Prof. Martin]

"I was looking for a cold place to die"

"Can you tell me why?"  [Prof. Martin]

"..."

"If you don't want to-" [Prof. Martin]

"No its okay. All I could think about was running away. I grew up with out any friends, my dad died, I got into a car crash, the people whom I thought were my friends left me and my my mother let me stay with her until I was 30 when she kicked me out because I refused to find a job. I suffered from depression and without my medication it only got worse. When she said she was going to kicked me out if I couldn't get my life together, I decided... I should just save her the trouble. I just wanted to end it all. I knew that if I killed myself the way people normally do, I would have either been cremated, or rotted away in some corner of a forest. I didn't want that so I traveled north. Thought that if I could find a place that's cold all year round my body wouldn't rot, at least not as fast. I kept walking until I couldn't walk any further and I found that tree."

"I have one last question. After that you can ask me anything and I will answer it. What year is it?" [Prof. Martin]

Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.

"2001?"

He looked surprised.

"Do you have any questions?" [Prof. Martin]

"What year is it?"

"I can answer that but I will answer that last." [Prof. Martin]

"What did you do to me?"

"I saved you" [Prof. Martin]

"No, I meant what did you do to my body. Why does it look like this?"

"Your old body was unusable, I had to discard it" [Prof. Martin]

"Whose body is this?"

"My daughter" [Prof. Martin]

"Why would you do this to your daughter?"

"She was dead. When I put your brain inside a cadaver it started showing signs of activity. When I received your body I found out it was completely untainted, and I knew it would be my best shot at reviving her body. I have never had hopes of truly bringing my daughter back to life because I already knew it was only possible if I were willing to use... live subjects to test on. My daughter would not want that. So Instead I thought to revive her body so that at the very least a child could be born. since I am no longer capable of making children this was my only option to ensure my clans ancient lineage does not end with me"  [Prof. Martin]

This man is strange. Although I don't know much about biology, her body is mine now so technically wouldn't they also be my children?

"Why choose me?"

"If I were able to chose anyone else I would have a long time ago. I don't know for certain why you were so well preserved. Logically speaking only bones should have been left. Even if the cold was able to protect you for so long scavengers should have eaten you eons ago. I think I might have an Idea why you were so well preserved but I will refrain from saying anything until I can take a look at the site you were found and do a couple more exeriments on whats left of your body if you would let me." [Prof. Martin]

"I... well... forget it I will think about that later. Why were you so surprised when I told you the date? What year is it?"

"I'm not sure you are ready for that information. Do you still want to know?" [Prof. Martin]

"yes"

"Its been a little over a hundred millennium since you died. Three months ago the calendar turned 102053." [Prof. Martin]

"Your lying"

"This is why I said you weren't ready. Do you think that in your time anyone was able to do to you what I did?" [Prof. Martin]

"What happened"

 "You want me to tell you everything that happened in the last ten millennia? I like to think I'm smart but I'm not omnipotent. Are you finished? I think you are in good enough shape to start eating food and get off those IV's. Although I don't know everything I can at least tell you the major events. However that will have to wait" [Prof. Martin]

"..."

" I'll give you a book from the library if you can't wait. I'm sure you will find something there" [Prof. Martin]

"Have some water and follow me, I will show you to your room" [Prof. Martin]

I follow him down a hall, up a flight of stairs and stopped in from of a pink door.

"...."

"You like it? I left it just the way it was when you... when she passed on" [Prof. Martin]

"I was a guy, until recently you know"

 "I only kept it like this in case of a miracle. I know she's gone but I thought I would ask just in case. Anyways, the room situation can't really be helped though. Nobody else but me knows she died and if I were to suddenly change a room I haven't touched in years people would ask questions. Everyone she and I know thinks she is extremely sick with a terribly contagious disease and I have managed to keep her alive with my studies. I can't change the room for that same reason. you will have to live with this unless you want to go back to the lab." [Prof. Martin]

"I would rather stay here."

"That's what I thought. I don't think I need to tell you this if you break anything, or try to go outside then there will be hell to pay. Your body is in no condition to deal with the cold just yet. I don't know what kind of mental problems you have, but you will let me help you." [Prof. Martin]

"Thank you..."

"It's nothing. If anything I should be the one apologizing. I ended up putting you through quite a bit of pain due to my selfishness. Although I did not know you were conscious, it does not change the fact that I put you through a great deal of pain. to be honest I really wasn't expecting anything to happen when I was experimenting. When I saw your brain reacting I assumed it was just some sort of reflex occurring due to the experiments. When I found out you could react to stimuli, I thought I may be able reprogram you like some sort of robot. I paid no attention to the possibility that I may have done something like this. For that I apologize. Now go get some sleep. If you need anything I placed a remote next to the bed. If you need anything use that." [Prof. Martin]

He's gone. I go curl up under the covers. I want to know whats happened to the world while I was gone but if he says he doesn't know me then its not like I can force him. lets just hope he can get me some books soon.

-----

[Lilly's point of view]

Sara, I wonder what that old man has been up to. Do you think we could have scammed or something? he hasn't left his house for quite a wile. Whenever he does leave he goes back inside real quick." [Lilly]

"It's probably some kind of science jumbo we won't understand. That said the money he gave us is already running low thanks to a certain someone and we might be able to convince him to give us more." [Sara]

"Then lets drop by there now since we'll be passing by it." [Lilly]

"You know we wouldn't have to bum money off of him if you didn't always blow it." [Sara]

"Shut it! those were necessary expenses and we are pulling into his driveway so lets not talk argue." [Lilly]

"Gee, your the only one yelling though..." [Sara]

*Ding Dong*

"What is it? I'm busy can you come some other time?" [Prof. Martin]

"We just wanted to extort some more money" [Sara]

"Will you stop joking around? Sorry about that. Can we come in we want to talk business" [Lilly]

*sigh* "Didn't you hear me say I'm busy?" [prof. Martin]

"You haven't come outside in almost a month and you still haven't told us anything about that person we found. *cough* Could you um- at least give us some sort of uh... compensation?" [Lilly]

"Here I thought you said you weren't here to extort money. Enough of that, now that I think of it though I have a job I could use your help with. Come on in. Take a seat" [Prof. Martin]

"Before we get started is it possible to ask what hap-" [Sara]

"Hold on to that thought for a moment. I will get to that later but first I have to warn you that what I am about to tell you is not allowed to be shared. If word any of what I am about to tell you is spread, then I will have your heads, do you understand?" [Prof. Martin]

"Y-yes Professor." [Lilly & Sara]

"I will let you leave now if you are worried, but do you still want to listen?" [Prof. Martin]

"What do you think?" [Lilly]

"I'm not sure, can we ask how much money you re offering?" [Sara]

"I will give you the same amount I paid you before but monthly" [Prof. Martin]

"Well that is a lot of money. Do you think we should listen to his offer?" [Sara]

"What do you mean by that? Of course we are going to listen! Do you know how much money that is?" [Lilly]

"Yeah, but..." [Sara]

"No buts about it! How can we refuse an offer like this?" [Lilly]

"If you say so." [Sara]

"If you have decided then I will continue. Forty years ago I fell in love, married and eventually had fathered twins. One of my twins was always sick and wasn't able to go outside. For her safety I built a sterilized room. Nobody but her family was allowed to visit. It was for her that I built that lab to try to find out What was wrong with her. Then twelve years ago a disease spread while I was away. It almost infected the whole town. when infected there was no way of knowing until the disease would strike. If you didn't die within the ten seconds after it acted up you would live until it acted up again. my wife and one of my children died almost instantly. My wife heard of the plague and locked access to my daughters room right before it hit. my daughter survived until I got home thanks to that. However, due to being locked in that sterile room that was meant to protect her, she almost starved to death. With all of the servants death and nobody to take care of her she fell ill. By the time I got home It was almost to late to save her. Her growth stopped and she had fallen unconscious. I had been trying to find a cure ever since. That body you found helped me find the last clue I needed to create a cure. When my daughter lost consciousness she was nineteen. Although technically she is almost forty now, she still has the mind and body of a nineteen year old. Furthermore the illness seams to have caused her to forget quite a bit. She is scared and needs help with various tasks. I want to hire you as maids to help her, but I would also like to ask you to try to become her friends. you two are the best choice for me because you are the only people who know about that body that was used to cure her and I would like to prevent word from getting out so other people don't try to use her for... experiments."

"That's a lot to take in." [Sara]

"Your not thinking of bailing now are you? That is a lot of money he is offering" [Lilly]

"It's not that. I was just surprised that the Professor would actually have a story like that. I wouldn't mind trying to make a new friend." [Sara]

"Well then follow me I will show you to the bathroom. you can wash up and change into your uniforms there. After that I will bring you to meet my daughter. You two will be sleeping in the attic until I can build a proper room. I will provide you with ingredients and you will be making your own meals as well as hers. you will be in charge of keeping her clean, this means to wash her body, help her use the bathroom, and making sure her bedroom is perfect. Your only other duties are to keep the rest of the house tidy. you don't need to clean the lab, my clothes or my room."  [Prof. Martin]

-----

[Main Characters point of view]

This morning he told me that since I am in the body of his dead daughter, people would be trying to figure out how he was able to cure her. He told me the story he was going to tell everybody else. He said my name was now the same as his daughter, Hannah. I'm still not sure what to make of all this so I told him to I'm fine with it. He also said he sent a letter to an old friend asking him if he could come and be my history tutor. Since my body is still too frail for any physically demanding activities, he will only be teaching me history, arithmetic, writing, and the arts.

I can still feel that energy welling up in my chest. When I first felt it I thought it must have been Prof. M healing me. Now I am not so sure about it though. Although it worries me a little. I am nervous what he might do if I were to tell him about it. I don't know how he feels about me. He treats me well so I know he doesn't hate me, but am I just a tool to keep his daughter alive until he can find a better alternative? Or does he think of my as one might a great grand cousin; close enough in relation to you to feel affection, but distant enough to be able to forget about.

"Hannah? I'm coming in, I have some people I would like to you to meet! Why don't you two introduce yourselves to the young lady." [Prof. Martin]

"Hello! My name is Sara, my hobbies are cooking, shopping and playing video games. This is my sister Lilly" [Sara]

"My hobbies are boxing, dance and poetry." [Lilly]

"You forgot gambling." [Prof. Martin]

"No that's an addiction." [Sara]

"Come on you two, I'm trying to make a good impression." [Lilly]

They reminded me of my family back when I was little.

"Well it looks like you did a good job at it. look she just smiled." [Sara]