Chapter 3

Alexis's POV

Consciousness surfaces from darkness. First thing I do is check my body.

Everything works. Fingers, toes, breathing. Just a dull ache in my head. I open my eyes. Strange bed. Soft blanket pulled up to my chest. Curtains half-drawn, letting in weak light.

Chloe's next to me, out cold.

Thank god I only took a few sips and managed to spit some back when they weren't looking. Otherwise I'd be as gone as Chloe right now.

The room's small. Looks cozy enough.

I'm about to get up when I hear voices outside the door. Low murmurs.

I hold my breath and listen.

Can't make out much. Just fragments. "...overall...looks healthy...needs some rest...keep up the nutrition...no heavy exercise...we'll go over details at the hospital..."

My heart kicks. I turn to the nightstand. There's a stack of papers sitting there.

I tiptoe over and grab the top sheet.

Medical report. My name's right at the top.

I flip through. Pages of test results. Some circled in red pen.

When the hell did I get tested?

I pick up the next one. Chloe's name.

The voices get clearer.

"They should be waking up soon." Catherine's voice. "Put those reports away. Don't let them see."

"Got it." William's voice is flat.

Footsteps coming closer.

My pulse spikes. I shove the papers back, rush to the bed, and clamp my hand over Chloe's mouth just as her eyes flutter open. I shake my head. Stay quiet. We both drop flat and pretend we just woke up.

The door swings open. Catherine walks in with that concerned smile. "Oh, you're up! You two were out like a light. Can you believe it's already tomorrow? Anyway, breakfast is downstairs. We have to run some errands, so feel free to look around while we're gone."

Out of the corner of my eye, I see William behind her, scooping up the papers fast.

I nod, voice still scratchy from sleep. "Yeah. Thanks."

Her smile softens. "We'll be downstairs. No rush."

The door closes. Footsteps fade.

Chloe sits up fast, voice low. "What the hell was that? Why'd you cover my mouth?"

I check the door, make sure they're gone, then turn back. "While you were out cold, I found something."

"What?"

I tell her everything. The medical reports, the conversation I overheard.

When I finish, she's shaking. "Tests? Why the hell would they test us? What do they even want from us?"

"I don't know." I stare at the nightstand. My mind runs through possibilities, each one worse than the last. "We need more. Try to remember. That room from the first life. Anything else?"

Chloe closes her eyes. Concentrating.

After a long pause, her eyes snap open. "Wait. Yeah, there was something. This one time, a new housekeeper tried to clean the study on the first floor. William lost it on her. I thought he was just paranoid about his stuff getting messed with. Rich people are like that."

She pauses. Her voice gets quieter. "But now that I think about it... nobody else ever went in there. Just them. I snuck in a few times when I was bored. Looked totally normal. Bookshelves, desk, couch. Nothing weird. So why'd he flip out?"

Something clicks. "Where's the study?"

"First floor. Near the back yard."

"I'm gonna check it out." I stand. "Go eat breakfast. Act like nothing happened. If they come back, text me."

Chloe bites her lip. Nods.

---

Downstairs is quiet. William and Catherine already left.

I stand outside the study. Take a breath. Push the door open.

Looks normal enough. Dark bookshelves, desk by the window, leather couch, floor lamp.

But the more normal it looks, the less I buy it.

I start searching. The dust on the floor's uneven. Under the bookshelf, barely any. Like someone moves it all the time. I run my hand along the side and find a small button, hidden.

I press it.

Click.

The bookshelf slides open. There's a staircase going down.

I pull out my phone, turn on the flashlight, and head down.

The stairs are narrow. Cement walls, rough. The air smells like disinfectant.

Maybe twenty steps down, there's a door.

I breathe in. Push it open slowly.

I raise my phone. The light sweeps across the room.

I freeze.

I finally get it. Why they adopted us.

I cover my mouth, fighting back the nausea rising in my throat. Force myself to lift the phone. Take a picture.

That's when my phone starts buzzing like crazy. Messages from Chloe lighting up the screen:

"Alexis! Get up here NOW!"

"They're back!!"