I'm backing up alright- backing up around the corner. They of course knew where I was since I can't leave the room, but it made me feel just a little better inside knowing there was space between me and them. Usually I was up for swimming tests and messing around with them by trying to prank them but not today. Today they were the people who wanted to see me go through hell and have killed me knowingly several times before.

Just as one of them approached me I darted off for the other side of the room, slipping behind the filing cabinet. There wasn't much space, but I was an expert of getting places I probably shouldn't be. Of course, when death isn't a concern people lose caution, so someone shoved the filing cabinet back roughly on me to get me out from behind the cabinet. As soon as I left I was greeted by the stares of exhausted looking scientists.

"Jane, stop running around."

"Go away!"

"Jane, we know that was a tough piece of information for you all to deal with, but we aren't sending S block subjects onto the battlefield. You're safe Jane."

"Why won't S block subjects be sent onto the battlefield?"

"It doesn't matter."

"Yes it does, so tell me why."

"Fine, but only if you do as we say, alright?"

"How do I know you'll tell the truth?"

"How do you know I'm telling the truth now?"

Damn my curiosity. "What do you want me to do?"

"Well, still a blood test even though we know why now. And we need you to drink this." The scientist lifted a blue glass bottle, holding it up to grab my attention. It was probably yet another poison, hoping to figure out how I kept coming back to life. To my regrettable decision I agreed. They say curiosity killed the cat, but satisfaction brought it back... except I'm not a cat lusi mix, but rather an otter, but still the same idea. I just hope the information I'm looking for is important enough that it is worth it.

I hate needles, almost more so than I can even stay still for, but with two people holding my arm still as the needle went in and the promise of information I sat as still as I could muster. It was a bit difficult having to sit through all the steps. The wipe down of my arm, the syringe prep, seeing them pick it up, the feel of it pressing into my skin, the weird feeling of blood being drawn, the grip to keep my arm still. I had no distraction, only my thoughts and the room I was in to keep my mind busy.

I had nothing to distract me though, so today wasn't such a good day. I kept kicking my paws and wiggling my tail and tapping on the chair arm with my free hand just to try not to focus on the needle in my arm, but it didn't work. I had nothing else to focus on at all, not even some random bottles on the shelves to try guessing the contents of.

As soon as the grip on my arm was gone I yanked it back, rubbing my arm. The next thing I knew they handed me the bottle. Ever since they realized I learned to read they've had to get rid of all the labels to keep me from figuring out what the contents were and the dangers the posed to my health, but I knew half of those bottles were different poisons and the other half were medicinal things to fix me back up. The little blue glass bottle was bad enough without the label, and as I drank it I just hope it was quick unlike last time.

I coughed a moment because it was the most bitter thing I've ever tasted. "Tell me why."

"Why what?"

"Why won't-" I gagged, having to stop talking a moment," won't S block subjects go to the battlefield?"

"Because they are the first to have each power. Not what we originally were looking for, but it's a extra bonus that helps." His words were fading slowly as I lost consciousness.

Next thing I new I was looking at my own body. It wasn't much of a surprise since they do this a lot, but I looked peaceful for once. I didn't want to stick around and watch what they did, so I wandered off to look around. Ever since they figured out how to get rid of the ghosts in this building it's been sort of empty wandering the halls. I heard something down the hall, walking into the room to check it out. It was Aradia running through a testing area.

When I got in I could see it was the maze. Aradia spotted me very quickly. "Oh, hello there Jane! What are you doing here?"

"Just wandering. How you doing?"

"Great, fantastic even! I'm glad the bandages are gone."

"I am too. You seemed so sad."

"Who wouldn't be?"

"Fair enough. Need help with the exit?"

"That would be great thanks."

I scouted out the maze, remembering the way there. There were more traps than usual, maybe for the lack of something chasing her? "I found the way out. Did the not send something after you this time?"

"Killed them."

"Oh, well I guess that is a way to solve it. This way!" I lead her down the hall, a sharp left before the trip line to the razors and sharp right and left a bit further down the hall. There were several places not to step in the last stretch. "Step here." She jumped to the spot where I was. I went to the next safe spot. "Here." She jumped, barely landing. "Over here." She jumped again, almost going to far. "And here." She landed on the last spot, now able to see the doorway. "It's clear from here on."

"Thanks Jane." Aradia smiled. I followed her as she walked into the testing room. I didn't expected them to drop salt across the way we came in, nor did I expect the salt to go around the edge along the walls. What was this? They stopped pulling things like this two years ago, so why bring it back now. Aradia was about to swipe her hand to clear the salt, but she was quickly blindfolded and dragged back. I could feel the pull of my body trying to come back to life, but I was stuck in the salt lines.

"So Aradia, who is your friend who helped you?"

"Please, let her go!"

"Only if you tell us who it is."

"Aradia, say my name is Crocker! Please, I need to get back to my body." I was panicking. I need to get back. I don't know what happens if I don't go back.

"Her name is Crocker, now break the salt line!"

"Crocker? What an interesting name. Is she the ghost of a subject or a scientist?"

"If you don't break the salt line she might be a ghost forever!"

"What?"

Aradia wiggled free of their grip, tossing off the blindfold and swiping her arm. Her telekinesis broke the salt line and immediately I raced off. Please let me come back to life!

I sat up, panting and shaking violently. The scientist stared at at me in concern, but then their expressions drained of emotion. "You took longer than usual to come back Jane. What took you so long?"