The greatest shock I had ever known passed through my body at that exact moment. It seemed surreal. A second ago I was wondering if he was dead. I wasn't sure if I was floating or kissing. My thoughts came rushing back and I began to ponder. I didn't know him. I met him 15 minutes ago and here we are standing out in the open kissing. He broke the kiss and we stood there awkwardly. You couldn't say that there was nothing there. I felt like an awkward teenager
"For a minute I thought you were dead," I breathed.
"I was. A damn splicer snuck up behind me and got just the right amount of extra hits on me. There's a Vita Chamber in the room at the end of the hall, that's why I was runnin' up the hall." Words evaded me and I just kind of stood there staring at him.
"How in the HELL did you get revived in a Vita Chamber?"
"I don't know, I just do. I have been able to since I got here. It's that not normal?"
"Uh." I sat there trying to find the right words to say. "Ryan's had the Vita Chamber's locked just like the bathyspheres. No one is supposed to be able to use them unless you have Ryan's DNA."
A dumbfounded look passed over Jack's face. Nothing really made sense. There was no real way that he could have activated the bathysphere and even got down here, let alone be able to use the Vita-Chambers. I was lost in thought until a crashing noise caught my attention.
"Did you get the sleeping bag?"
"No the splicer got me before I could get it."
"Well if you wanna stay, you better hurry it up before more splicers come. Unlike you, if I die, it's permanent."
He nodded and ran into the other room. Within a minute he stepped through the threshold again. He walked into the office and I quickly followed. Looking both ways I closed and locked the door once more. After I firmly placed the office door under the handle, I slid down the wall and sighed with relief. The feeling of safety washed over me once more as I peered at the tiny office. Jack was leaned up against the wall to the left of me. His eyes were closed and he seemed to be thinking.
I took the chance to get a better look at him. He was so handsome. More handsome than any other man I've seen before. I wish I knew more about him. There was such an air of mystery about him. There had to be a logical reason as to why he was able to do the things he did. What was he doing down here? He was a walking question mark. I had the inkling, however, that I was glad I met him. Meeting him was the the first good thing to happen in a long, long time.
"What are you doing down here?" he asked. I gave him an inquisitive look.
"Just trying to survive. That's all I can do. I'm dangerously outnumbered by splicers and there's only so much one girl can do. I can't get out here. No one can. This place is an underwater prison."
"I'm trying to get out of here. I owe a debt, however. I'm going after Ryan. Atlas is the only reason I've survived this long. I watched Ryan sic his splicers on the man's family. That's something you can't un-see. There was nothing I could do but sit there and watch." His expression was pained. I wasn't sure what to say. I sat there uncomfortably. I had the urge to comfort him, but I did not know how to. "I have to find Ryan. He may also be my key to get the hell out of here.
I stood up and stepped towards the desk. Turning my head back I said, "You should probably get some rest. You've had a long day it seems." He nodded grimly, but did not move. I looked down then moved towards the desk. The desk made the perfect bed for me. It was just the right length and the sleeping back fit perfectly on top. I didn't particularly care for sleeping on the floor. It made me feel exposed for some strange reason. With a sigh I sat up on the desk and laid in the sleeping bag. Peering behind me, Jack hadn't moved. He was staring at the ceiling. I rolled over and closed my eyes.
I heard a noise Jack unrolled his sleeping bag and laid in it. My mind wandered back to the kiss. There was a sense of tension in the air, sexual or otherwise. It was hard to forget the feeling of his lips on mine. I had just met him though. He said he was trying to get out of here. Maybe he'll let me go with him. He has access to the bathyspheres. They are the only way out of this pit. This handsome, mystery of a man may just be my last hope.
