The Tower by J.S. Frankel Read Free Book Online

them, and then Avenger stated, “It’s decided: Kitchen detail.” He took out a disc from one of the compartments on his utility belts and handed it to me.
    There was silence for a moment and then he said, “Meeting adjourned,” and strode out.
    The rest of them followed suit; only Deanna stayed behind. “I’ll show you to your room,” she offered, and we walked out together.
    Outside, as we were walking down the corridor, I stopped suddenly to look out the porthole window. A wave of emotion suddenly washed over me and my eyes began to tear up. “What’s wrong?” she asked.
    â€œI’m in space,” I answered, my voice hushed and shaking. “I’m…really in space.”
    That got a smile from her. “It’s very overwhelming, isn’t it? You’ll get used to it soon enough.”
    I looked down at the Earth, all beautiful and blue, like a huge, shiny marble hanging in the middle of the inky blackness and light. If everyone, all the Elites and Tweeners and the other scum at my school could see me now; earlier, I’d thought it would be cool to tell them and make them eat their words and now…the tears suddenly flowed out.
    â€œAre you okay?” she asked, this time real concern in her voice.
    â€œI…I always wanted to do something special, be someone special, tell everyone I knew I’d be someone instead of being a loser and sick all the time, and now I can’t tell anyone…” My voice failed me.
    Deanna put her arm on my shoulder and squeezed it firmly. Good thing no one was around to see me crack up. “You’re with friends now,” she said. “C’mon.” And with that, she led me to the lift, and we rode down to the fourth level and found my room; 467A. Along the way, I noticed the names of the other super heroes: Temptress, Repello/Blue Reyna, and a few others.
    â€œWhy did you put me here instead of with the regular guys?” I wondered.
    â€œAll of other staff rooms were filled and this is the only room available. Besides they live on the far side of the satellite, too far away. It’s not a problem, is it?”
    â€œNo, no, not at all,” I said. Just to live next to them was great; maybe I’d even get a few autographs. I had a whole new group of people to meet.
    She asked me for the disc and digging it out of my pocket, I gave it to her and she inserted it into the door slot. It popped out again; she took it and handed it back to me. “Don’t lose it,” she said and the door whooshed open. With a small flick of her hand, she turned on the light and there I saw my new living quarters.
    Roughly twenty feet by fifteen, I saw a bed near the porthole window, a small closet with a gray uniform hanging in it and some additional hangars. There was also a nightstand, clock, intercom and one more slot next to the intercom. I had no idea what that was for. Another door at the far end of the room led to a small combo toilet/shower. “I hope you’ll be comfortable here,” she said. “Do your best tomorrow morning,” and left me to stare out the window. The door closed quietly behind her.
    I stayed at the window for the next hour or so, looking at the beautiful Earth below me, then went to bed. Like Alice, I thought, just like Alice, except I was a guy and these people weren’t evil or malevolent.
    Sleep cycles must’ve kicked in. The lights had dimmed automatically to simulate night. I came awake to the faint sound of…bells, tinkling bells. Curious, I stepped outside; the sound was coming from across the hall, room 467B. The nameplate read: “Oriana.” The bell sounds got a bit louder, then abruptly stopped. Shrugging, I went back inside my room, found my bed, and went to sleep under the stars. Space; I’d finally made it. This time there were no tears. That thought sent me off to la-la land with a smile on my face.
    The next morning,