"No! That's not how you do it!" Someone said frantically. Not the best way to wake up. I'll tell you that. 

"Well how do you do it then, Dahlia?" 

Another voice said. 

"Like this." Then I could breathe. I was pretty sure, at that moment, that I had an oxygen mask on.

“That’s what I was doing!”

“No, it wasn’t. She wasn’t breathing.”

I slowly opened my eyes and looked around. The white walls and dozens of small beds signaled I was in a hospital. A girl who was probably an older teenager, with short, amber hair that was cut a few inches below her jawline, almond colored skin and dark brown eyes, was sitting to my left.

She was doing something with the IV I was wearing. She looked over to my right somewhere and said, “Okay, next time Wyatt, just do what I t-” she glanced at me, “Uh, your sister just left, I can go get her. If you want.” 

I tried to talk but I couldn’t say anything. You know, ‘cause of the mask.

“Right… Wyatt go get her sister.” She said, removing my oxygen mask.

“How am I supposed to know what her sister looks like?” He asked.

“She was just in here.”

“I wasn't paying attention!” 

“She looks like her.” She said.

"Oh yeah, I bet she's a carbon copy."

"Ugh! Julie!" 

"I know like three Julies." 

“Ugh! Fine, I’ll do it. Just keep her alive.” She left just before I said,

“What?” 

I looked to my right and saw the boy she was talking to. He looked similar to the girl that was just in here. His eyes were the same color, so was his skin tone. His hair was black and just a little shorter than the girl's. He looked younger than her, though. And I guess I have to say it. He looked kinda cute. 

In a fourteen-year-old boy kinda way. 

“Hi.” I said.

“Sorry, I almost suffocated you.” He said.

“It’s alright. Everyone makes mistakes.” My voice sounded hoarse, and it probably didn’t help that I was struggling to get up. But I sat up.

“But I did exactly what Dahlia told me to.”

“Well, whatever she did, definitely made it easier to breathe soo…” I shrugged.

He sighed and rolled his eyes, “I’m Wyatt, by the way.” 

“Carolina.” Just then, Julie ran in.

“Carolina! Are you ok?”

“I mean... sure.”

“Do you know what happened?” Julie asked, squeezing the breath out of me.

“No.” I said breathlessly.

“Sorry.” Julie laughed.

“Can you explain what happened?” The girl, (most likely named Dahlia) asked.

“Uh… well, I felt a shock of pain run up my spine.” 

“That’s it?” Dahlia asked.

“It was actually the second one that knocked me out. It was way more painful.”

She turned to my sister. “Do you have any idea?”

“No, I just watched her collapse onto the floor.” Julie answered.

Dahlia turned to a desk covered with books and started flipping through them.

"Oh! You're her sister?" Wyatt asked. 

"Hi Wyatt." 

"Oh my god, no way! Carolina, this is your sister?!" 

"Why is that so hard to believe?" I asked, shifting in the stupidly uncomfortable bed. 

"Well, first, I've known Julie for as long as I can remember and she never said anything about you," he said. 

"Well I've known her all my life, and she's never said anything about you." 

"Ouch! Burn." He said, feigning hurt. 

Over at her desk Dahlia groaned, "I know of almost every injury, disease, and sickness, but I can't find anything on, whatever she has."

"It's okay, Dahlia. You'll figure it out." My sister said. 

"I'll have to ask an Elder." She said walking out of the room. Then immediately turned around, "I need a Rebound."

Dahlia hit a button on the wall, "I'm leaving, I need a Rebound." 

A very static-y voice said something that I couldn't make out and Dahlia turned around. 

"The Rebound coming is great. I love him, you'll love him, he's amazing. I gotta go talk to the Elders, I'll be back. Wyatt let's go." 

"Why do I have to follow you around?" He said, looking like he didn't want to get up from the chair he was in. 

"You lost the bet. You have to suffer the consequences. You're my personal assistant for the day. Let's. Go." 

He huffed, got out of his chair, and followed her mumbling. 

Julie chuckled. "Those two." 

"Julie, where are we?" I asked, suddenly realizing I was not somewhere familiar. 

"Istory Headquarters." 

"Okay…what does that mean?"

"Istory. That doesn't ring a bell?" She asked.

"Nope."

She sat back in her chair and thought for a moment. 

"Did I never tell you?"

"No. Eu não sei what Istory means." (I dont know) I was starting to get agitated.

"Well, it's… it's our aunt and uncle's last name."

"I'm assuming you mean on dad's side."

"Yeah. But don't worry-" She was interrupted by two guys that looked exactly the same.

"Oh, hey, Jules." The one on the left said in an Australian accent. As they walked toward me, the one on the right, melted into the one on the left.

And both the other people in the room acted like this was normal.

Once he reached us he kissed Julie.

"Uh…what just happened?" I asked.

"Oh, right, Carolina, this is my boyfriend, Austyn."

"I assumed that much, but I meant the guy that melted!" I said, gesturing at Austyn.

He looked at me like I was the weirdo, then he looked at Julie confused.

"He…um, he can clone himself. That's just what happens when the clones disappear…" Julie explained.

"I'm sorry, what?"

"She doesn't know?" Austyn asked, turning to Julie.

"No, why do you think she was living on Earth?"

"What are you talking about? And you still haven't told me what Istory Headquarters is." I nearly shouted it, but my voice was still hoarse.

"Look, I can't explain it all right now, but the gist of it is, there's another world below Earth's crust, and that is where we are, the people here have…uh, special abilities-" Julie started, but I interrupted her.

"You mean superpowers?" 

"Yeah, but 'superpowers' sounds lamer." Austyn said.

"It sounds lame really anyway you say it, but that's not the point," Julie said, "The point is, you have the ability to do something no one above ground can do."

"Wait, really?" 

"Well, maybe. You could be powerless or a late bloomer. Darius is powerless, Dad was a late bloomer."

"I'm confused."

"I don't blame you. But you should get some rest." Austyn said.

"No, I don't need any more rest, let me get up." I said, swinging my feet so they were over the side of the bed. I stood up, let go of the bed, and immediately fell over.

"Your voice is still gravely and you can't even stand." Julie stated, helping me get back onto the bed.

"I don't feel tired anymore." 

Julie got up and walked out of sight.

"Julie's told me a lot about you. It's nice to finally meet in person." Austyn said, probably trying to break the awkward tension.

"Kind of a weird way to meet. Why did you have a clone anyway?" I asked.

"Someone needed some help with something heavy and I couldn't lift it by myself, so I made a few clones to help out."

"Oh."

Thankfully that's when Julie walked by in. With someone else.

"This is Ash, they'll help you sleep." Julie said.

Ash smiled warmly and placed a hand over my forehead, as though they were checking my temperature.

Then I feel asleep.