Lydia an Jupiter were floating along the water on the tree, protected from the icky substance beneath them.
"So," Jupiter said, kicking back her feet, "how long have you been here?"
Lydia smiled. "A couple weeks, maybe."
Jupiter smirked. "I've been here for 4 years."
"And you're still alive?" Lydia gasped.
"Physically, yes. But mentally.." Jupiter's voice cracked. For a moment, Lydia could see the pain in her eyes and all the grief Jupiter had ever experienced.
Jupiter cleared her throat, returning to her normal, noncompassionate state.
Lydia looked away, trying to think of something else to talk about.
"How many kids are here?" she asked.
"I don't know." Jupiter shrugged. "Maybe 100, maybe 200. They can range from 11-20 years old. We're all just kids."
"Oh my." Lydia squeaked. There was no way she could find Gavin again.
"Do you know if we can ever meet people again after you've seen them once? You know, once you're all isolated in your room?" Lydia asked Jupiter.
Jupiter's eyes widened.
"Well, there is No Man's Land.." she mumbled.
"What's that?" Lydia asked excitedly.
Jupiter sat up. Her eyes glowed as she began to tell Lydia the story.
"Here's the deal. You know the room you're sent back to after you've completed your test? Supposedly, the walls are magical." Jupiter said, using animated hand motions as she said this.
"First you peel off a piece of paint on your back wall in the bottom right hand corner, then lick it. Then you place your tongue where you peeled the paint and voila!" Jupiter clapped her hands. "You're in No Man's Land."
Lydia looked at her suspiciously. "You're kidding me!" she said.
Jupiter smiled. "I kid you not, that's the rumor." Jupiter laughed. "So who do you want to see anyway?"
Lydia blushed. "Gavin. Do you know him?"
Jupiter eyed Lydia.
"Yeah, I do. And he's not worth the trouble, Lydia. Honest."
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