Chapter 1

Ziv woke up, immediately taking off the helmet part of his hazmat suit. He coughed up everything that was in his stomach. His ribs still hurt from the fall and going through the portal turned that pain all the way up to eleven. He wanted to scream, but he was still expelling everything in his stomach. He couldn't see, but it was blinding white light and his ears were ringing. He felt cold, but he could feel he was sweating. Ziv's stomach wouldn't calm down and the pain didn't stop.

Ziv felt something below him. He was on top of a guy who was clutching his head in pain. Though he was still focused on the pain he was going through. He was exhausted, but he had to push through that and find out what was going on. His senses started returning to him. First his sight, then hearing, his smell, but the main thing for Ziv was the pain and it was disappearing.

"Who are you?"

Ziv looked up at the man sitting next to him. He was holding his head and pinching his nose. Probably from his stomach contents on the floor near him. Ziv knew that trusting strangers wasn't the right idea, but the man looked innocent. His arms slouched back. He was wearing a black jacket, black pants and black gloves. Thankfully there was moonlight to light up the area where those two were located.

"Ziv, and you?"

"Cravem. Kid what are you doing here and where did you come from?"

"Uh…"

"Whatever kid. I need to get something then I am leaving. You can do whatever you want."

Ziv was still trying to get his bearings. He needed to find out where he was.

He looked around the room. There were four tables of the same size with the same amount of chairs around each of them. No, stool. Those were stools. Each table had a sink and different glassware. Tubes and beakers. Perhaps this is a lab?

"Uh… Cravem? Is this some kind of lab?"

"It is a science lab. Whoa kid, do you know where you are?"

"I… I don't."

"Alright. Just go down the hall to your left there is a security guard there. He can help you out. Since I'm helping you out, please don't tell him about me ok?"

"Sure…"

"Great, see you later."

Cravem walked towards the door he had pointed to and started slowly walking to the right. Ziv stood up and looked around the room, while slowly walking towards the doorway and out of it. Everything was clean compared to the dusty building he was just in. Paper, computers, cases, liquids and powders. Everything looked fresh, not decayed or discolored in any way.

He walked along the hallway to look for the security guard. His side didn't hurt and perhaps his ribs weren't broken anymore. He stood there and took off the rest of the hazmat suit. He pulled up his shirt to find that there was no cut or bruise. His ribs felt fine, not even a hint of pain. Well he just continued to walk.

There was a light moving up ahead.

"Who's there?"

Ziv heard the voice up ahead. The light was blinding his eyes. He put his arms in front of his eyes to block out the light and to see what was going on.

"What are you doing here kid."

"I don't know."

"Kid you smell you know that right?"

"Sorry…"

He now noticed the smell around him. He did feel bad, but he couldn't control it. About being here as well, he just had no idea how he got here. This place was a mystery. It wasn't anything like the building he was in, nor his house he lived in with his parents.

"Kid you bleeding?"

"I think I was."

The man took a big sigh and slowly moved towards Ziv.

"Call me Buck. What is your name?"

Buck knelt down near Ziv. He pointed the light above himself to give them both light in the hallway.

"Ziv."

Ziv was really uncomfortable having someone he didn't know near him. It really showed in his body language and Buck could see it clearly.

"Ok Ziv, follow me and I will make some phone calls. I know some people that might be able to help you."

Ziv followed Buck to a well lit room. There was a desk, a computer, a couple chairs and different papers along the desk. Buck had him sit down on a chair. Buck left the room and came back with a cup. There was water in it and Ziv took the offered water and started to sip it. Buck went over to a device Ziv recognized as a phone and started to make a call.

"Hello. I have a kid here and he doesn't know how he got here… Yea I'm from the university… Ten I think…" The next parts he whispered but Ziv was still able to hear him. "He said he isn't hurt, but there is blood on his clothes… Give me a second, I'll ask." He turns towards Ziv. "Kid, Ziv, do you know where your parents are?"

Ziv turned away and his eyes told Buck everything he needed to know. Buck turned away and whispered into the phone.

"I think they're dea… uh missing… Yes please… Buck and I work security… Yes see you soon, thank you." He turned towards Ziv. "So Ziv these people will be coming to help you out. They will be here soon. Have you eaten anything?"

Ziv didn't really pay attention to Buck. He just sat there looking down. He was thinking of his mom and dad. Their lives, their smiles, their hugs.

---

Later Buck and Ziv were near the entrance where a vehicle with rotating red and blue were waiting for Ziv. They had seen it on the security camera and so Buck led Ziv out here to meet them. He was still in a daze over today's events and thinking about his parents.

"Ziv don't look. Close your eyes right now."

Ziv didn't care why, he just did. Buck picked Ziv up and he was running. Ziv didn't know where or why he just was.

"Ziv what ever you hear don't move from here ok?"

Ziv didn't move at all. He stayed there in a catatonic state. The stress of what he had been through was catching up to him and he started to drift after a bit.

---

Ziv woke up, immediately taking off the helmet part of his hazmat suit. He coughed up everything that was in his stomach. His ribs still hurt from the fall and going through the portal turned that pain all the way up to eleven. He wanted to scream, but he was still expelling everything in his stomach. He couldn't see, but it was blinding white light and his ears were ringing. He felt cold, but he could feel he was sweating. Ziv's stomach wouldn't calm down and the pain didn't stop.

Ziv felt something below him. He was on top of a guy who was clutching his head in pain. Though he was still focused on the pain he was going through. He was exhausted. His hearing returned for a moment to hear Cravem.

"Where am I, Kid? What is going on?"

Ziv passed out from exhaustion. His mind and body had gone through too much to stay conscious.