“Hey! Watch where, you’re going, mister!” I glared up at the tall, thin man who had pretty clearly purposefully run into me. I didn’t have time to deal with loons in the park if I was going to make it to the shelter before they shut their doors for the night.
He gave me what I think he thought was a friendly smile. “My apologies, let me help you up.” He pulled me to my feet and I brushed myself off. “Let me make it up to you. How does a hot meal and a warm bed sound?” I eyed him warily. Cara had warned me about strangers offering to take me anywhere. People were going missing. Not that anyone would want a street kid like me. Can’t be too careful sometimes, though.
Read More“Oh, good. I see you’ve woken.”
The cold voice of the doctor pulled me from my haze as I woke. I glared at him and I tried to get my bearings. I would have had some choice words for him if he hadn’t gagged me. I struggled against my restraints, but my muscles still felt like they were made of jelly. His amusement at my struggles was clear from the slight smirk at the corners of his thin lips.
Read MoreI sipped the amber liquid in my glass which burned my lips and throat as I stared at the papers arrayed across my desk. They all said the same thing. Some of them were nicer about it than others. It all came down to the same answer, though.
I picked up the one I’d received from the Board of Scientific Study Approvals. The paper was thicker than the others like they thought their rejection was more important than the one I’d gotten from Dynamic Industries. It was almost card stock. Leave it to the government to be the extravagant ones. I poured myself another drink as I read the letter again. I’d lost track of how many times I had read it. I could practically recite it.
Read More"Do you know where you are?"
My attention snapped up to the stoic man behind the desk. I glanced around at my surroundings to get my bearings. The gray man sitting across the table from me wore a black lab coat and had slicked-back hair.
“From the one-way window, security door, and uncomfortable chair you gots me strapped to, prolly a interg...intregrat…” I let out a frustrated sigh and closed my eyes.
Come on, guys.
“Interrogation. We’re in an interrogation room.”
Read MoreI sat silently and stared at my shoes while Mother spoke with the man with scary eyes wearing a dark coat.
“You have nothing to worry about, Mrs. Cole. I have seen many cases like your child’s and my treatments have proven quite effective.”
Mother gently ran her fingers through my hair. I could feel her worry. I hated worrying Mother.
“I read your pamphlet, Dr. Corialis. You don’t have to sell me on this issue. I just want Vin to get better. It was very generous of your facility to waive the price for us.”
Read MoreI examined my new disguise, making sure I had all the right features. It would be unlikely Peter's associates would invite a woman to play in their rigged game. A young man would be a more likely target. Besides, it amused me to make myself look just enough like Peter to be his son. I enjoyed creating a character for these kinds of deals. It kept life interesting.
Read More"It seems I've won the round again, gents." I tried to hold in my smirk when I laid down the last tiles in my hand and pulled the pile of winnings toward me. I had toyed with them for the first couple rounds, losing as though I were unfamiliar with the rules. I fumbled with which matches I could make and barely held in my amusement as the men tried to break it down for me. I could only play with my food so long, but I figured I would enjoy it while it was still fun. For me. My opponents were having far less fun and that fun was ruined further when I stopped letting them even think they could win.
Read MoreWe tapped our foot rapidly while we listened to the man across from us in the circle of patients. We had lost track of the number of hours we had been in this accursed group therapy. We were fairly certain the therapist had purposefully made us the last to speak. We were trying to hold our temper, but it was a losing battle.
"That's when the bird spoke to me and told me about God's plans for me."
Read MoreI closed my eyes as I hung up the phone. It was only luck that Cara hadn't changed her number in the years since I disappeared on her. I guess it was good I hadn't changed mine either. I was surprised she hadn't just deleted my number after all this time.
I forced myself into a sitting position and leaned against one of the long-abandoned machines in the warehouse. I tried to assess my wounds, touching my aching head and coming away with blood coating my hand.
Read More
