Chapter 8: Chapter 8: Bearings
I stood in the doorway of my dorm and took in my new room. It reminded me a lot of my college dorm, minus the eclectic decor and the faint smell of booze that seemed to linger.
Two neatly made small beds. One across from the other. The monochromatic shades of blue on the walls, floors, and bed linens were no doubt intended to brighten the room. Ultimately the color scheme gave the space more of a hospital feel than anything else. The dome camera in the middle of the room was also quite unsettling.
I noted a foot locker at the end of each bed. I knelt down to inspect the contents of the metal box closest to me when a voice from behind sent me pivoting and landing on my ass.
"That locker is mine, you're welcome the other."
The young woman who now stood in the doorway wore a smug grin seeing how easily she had been able to spook me. She was naturally beautiful with her big green eyes, freckles, and long red hair held back in a loose ponytail. I noticed that she was wearing the same white jumpsuit as all of the other ladies our age I had passed in the hallway not too long ago.
"I'm Lynn. Sorry for sneakin' up on you."
Lynn offered her hand to help me up and I took it.
"It's been a long time since they've brought any new non-vaxies in. Must have been one hell of a hiding place you had."
She said with a half smile.
"You could say that."
She nodded and looked around the room.
"It's a shit hole but it's not the worst. That bed is yours."
She gestured towards the opposite windowless wall. Why aren't there windows? That's kinda depressing.
"They will give you a whole new bland wardrobe after sanitation so you can change and rest."
"..Sanitation?"
I took a step back toward what was to be my bed.
Lynn shrugged.
"It's not awful, but it's uncomfortable. They put you in a chamber and people in space suites scrub you down. You'll be out before the super awkward feeling fully sets in. The medical check that follows, that's another story. We all have had the full work up. Blood samples, vitals, scans, you name it. After that it's relatively smooth sailin'."
"Smooth sailing huh?"
I was silently panicking at the thought of being poked with a needle. Never have I been able to stomach it.
"Well for the most part. Depending on your med results, your weekly schedule may or may not be shit."
The lost expression on my face led her to continue. She walked fully into the room and over to sit on her perfectly made bed.
"It seems the main goal here is for them to get us and keep us in peak physical health. For what, we aren't entirely sure. Occasionally, one of us is chosen to be relocated to the 'Eden' wing. Some of the more talkative staff say it's luxurious. A reward for reaching the health milestones they give us and complacent behavior. But, nobody who has ever been relocated there has ever returned to confirm the rumors. I try not to dwell on it too much."
Lynn gave a dismissive hand wave.
"You aren't at all concerned that we may just be livestock? They could be doctoring us up to be organ donors for the elite for all you know. I find it hard to believe they are hunting us down for our own good."
Her eyes became fixed on a spot on the floor. I felt little guilt for pointing out the obvious, but perhaps taking a little more care with my delivery would be in my best interest. Making enemies from jumpstreet doesn't seem like the wisest course of action.
"Sorry, I didn't mean for that to come off so blunt, but I-"
"No, no, you're right. It's not like none of us here haven't considered the worst. It's just easier to believe in happy endings I suppose."
She rubbed her arm and looked back to me. Expression blank.
"Have you not tried to escape? There has to be a way-"
Abruptly, Lynn flew from her bed and clasped her hand over my mouth and put a finger over her own. It happened so fast I didn't know how to react. She shook her head with out a word and glanced behind her shoulder at the still vacant doorway.
"Even speaking about such a thing will get your ass an express pass to rehabilitation."
She whispered.
Just then, a man in a blue uniform with a face mask charged into the dorm room. From the badge and utility belt that resembled a police officer's, he must be facility security of some kind.
"Seperate immediately."
He demanded in a stern tone.
Lynn backed away and stood up rigidly.
"I've been assigned to guide Miss Layla here to the med sanction for her preliminary assessment."
Lynn said to the guard without breaking eye contact with me.
"Then go. Now."
The guard motioned to the hall behind him and waited for us to follow his order.
"Come on."
She edged us past the guard who was eyeing her rather inappropriately. I followed and glared him down, making my disgust apparent.
I kept further questions to myself as we made our way down the long cold hallway of dorm rooms. It was eerily quiet. No sounds of life.
We reached the end of the corridor and stood before massive glass double doors. Lynn placed her badge infront of the reader next to the doors and they swiftly glided open into a massive dome shaped room.
The only light illuminating the space was from a huge circular skylight above. There were no other windows; come to think of it, I haven't seen a single window since our arrival.
The open space was occupied by long cafeteria tables. Lynn pointed out the café itself was through the now closed double doors opposite to the doors leading out of the living sanction. She led me left past the tables and through another set of large glass sliding doors. This hallway was short. At the end there was another door, this one with a red cross. Ah, the clinic.
Lynn stopped short of the entrance and pressed an intercom button on the wall next to the clinic entrance.
A soft feminine voice came from the small speaker.
"Purpose for visit?"
Lynn replied for me.
"Layla is here for her preliminary."
Just then there was a buzzing sound and the door hissed open.
"This is your stop. It will be over before you know it. Just...comply, okay?"
I've known this girl all of 30 minutes and can already confidently say that Lynn sucks at hiding her emotions. I don't really want to know why, but my new friend was definitely nervous for me.
I simply nodded and sighed to myself before walking past her.
"See you on the other side."
I quipped and winked at her to shake some of the building anxiety.
My new roommate gave me a sad half smile.
"See you on the other side girl."
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