I wasn`t awoken by the loud police sirens or the Bright blue and red lights, Actually, it was the excruciating pounding on my head and ears.
As my eyes slowly opened, I realized I wasn`t at home in my bed, nor in my house, nor... Anywhere near my house.
All I saw with my fogged up eyes is [[Police officers]], a [[alley to the north]] and the [[blurry area around me]].Slowly rising up, a older man in a police uniform walked up to me and hoisted me up;
"Are you okay, Miss?"
I ponder my options-
[[What happened?!]]
[[Who am I?]]
[[where am I?]] Despite your very much dizzy state, you feel a pang of fear and guilt, looking for a escape-
[[Run down alley]]
[[Stay put and await consequences.]]You seem to be laying in soggy, wet concrete. There`s a bunch of brick storefronts on both side of you, about a 4 meter distance away. You seem to be directly in the middle, being able to look up and seeing a stormy grey night sky.
There is [[Police officers]] stationed on the road in front, investigating some crime.. Some crime you might be a part of.
There is also a [[alley to the north]]."Well, that`s what are trying to figure out. Seems like something serious, though." He sighed; "Can you remember what happened?"
"Sir, I don`t even remember my name-" I spat, putting my hands on my neck;
"I`m sorry about that, but I can`t tell you who you are either. Did you check your pockets for a ID?"
[[I`m a girl, we don`t have pockets.]]
He shrugs; "Beats me, Do you have some sort of amnesia?"
I looked at him through half lidded eyes; "No offence officer, but how would I know?!"
He chuckled a bit, I guess he had humour- "Sorry sorry, do you Carry an Id?"
[[I`m a girl, we don`t have pockets.]] "in a alley just off of ivory street, Philidelphia."
"Philidelphia.." I felt my eyes widen, something about that felt wrong, I am not from here.. Or am I?
"Are you okay??"
[[Who am I?]] You make a break for it, your adrenaline taking you further than you even knew.
You come to a stop, a huge fence wall stands in your way; You can hear the footsteps of incoming danger, but you aren`t sure you could make this jump-
[[stop.]]
[[Try to climb the fence]][[Police officers]] "Well, I might have to put you into custody for that-" He sighed; "I`m really sorry, Please turn around and put your hands behind your back."
In silent compliance, I let him take me into the back of my truck, the warmth of the car deflating the anxiety building in my stomach and throat.
He got in the drivers seat, fixing his mirror; "I don`t usually ask prisoners this, but seeing as this might be scary for you; Would `ya like to listen to the radio?
[[Yes]]
[[No thank you]]You get handcuffed and put into police custody, they didn`t find any id on you, so you get charged with illegal immgrancy.
The end. (1)You stick your foot into the diamond shaped hole, the barbed wires immediately putting strain on your feet as you climb halfway up-
Then, you lose grip on a section, slowly falling to your ineveitable doom.|
The end. (2)He smiles wide and turns on the music, the sound of soft country fills surrounded me in a strange familliarity, even though country music is... Terrible. It`s really bad.
"M` names Paul."
"Hi, Paul."
"Hey." He chuckles to himself; "Say, do you remember what you look like?"
"...No, actually."
he put something onto my lap, a [[shiny metal block.]]We ride in silence, a awkward aura filling the room. He clears his throat-
"M` names Paul."
"Hi, Paul."
"Hey." He chuckles to himself; "Say, do you remember what you look like?"
"...No, actually."
he put a [[shiny metal block.]] in my lap.You peer into the polished material, getting a glance of who you are;
You have long, brown hair that flows down to your mid back, porcelain white skin and bright green eyes, with the addition of angular eyebrows and Circular lenses. I`m wearing a black tank top and blue jeans, my wrists covered by bandage-
"...Huh."
"You okay?"
"I`m... Fine." Shuddering, I looked away from the block and watched the stores and homes from the window as we drove, nearing the police station.
[[Ask a question]]
[[stay silent.]]You consider what to ask;
[[Could you tell me any more details?]]
[[How far is the station from here?]]
[[Do you have any ideas of who I am??]]You stay silent as you arrive at the police station, lost in your boggled mind.
[[get out.]]"You my friend, are the only details we have other than a broken window and dead body."
My stomach sank; "...D-Dead..?"
He nodded; "I probably shouldn`t have said that to a kid, sorry."
"A kid..?"
He snorted; "Cmon girlie, you have to be what, 14? 15?"
"..Oh."
[[Ask a question]]
[[stay silent.]] "about 5 minutes, a block."
"Okay.." I sighed, My glasses oddly blurring up.
"Do ye` remember how old you are?"
"No, sir."
I know he was getting frustrated, his voice was starting to betray him; "We`re going to search you then get you checked by a professional."
"..Okay sir."
[[Ask a question]]
[[stay silent.]] "Sorry kid, None a clue."
I sighed, expecting this sort of awnser;
[[stay silent.]]
[[Ask a question]] You are escorted into the station, and taken into a small, interrogation room.
Paul was gone, now I was seated across from a much scarier man, with a long black beard and peircing, blue eyes.
He is silent, watching me, almost as if he was excited to see me squirm.
"Name?" He spoke in a gravelly, deep voice.
[[I don`t know.]]"How do you not know?" He rose his head slightly, to look down on me, no doubt. Two can play at that game;
I held hard eye contact, standing my ground- "I do not know who I am, where I am, or why I am here. I must have some form of amnesia."
"MM.. Right, we will check you checked by a doctor then." He sounded unconvinced; Pulling out a receiver and leaving the room, just me, my handcuffs, and a locked window.
[[Examine handcuffs]]
[[Examine window]]
[[Stay still]]
Standard police grade handcuffs, unlocked by a key. I sigh and slump in my seat, knowing that theres probably no way out of these..
Unless, I use some sort of fabric to shimmy me out-
[[Use your shirt]]
[[Stay still]] I stood and walked over to the window, it was locked by some sort of key release trigger.
My brain gets lost in escape plans, I could ram the chair into the window and bolt... but I should stay put, and avoid trouble... Where even would I even go?
Maybe I should free my hands first-
[[You only live once!]]
[[Examine handcuffs]]
[[Stay still]] Staying still I let myself envelop into the situation fully.
I don`t know who I am, where I am, or why I`m here. I woke up at a crime scene minimally injured, and have just been arrested for now having a ID on me, which now in retrospect, seems a little suspicous; Considering lot`s of people don`t carry their id on them while they`re walking around.
The minacous man comes back, Glaring at me like I was a hideous monster-
"You, follow."
I complied, obviously, as I don`t want to make this guy mad..
"You are to visit the resident doctor, and then go into a cell."
Sheepishly nodding, My mind couldn`t stop yelling at him; it was unfair, I had no idea what I was doing; And I don`t have a lawyer!
MY eyes lidded, trying to hold back tears of frustration.
As we navigated the police station, we stopped at a brown, presumably oak door, and a Blonde woman with a infectious smile walked over to us;
[[Talk to her]]
I pick up the chair and In a swift moment, break open the window, the glass shattering outwards onto the ground.
I then realized I had to climb through, and looked towards my cuffed hands, trying to jump and flip yourself out-
The door is thrown open, and i am arrested for escaping from lawful custody.
The end (3)I carefully and swiftly take the corner of my shirt, gently sliding it into the cuff on my right hand, loosening it.
My hand reddens as I try my best to slide it out, the cold metal scraping my poor skin-
I retract my hand slightly, then use all my might to rip it off. Holding in a loud scream-
Well, now my hands are seperated!
[[Examine the window]]
[[Stay still]] I stood and walked over to the window, it was locked by some sort of key release trigger.
My brain gets lost in escape plans, I could ram the chair into the window and bolt... but I should stay put, and avoid trouble... Where even would I even go?
[[Break that window!]]
[[Stay still]] "Hey, sweetheart!" She had a tangy, slightly southern accent;
"Hi..." I somewhat mumbled out, her giving me a toothy grin;
"Step right in so I can check up on you!" Patting my arm, she lead me into the room;
It was like a normal doctors office, chairs, a desktop, a bed, a sink, and cabinets.
I sat down on the chair and rested my arms on the rests, their pourus nature gently scraping at my elbows;
"Okay Hun, tell me how you feel."
"Oh, well... Uhm.." I take a deep breath; "I have a reoccuring headache, that comes for a few minutes then goes.. And I can`t remember anything."
"Mhm-" She typed something in; "Do you feel Dizzy or Lightheaded?"
"Y-Yes.."
"Okay, do you have temporary blindness or spots in your eyes?"
"No..."
"Last thing before I check your head, Do you hear any ringing in your ears?"
"..Slightly. And Only in one ear."
"Odd, but not super concerning.." She mumbled out loud, then walks over to me with her sthesoscope; "May I check your heart rate?"
I nodded, being careful as to not shake my head around.
As she placed the cold metal to my chest, I could tell her focus was somewhere else, the bandages on my arms.
"Seems good hunny, Just might I see?-" She prodded at the gauze, I sighed and gave her another nod;
She gently pushed up the loose bandages, then gaped at them, looking frightened-
My heart picked up, My eyes widening; "W-what?!"
She shook her head and put on a Not so convincing smile; "It`s okay sugar, just past injuries."
"Okay.." I peered at the white tiles, her frantically typing on the computer; "Can I examine your head?"
"Sure." My neck was tired, so I finally voice complied; her poking and brushing the hair around the top of my head;
"Well, you got a bit of a bruise on the side here, but nothing bleeding. Most likely a concussion, but I should take your blood pressure and temperature, just to be safe."
I sat in silence; Did concussions usually cause amnesia? Or is that completely different altogether?
She stuck a therometer under my arm, the cold tip making me shiver slightly; Not helping that I was in a cold isolated room in a tank top.
"Ordinary, Hmm... Give me your arm." She put me in the torture device also known as a sphygmomanometer. As it gave me a tight squeeze, I felt my stomach churn, wanting this to be done as quick as possible-
When it stopped, I let out a hefty sigh and looks around as The doctor went back to her desk, typing away.
"Trust me, I don`t want you to go to jail for nothing honey-bun." She sighed; "But the guys here are tough about city rules."
[[About that-]]
[[Jail?!]]"I thought that you only had to carry I.D while driving? To confirm your identity if pulled over?"
"Well, that used to be the case, the mayor of philly added a stupid new rule, everyone over 13 must carry I.D, which is beyond ridicolous! As a mother-" As she ranted, I was even more distraught. I just wanted out, to go home, wherever my stupid home was.
I couldn`t help it anymore, It was too much for me to handle- I started to tear up, biting my lip to prevent ugly sobs;
"Oh baby, was it something I said?" She rushed towards me, holding my hands; "You`re going to be okay.."
I shook my head in disbelief, she doesn`t even know who I fucking am.
She shushed me slightly and wrapped her arms around me, I ducked my head into her shoulder, classic cowardice.. But it was nice.
She gently stroked my hair and whispered gentle reassurances into my ear, my brain too boggled to even listen. it was like hugging a grandma, but one that was 40 years younger.
There was a knock on the door and I whimpered, not wanting to part from her.
"I`ll be right back doll, right back.." She slowly left me, stepping out with the scary man in the hall; Leaving me in complete silence.
[[Calm down]]I spat, feeling a rush of adrenaline;
"Hopefully for a short time." She croaked, standing up; "I have to go for a minute."
You can feel the anxiety build up in you;
[[Calm down]] What was the breathing trick? inhale, wait for 4 seconds... exhale, another 4 seconds?-
My head was spinning, the room was slanted and I was falling.. slowly... the chair dragging...
Was I even breathing? My throat was sore, my head pounding- the room around me flashing in and out like lightning bolts;
Is this what dying feels like? a rush of emotions before the pitch dark?
I squeezed my eyes closed, hearing a loud squeak; barely able to hear the shouting match outside;
//"SHE`S JUST A CHILD DIMITRI!"//
//"You can`t do that Janet, you can`t ratonalize every criminal-"//
//"A CRIMINAL?"// Janet roared; //"SHE IS A CHILD WHO WOKE UP NOT KNOWING WHO SHE IS, WHERE SHE IS, OR WHY SHE`S HERE!! IMAGINE IF THAT WAS YOU!!! YOU WAKE UP IN A RANDOM STREET AND GET IMMEDIATELY ARRESTED?! I CAN`T BELIEVE HOW YOU`RE ACTING RIGHT NOW!!"//
The doctor, Janet, stormed into the room, frustrated tears running down her face; "..I am so, so sorry Sweetie."
[[hug her]]I stood up, stumbling my way over to hug her-
She was taken aback by the embrace, but quickly softened into it, giving me a tight squeeze; "I can`t do anything to help-" Janet wailed; "I`m just a doctor."
I shook my head, I didn`t believe that, she had to be able to do SOMETHING!
She nodded, the whole situation feeling completely hopeless.
I couldn`t help but sob again; Why couldn`t they just look me up in their database or something? Do I even live in philidelphia?! Do I live in america?!?
Janet simply stared at me, obviously feeling the same.
There was another knock on the door, Janet rushing to clean my face with the scrapy brown tissue; "It`s okay hunny, just listen to what they say, and don`t say another word unless you have a lawyer."
I mumbled a okay, her leading back to the terrifying man.
He grabbed me by the arm and began to lead me away, Janet giving me a small wave as we left.
I don`t remember what happened, I guess I phased out, but I was back in the interrogation room, chained.
[[scream.]]
[[Look for an escape]]
[[stay put.]]I can hold it anymore;
My voice makes a shrill shreiking noise, trying to move out of the chains on my arms-
"LET ME OUT!!" I pleaded, My hands scratching at the crevases of the door, trying to find even just a subtle opening-
"PLEASE!" Gasping, I fell to my knees, exhausted... My eyes flickering like a burnt out lightbulb before I hit the ground.
[[....]]Theres the same window from earlier, but it appears to have a layer of protection of the outside, and you couldn`t do much, being chained to this table anyways.
I sigh and put my forehead to the desk, peering down at my soaked black flats.
I was really stuck here, wasn`t I?
I didn`t even bat a eye as the door opened again;
I could [[keep my head down]] or [[just lazily peek.]]My body becomes numb, forgetting how to feel, should I feel? I don`t even know who I am, or what I want anymore.
I gently greet the drowsy tingle inside my head, slowly, dozing off.
[[....]]...
......
"ugh..." I make out from my fuzzled voice, just a groan.
My body slowly inches to the right, I don`t want to wake. My eyes are squeezed closed-
Theres walking... Someone walking around me...
"You`re going to hafta get up eventually, sweetheart."
...Tangy...Southern..
"Janet...?" Peering slightly, my eyes adjusted to the light;
"Mhm. You fainted and your heart rate was low, so let`s just rest for a while okay hun?" She sat on the edge of the memory foam matress, her hand tenderly clasped onto my knee;
"..Okay.." I mumbled, looking around; This wasn`t the same as her office... There were more machines, smaller beds..
Tubes in my arms..
"It`s fine baby.. You were really thirsty." she squeezed me; ".. They want to let you go, and try to find who you are.. For now, You`ll have to stay in a either a cell, or in here.."
I looked to the wall, obviously not wanting to be in a cell; "..Here."
She ran her fingers through my hair and sighed; "Okay, I`m going home soon though, you`ll be here with Dimitri.."
"That guy?!" I couldn`t help but panic a little, Janet giving a glance of sympathy;
"he will Leave you alone mostly, Just relax gorgeous." She cupped my cheek, her skin radiating a comforting warmth.
Slightly nodding, she started to pack her stuff up. I guess by soon she meant.. Right now.
[[Say bye]]
[[Go back to bed]]"...BOO."
A mans voice startled me up, My heart skipping a beat;
It was just paul. He must have noticed my reaction, and looked concerned;
"Sorry Kiddo, having a little bit of a tough time?"
I nodded, looking down at the dull gray table.
"That`s not good.. Wow, Dimitri really did go overboard." He crinkled his brow, viewing the chains; "I`ll take those off kid."
[[thats okay.]]
[[Thank you..]]Paul waltzes over, and peers at me; "Aww, I didn`t scare ya."
He must have noticed my reaction, and looked concerned;
"Sorry Kiddo, having a little bit of a tough time?"
I nodded, looking down at the dull gray table.
"That`s not good.. Wow, Dimitri really did go overboard." He crinkled his brow, viewing the chains; "I`ll take those off kid."
[[thats okay.]]
[[Thank you..]] "I`m okay with them on." I sighed;
"I don`t understand ya, Girly." Paul shrugged; "Usually kids would be jumping for joy to be free."
"Other kids have things to do with thier hands." I replied, gloomily.
He sighed; "Yep. You thirsty or hungry?"
"..." Was I? I hadn`t been really paying attention to that, now realizing my dry, gravelly throat.
"Well?"
"Sorry sir... I`ll take water."
"Sounds good." He stood, leaving quicker than he came.
[[wait.]]
He released my arms from the cuffs, finally giving me room to breathe.Everything is still, //irritatingly// still.
I get a strong urge to scrape at my skin, quite out of no where- Gently, I Pick, the not so silence of the sound of nails against skin giving me a odd comfort.
The door opens again, Paul putting the cup on my desk and mouthing //'Be right back'//
After he`s gone, I take a look at my drink, water, In a mug with a pink plastic straw.
My eyebrows furrowed, basically feeling a bit awkward. It was like I was being treated like a toddler again. But I guess he had no real choice, since... Wrist-chains.
my hands wrap around the cup, pushing my head down to get a sip; It was astonishing how quickly I drank, not even knowing I was thirsty in the first place.
as I sucked on the last drop, I quickly threw my head up and gasped for air, the cold against my tounge making a freezing feeling.
It was strange, how chilly the room actually was, Being that it wasn`t cold outside...
My vision started to blur slightly, Passing out pulling me in, like a murderer drags their victim..
I eventually greeted the darkness, slipping under.
[[....]]"...Bye.." I weakly call; Janet giving me her honey sweet smile-
"Bye, sugar-plum. If you need me, go to the front desk and call my number, it`s on the lil list."
I nodded and waved with all my strength, Janet waving back before leaving.
Now, it`s just me myself and I.
...
What can I do?
[[Tug out tubes]]
[[Examine room from my bed]]My eyes flutter back to the dark.
My dreams aren`t vivid, or even there.. Theres just empty husks, with flashes of random colors. Red.. Yellow.. Red... Black.
I am a analyst, I analyse. But this.. Is beyond me. My own mind. I guess the only one to analyse a analyst would be another analyst. I can`t figure out the signifigance behind the colors.. If there even is any.
Slowly, and surely... Everything becomes still.
[[.....]]I slide my finger over the adhesive and rip the needle out of my arm, watching speckles of blood leak down my bandages, which, Janet appearently cut holes into.. To put the tubes in.. Why not just take them off? Isn`t this impractical?
Sighing, I ripped out the one on my other arm and rubbed each one, both now slightly sore.
What do I do now?
[[Examine room from my bed]]
Double-click this passage to edit it.From my bed, I can see the speckled tile ceiling, two blue curtains on both side of me, A medicine pump, filled with water, and a window poking through the edge of my left.
Well, Theres no where else really to go but up, or back to bed.
[[Get the FUCK up.]]
[[Try to go back to sleep]] Turning my head back around, I go down with a slam. Squeezing my eyes closed to shut out the light, turning the bakcs of my eyelids red.
This Pillow is definately made out of cotton, instead of holding my head up I feel my head sinking to the bottom, the slim layer of fuzz the only thing keeping me from lying directly on a metal spring.
I go on and on in my head about discomfort, being lost in my thoughts slowly lulling me, dragging me away...
Back into the shadows.
But it was not Colorful, I see nothing.. Not a thing..
Until I saw someone.
or something, I guess.. I could never be truly sure. But what I am sure of..
They had short, Golden yellow hair.. Tan, smooth skin, and peircing, Honey brown eyes.. Ones looking down on me, their face resembled something of a mischevious child.. Twisted into a plotting smirk, their hand raised towards me-
Then I see red.
No...
NO...
Not being able to control my body, I jolt up in a cold sweat, confused as to how long I was really gone.
My eyes drag around the room, the area around me now feeling cold and dense.. Not safe.
[[Get the FUCK up.]] I toss the blankets off of me, using the fragile fabric from the curtains to barely hoist me up, scared that I`d rip them off.
Reaching across for the metal bedframe, my hand gently wrapping around the frozen bar, looking around the room.
It was long, there was only a cabinet and sink, and two other beds beside mine.
Inching my way over to the counter, I grasp onto the plastic handles on the cabinet and move from one to one, eventually ending up at the same old, A oak brown door.
Slowly taking the doorknob, I use all my might to turn it and my body weight to push it open, Stumbling forward and spinning around, my back hitting a wall;
Looking north and south, I couldn`t see much but darkness, a lightswitch poking out further up north-
I slump down onto the ground, instead crawling my way over. Easier to move with a headache.
I inch towards it and turn it on, now being able to see, what do I do?
[[Look for someone.]]
[[Look for the front desk.]]
Wandering, one foot in front of the other. Dreadful.
So far all I`ve seen is endless hallways, with the same fucking black and white tiles and plain white walls, going on and on like I`m in some twisted labyrinth.
Do I even want to find someone? Correction, /Do I even want to find the person who is here?/
Groaning interally, I realize theres a door ahead, and with my luck, it`s probabl-
...
Nevermind!
The label says.. Labratory..
Something in me sparks up, my hand inching closer and closer to the doorknob, like a voice.. Calling me in further.. beckoning me inwards..
I force myself away, This isn`t a good idea.. But the thought of innovation and experimentation for some reason excites me..
Shaking myself out of it, my eyes gaze back to the hall, I really shouldn`t but.. I don`t know.
[[Enter Lab]]
[[Continue looking for someone]] Speeding through the painful halls, the adrenaline pumps me faster and faster, just wanting to be back in the warmth of Janets arms.
Selfish.. I know...
I shake off the negative feelings, rounding to seemingly the entrance of the police station.
The foyer was a pre entrance, coming from four push doors, into a carpetted hall, with the desk up front moving in a circluar line; Gated by a plastic screen.
There was the classic oak door to my right, I slid my hand over the knob and pushed myself in, a very comfy looking purple office chair grabbing my fancy.
Sliding over, I rolled myself like a elementary schooler over to the phone and read the number glossary, Finding Janets number and tapping on the clackity buttons;
My hear picked up after each ring, knowing the possibility of being ignored-
"Hey?.. It`s Janet Tubman-"
I couldn`t help but let out a happy squeal, grabbing the desk in front of me to ground myself; [["Hey!! It`s.. Uhm... Me.."]]
[[stay silent]]
{She enters the lab, Fascinated about everything, just analysing}
{go over the stuff in the room, and test tubes excitement about each invention, and have her impressed on her own knowledge}
No.. I can`t.. It`s not safe.
It hurts to pull away from the lab but I do, continuing my search..
The corridor moves faster than before, the halls feeling less endless and more familliar, the lack of something.. Almost comforting.
But all that`s good must come to a end.
My fingers trail across the new door, instead of the same framing everywhere this door is a tinted birch.
Running the tips of my hands to the nametag, I let out a shaky breath; It`s his door.
I can`t even bring myself to say the name in my own consiousness, fear starts to consume me.
A fisted palm hovers over the small, blacked out window.
I could just [[Knock]], or save the pain and [[Continue the search.]]cautiously, I lightly rap on the door with the middle joints of my fingers, waiting for some sort of vocal reply;
The man opens the door, staring down at me; I only feel smaller and smaller, shrinking.
I could [[Say something,]]
Or [[Keep quiet, like a idiot.]][[Look for the front desk.]]
To my suprise, she snorted; "We gotta have a nickname for you hunny, don`t we?"
I realized she couldn`t hear my nodding, so I gave her a small noise of affirmation-
"How about... Uhm... green bean?"
My eyes squinted in confusion; "...What?"
"Well, you have green eyes so I just-" She wheezed; "N-Nevermind. How about something like... Olive."
Springing up, I put my hands to my head; "Thats genius! It sounds like a normal name too!"
"Thanks! So for now, I`ll call you Olive, Kay?"
"Yep!" Propping myself onto the desk, my free hand takes rest in my lap.
"So, `Liv;" She started, already making nicknames for my nickname; "I gots a email from the station, they`re going to search other states for missing reports, but for now you stay under police custody, but the best part is if you`re comfortable, you can go to a Hotel or here with me."
I put my hand on my head, speechless; "But.. Don`t you have kids?!"
"Oh honey, It won`t be much trouble having another person in the house. I make a mean spaghetti!"
"...Thank you, Janet.."
"Do you want me to pick you up tonight?"
"...Yes.."
The phone practically slipped out my hand, happy tears running down my face; Free.. Finally..
My eyes drove to the glass doors, watching paitently for janet to come in her car, or maybe shes walking, and will greet me with as big hug, that would be nice..
I slip on a random coat left on the hanger, stepping into the mild breeze of the night.
Moonlight barely lit up the bare streets, no snow or leaves... Huh, what season even is it?
Couldn`t help but walking more, I edged to the end of the sidewalk, sitting down in excitement;
More happy tears poured from me, a soft, light feeling engulfing me. It was finally all over.
My relief waved more and more into a calm state, gently closing my eyes-
Then there was a honk, and I gasped-
Janet sat across the street in a silver van, waving towards me!
Quickly looking both ways to make sure the coast was clear, I ran over and hopped into the plush khaki colored seat.
My head rolled over to Janet, her hand tenderly wiping the trails of tears away, her smile infectious; "Hi sweetheart.." She mumbled-
I shook my head, speechless on how happy I was to be out of that place. She moved her hands back to the wheel and smiled; "Next destination, home sweet home."
Silently, I closed my eyes and relaxed into the headrest, letting the vibrations from the car lull me off;
[[.......]]"Anyone there?... Hun bun, is that you?"
.... I tried to speak, but there was something holding me back, a sinking feeling, tears started running;
/"...Sorry.."/ My throat croaked, the phone falling out from my hands; The fragile plastic cracking open;
Paralyzed. Thats how I felt, I couldn`t move, And I was loosing my conciousness.. Slipping in and out of reality.
My skin was prickly and goosebumped, and all I felt as I was swept under the waves of white;
/Waves... Beach.../
I saw a girl and a boy, the girl with a wide smile on her face and large, golden afro curls tied into a ponytail, her frost blue eyes glancing on the wet sand in front of us, the water spreading out shore to horizon..
The boy looked tired, trying his best to stand, his glance hardened on me, looking.. Expecting.. Like he was waiting for me to do something..
The golden hair.. Honey brown eyes... He was looking straight through me.
And then he wasn`t.
And I wasn`t.
[[..]]{Test tube wakes up slowly, light prodding her awake; Shes sitting in a lounge, cup of coffee on a small tray in her lap}
Ghhg... Not this again.
Eyes opening and closing, slowly adjusting to the light.. It`s the same exhausting loop.
Why can`t I just stop fucking passing out? Would that be so very hard to do?
I grab at my head, trying to make sense of the area im in;
Nope. No idea where I am, and why I`m here.
Staring down at my lap, theres a beverage in a chipped mug. Seems and smells to be some coffee, I can`t tell what kind of brew.
Examining the area around me, There`s a dart board and pool table, A fancy fireplace and television set up, a vending machine, and a bunch of couches, ones like I am sitting on.
Suprisingly, It`s not that bad.. It`s not bad at-
{Dimitri comes in and stares at her, then starts to explain what happened, and leaves.}
Spoke too soon.
The creepy looking dude is standing in the doorway, totally not terrifying. Nope, not AT ALL.
He is paused, scowling at me, scruitinizing me.
"Are you awake?"
I contain my my urge to say something sarcastic and bite my lip; "... Yes."
"You passed out at the front desk. Also, you broke our phone. You will have to pay for that."
My eyes scrunch, of course. Of COURSE I broke the phone, and now this asshole is pissed at me.
"...Yes sir."
"Captain." He barked.
"C-Captain." My shoulders tensed, Just wanting to get away.
He did not speak another word, just giving me a unsettling glare as he left the room in silence.
{She chugs the coffee and loses it a bit, getting up from her seat and going to the lobby-}
....
Well, might as well drink the coffee right? Need to up my blood sugar.
I chug that bitch down, the gross bitter aftertaste sticking to my tounge-
"UUYGH- No sugar?!" Cringing, I slam the empty cup down and fall into the coushin behind me, exhausted.
...
What do I even do at this point? The phone is broken, so I can`t contact Janet...
What even CAN I do?
Am I stuck here? Or can I leave?? I`m not in a cell, so I don`t think I`m under a probation..
Could I just.. Leave?
[[Find a way out!]]
[[Stay.]]"I-I.... I can explain."
He doesn`t reply, only poking his eyebrow above the other;
"....I look like a idiot saying this, but I kind of...Uhm... Well.. It was just me in the room and.. It was cold.. and-"
"You don`t want to be alone?" He narrows his eyes at me, I hung my head in shame; That was after all, the basis of it-
To my shock, he moves over for me to step in, patting me on the head; "Come on in."
I scuttle in, following his gesture to sit on the couch; To my suprise, his office is rather cozy.
"Do you need anything?"
I shook my head, wincing as he came back over; "Relax, I don`t bite."
"...You just...Nevermind.." I muttered;
He held onto my shoulder; "Don`t seem like the person?"
Oh fuck, I`m in for it now, me and my loud mouth-
He shook his head, letting go of me; "I am strict about rules, but I am not a monster."
It was only now I realize his slight accent, be it russian or ukrainian, I couldn`t tell.
The room grew colder as he worked, I tried my best to hush my shivers; He eventually caught on and glared at me.
"`M quite sorry..." I Shriveled under his eyes; "I don`t mean to disturb."
Dimitri merely sighed and draped a blanket over my shoulder; "You, child, may or may not be a criminal, but you are a child."
Being called a criminal was less than pleasant, but.. It was comforting.. To be treated with respect..And as I am. A kid.
Slowly and surely, I was drifting off again...
[[I see someone.]]{Dimitri just slams the door on her face-}
Completely paralyzed, he just slowly shuts the door on me.
Well shit, that was a bust! What do I do?!
{She then realizes that she could just... Run away.}
Everything feels like a sudden stop.
I groan, slowly blinking back awake;
"Morning, sweetheart!" Janet laughs, rubbing my shoulder; "I`m just jokin with you, it`s Ten, Probably why you`re so tired anyways." She pulls on the gearstick, setting it to park and turning off the car; "Cmon Liv, let`s get you some sleep."
Unbuckling my seatbelt and exiting the car, Janet waited for me-
Groaning, I pulled myself up and out, the crispy air again attacking me.
The house took me aback, It was truly gorgeous. A White, generously decorated farmhouse with a extremely inviting porch- Comfy loungechairs, and a wood plank leaning against the wall saying; /'Come on in, we don`t bite!'/
Janet took my hand and lead me to the door, taking a couple minutes to unlock it-
"Darn, so many keys!" She groans, fiddling with her keychains- But something else catches my eye, A sign with a weird shape, underneath reading; 'Kentucky, the state of fried chicken.'
"...Are you from Kentucky?" I mutter, my eyes focused on the shape-
"Yep! Moved here a couple of months ago-" She finally got the door open, letting me in first;
[[Go Inside]]Once again, the warmth envelopes me, and the smell of lavender overloads my nose;
Stepping in, there`s a fuzzy rug and coat and boot hanger, you can see the aesthetically beautiful kitchen and living room from here, and a pearl white staircase heading upstairs.
"Are you hungry or thirsty Baby?"
You feel your stomach rumble, it would be a good idea..
[[Eat a snack]]
[[Ask where you are staying;]]Nodding, Janet took my coat and lead me to her kitchen, which I felt like I was dirting to just be standing in.
My hand grabbed on my perpendicular arm, holding onto the area above my elbow. Not exactly knowing where to sit-
Realizing this, Janet brought me to the kitchen table, sitting me down in one of her elegant brown chairs.
"What was I saying?..-" She paused for a minute before going over to the pantry; "Oh yeah, Moving. I came because of work, I got a higher position as a resident doctor at the police station. You`ll never guess how many criminals get so beat up.."
I couldn`t help but speak up; "..Do... You think they`re all criminals?"
Janet sighs, Pulling a box of vegetable crackers; "If they`re arrested, the state recognizes them as criminals until they are proven innocent. It was never the other way around, as much as people pass that myth around."
I bit my lip; Does.. She think I`m a criminal? Certainly not.. Right? Because the real criminal got away.. It couldn`t possibly have been me..
..Right?
"...Janet?" I spoke up, her looking to me, while pouring me a bowl of crackers;
"..Do you think I`m a .. criminal?"
She gasps and walks over to me, pulling me into a bear hug; "Oh Olive honey, I would never.. You are such a sweet little girl."
Feeling relieved, I threw my arms back around her; The situation growing akward-
[[Ask about her kids]]
[[Ask about Kentucky]]
[[Ask where you are staying;]]
"So..." I move my finger in a circular motion on the table; "Where am I going to to be sleeping tonight?..."
Janet smiled and nudged her head upstairs; "Guest room. I`m sorry hunny, you must be so exhausted! Let me show you the room-" She stood beside me, steadily helping me up;
I offered her a smile back; "No problems, I just wanted to know where I`m settling down."
"Well, It`d be good to get some shut eye, dolly." Her fingers trailed through my hair, the two of us walking up;
The upper level is just as cozy as the bottom floor, plush, white carpet and soft blue walls..
She leads me to a door at the end of the hallway, then leaves me alone; "I`ll be downstairs if you need me, theres a bathrobe in the closet and the bathroom is the door on the right." She gave me a tender smile; "Goodnight, Sweetheart."
"Night..." I say, peering into the room;
The guest room was a rectangle of pure comfort. As soon as you walked in you were greeted with a HUGE ASS bed full of pillows and a fluffy brown duvet; A small desk with a bunch of stuff for writing, a tall white wardrobe and a clean, luxurious bathroom with a gorgeous shower;
I couldn`t take my eyes off the bed, wanting to just sink into it forever..
So I did. I slammed face first into the soft pillows, just falling into a sleepy state..
I couldn`t force myself awake any longer, my eyes gently folding into black.
And just like that, I was at peace.
[[.]]"Where are your kids..?" I pull away slightly, to look her in the eye;
She looks a little confused; "Hm?"
"I remember earlier at the office... You said something about being a mother."
"Oh! Yes, My darlings are upstairs sleepin`, and my oldest is working her ways at college."
"Oh." Smiling, I grew more and more curious; "What are their names?"
"My tiniest tadpole is Isabella, and her froggy sister is Sophie."
I nodded, "...How old?"
"Izzy`s a lil bean, only five, and soph is Nine."
"..Do you think they`d be comfortable with me here?.."
Janet sighed and looks at me; "Well, I`m a foster parent; And it all depends on who comes it... But you`re a girl, and not too loud or quiet, You`ll be fine." She shrugged, leaving me not so convinced;
Having two little kids scheming against me would be a shitshow, espicially after I got out of a already stressful situation.
"..Huh." I mutters to myself, not really knowing what else to say;
[[Ask about Kentucky]]
[[Ask where you are staying;]]
"So.. What was living in the south like?" I pulled away, snacking like a bird on the crackers;
"Oh hun-Bun, It was amazing. Beautiful weather most of the time, not the slush you`d get up here in penny."
{they talk about food and other stuff}
[[Ask about her kids]]
[[Ask where you are staying;]] {Test tube wakes up, and is a bit confused}
The morning lights stain my eyelids red, I toss under the blankets quickly, trying to avoid waking up.
Wait...Blankets? The bed I was in at the station was just a sheet and pillow..
Whipping up, I peer around; The situation coming back- Right, I`m staying at Janets place..
Taking a stretch, Getting up and out of bed, Simple..
But do I have clothes? Should I wash up first?
Surely I should wash my hands before breakfast.
I slip my hand over the handle and walk in, slowly turning the tap towards the wall;
The heat seethes into my skin, I retract in pain- Definately the wrong side.
Turning it back around, I put a generous amount of soap in my hands and wash, quickly drying them on my pants-
{She goes downstairs and Janets making school lunches for the kids, Introduction tiiiime-}
I make my way downstairs, watching the scene unfold slowly-
Janet is handing her daughters their lunches, their faces exactly replicating hers; Honey blonde hair with Fair skin and hazel brown eyes. Beautiful southern women.. I`m just a plain old Jane.
When I get to the bottom the two look at me confused, Janet lights up with a warm smile and wraps a arm around my shoulder;
"Goodmorning `Liv-" She spouted quickly before introductions; "Izzy, Soph, this is Olive, she is gonna be staying with us for a while! Isn`t that exciting!"
the girls looked like they were trying to read me, I gave them a shaky smile and a meek wave.
"Is.. Is.. Is she another foster?" Izzy had a bit of a stutter, looking me up and down; I was unclear if her vocal tics were a nervous thing or not, I looked to Janet for help-
"Not a foster, just someone who is gonna be staying with us for a short while baby." Janet ruffled Isabellas hair, the spooked little girl nodding in response;
Alright, now it`s on me to clear the air;
[["You two look very pretty today!"]]
[["You guys know the one about the elephant?"]]
I smile, paying close attention to their outfits, matching frilly dresses, pink and blue.
Sophia bats her eyelashes, her face a soft blush; "Why thank you!!"
Isabella just looks to her sister and then me, one eyebrow above the other;
Sophie just plain shrugs her off, Janet giggling; "Okay you little goons, get in the car!"
As the two race, Janet turns to me and brushes her hand against mine; "I`ll get you breakfast at the coffee shop, and then if you want hun, you can help me with my errands."
Nodding, I walked to the car as well, getting in on the passengers side.
Janet loads the girls into the car, buckling and fastening them into their carseats, then getting into the drivers seat, Buckling in;
"You guys want to listen to music?"
The two girls cheer and giggle, A relaxing sound of childrens nursery rhymes filled my ears;
Janet gently rested a hand on my thigh; "I need to check your blood pressure again, it`s probably why you`re so tired."
I nodded her off, staring into the damp, barrenhood of philidelpia. Almost as intruging as it is old.
We skipped the traffic by going the back route, me paying no mind as Janet ushers her children out with goodbyes, turning back to me.
"Real talk time, sweetcheeks." This caught my attention, she rested her palm on my shoulder-
"We got a lot of missing persons files to go through, and we have only gotten the ones from here in Pennsylvania so far.."
I bit the inside of my cheek, of course. Playing the waiting game was becoming a normal occurence.
"But I`m not giving up hope." She looked at me with a expression i`ve never seen before. One of spirit, vigor and hope.. One of honest caring.
It truly took me aback. I couldn`t believe how thoughtful this woman is, taking a random child from the streets who is most likely a criminal?.. I am so thankful to have her.
My hand rested upon hers, giving her a smile in return; "Thank you."
"Of course, honey bunny!" She went back to the wheel; "In the meantime, is there anything you want to ask?
[[Ask her a question.]]
[[shake your head.]]{Test tells a silly joke, Izzy is happy, sophia is unimpressed}
{janet starts to load everyone into the car, taking the girls to school}
"...There is, actually." Blinking slowly, I look back to Jan;
"Well go on deary, I`m all ears!" She chuckles.
[["where`s your husband?"]]
[["How long am I going to stay with you?"]]
[["What are your house rules?"]]
"Nevermind." you [[shake your head.]]Double-click this passage to edit it.{Janet goes silent, Test tube immediately starts apologizing-}
{Janet lightly grazes over his death, the two now sitting in silence-}
[[Ask something else->Ask her a question.]] {express Janets uncertainty, but in a way that makes test more comfortable.}
[[Ask something else->Ask her a question.]] {janet grazes over the rules}
[[Ask something else->Ask her a question.]] Double-click this passage to edit it.Double-click this passage to edit it.Double-click this passage to edit it.