“We can’t just hand out pamphlets to a secure area,” her sister scoffed. “However, if you pay attention to every corner at the end or branch of a hallway, you’ll notice faint lettering. They are barely visible on purpose, in case anyone or anything escapes so it won’t know how to find its way out.”
“Have there been a lot of escape attempts recently?” Drisy asked.
“Due to negligence, a couple zombies managed to break loose and kill a few guards last week. It doesn’t happen often, but enough to keep everyone on their toes,” she commented. “Similar to when going out to patrol the sector, you’ll need to check out your armor and weapons, but on a daily basis. Can’t have escapees getting access to any of it. Sadly, it’s the cause of most of our problems down here. Employees get too comfortable and that’s when mistakes are made.”
“I see.”
“This new arrangement wasn’t because Father wanted to keep you closer, under his thumb. It was to ensure protection for me. Afterall, I gave birth to the heirs of all this.” A laugh escaped Delia’s lips. “As I said before, your whole life centers around us. Could you survive if you were disowned?”
Biting the inside of her lower lip, Drisy held back a retort. Leave it to her sister to make orientation uncomfortable. Deep down, she wondered if Delia felt jealous of the freedom she had been given outside the sectors, choosing to condescend her at every opportunity in order to release the pent up emotion. Either way, she resolved to fulfill her duty, even if it meant protecting Delia and listening to her daily dose of lecturing.
Their ride came to a halt and the sisters disembarked at a heavily crowded platform. Part of the crowd dispersed as they piled into the shuttle before it whipped out of sight again. A couple guards stood out sharply against the sea of white lab coats, the more baby-faced of the two waving them over.
“Ms. Hughes,” he beckoned over the low buzz of other conversations.
While passing through the lingering crowd, nearly everyone paused in their discussions to greet the twins. As they approached the awaiting guards, Drisy noted wrinkles around the collars of their white shirts and uneven pressed lines in their black pants. A gun each was holstered in plain view on their right hip and an electrified nightstick on their left. Both a head taller than herself, they could have easily passed as siblings with the same black, military-crop and dark eyes.
“Good morning, Ms. Hughes! I’m Officer Wilson and this is Officer Davis,” the same one spoke up with a warm smile. “We’re here to escort you both on the orientation tour today.”
“I have work to do,” Delia declared. “Be sure to take her through the normal procedures before bringing her to my office. We’ll tour the lab from there.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Remember what I told you,” her sister reminded before swiveling on her heel and leaving.
“Colonel Jacobs has been singing your praises ever since word came down about your promotion,” Wilson gushed as they veered off in their own direction. “Officially, I heard you only joined the military five years ago. It’s hard to believe you’re already a major! Of course, there have been lesser rumors--gossip, really--that says your family connections alone are what’s gotten you this far. However, after hearing about some of your heroics outside of the sectors, it’s obviously a result of your hard work.”
“You shouldn’t speak so casually,” Davis reprimanded, glancing back at her.
She had plastered on a smile while the man rambled on, silently memorizing the corridors and number of doors they passed. Already acclimating to the harsh smell of disinfectants, it would take some time to get used to the stark whiteness blanketing everything. Accustomed to dust drying her throat and struggling to survive beyond the walls on a daily basis, it was going to be a rough transition.
With orientation completed, Drisy was escorted to her sister’s office. Glass windows lined the hallway, most with blinds drawn. She occasionally caught glimpses of scientists lurking inside conversing with one another or focusing on paperwork piled neatly across their desk. The hallway bustled with activity as people in lab coats hurried through to their destinations. Drisy sidestepped a cart on wheels full of metal, cylindrical containers more than once along the way, curious about the contents.
Her sister’s office took up a full corner of an intersecting hallway and all the blinds were closed. Knocking, Drisy entered after being acknowledged. Built-in bookshelves filled with large binders in black, white, and grey with labeled spines took up the entire wall to the right of the doorway. Situated around a coffee table were a few black lounge chairs and a fake plant sat in the far corner. A substantial desk made up the left side of the room, a couple more chairs placed in front of it.
Officers Wilson and Davis waited outside as Drisy shut the door gently behind her and crossed the room to the desk. Her sister was typing rapidly on the computer and didn’t look up. Taking a seat, she picked up a glass paperweight shaped as a dragon hatching from an egg and peered at it.
“Put it back,” Delia said, standing up from her desk and neatly stacking a few papers together. “I don’t have time to give you a tour of the full lab today. Tomorrow will have to do. Think you can entertain yourself in the meantime? There’s a couple of hours left and it wouldn’t look good if you were to head home early on your first day.”
Drisy nodded. “Isn’t there a coffee shop or restaurant up on the first floor?”
“Yes, Lily’s Corner and Florentine. Don’t spend too much time running around. Our driver is picking us up out front at six o’clock sharp.”
“I’ll be early,” she replied, standing to leave. Both officers straightened to attention as she slipped into the hallway. “Can you direct me back to the elevators for the first floor?”
“Calling it a day already?” Officer Wilson asked, quelling slightly under the stare of his partner.
“I have business upstairs,” Drisy stated.
“We’ll gladly escort you back, Major Hughes,” Officer Davis declared, motioning for her to follow.
Falling into step beside them, the trip felt much longer than it had earlier that morning. Grateful to leave the younger officer behind at the platform, Drisy took the last seat on the shuttle while Officer Davis stood nearby, holding an overhead handle. After a handful of stops along the way, he finally spoke up.
“This is your stop. It was a pleasure meeting you, Ms. Hughes,” he said, offering his hand.
Shaking his hand, she echoed, “A pleasure. Until tomorrow then.”
Exiting onto the platform, she trailed behind a handful of people down the corridor to the security station. Passing through the sanitization chamber again, a guard swiped his badge so she could exit through the door to the elevators.
“Can you believe those damn dragon shifters?” a hunched older woman hissed, smoothing the white lab coat draped across her arm.
“Tried to escape again. Tsk tsk,” the woman beside her said. “Sent it straight to the exsanguination hangar.”
“The least it deserves. It caused a lot of trouble.”
Drisy noticed both women shift uncomfortably as she approached to wait alongside them.
“Do you have time to get drinks later?” the younger woman asked.
The elevator dinged and the trio filed in.
“Sorry, dear. I need to pick my grandkids up from school. First floor?” the hunched woman directed toward Drisy.
“Yes, please.”
Nodding amicably, the two women resumed their chat about how their families were doing for the remainder of the ride. They exited ahead of Drisy and she found herself gazing around the massive lobby, wondering where to go next. Heading over to the welcome desk, she picked up a pamphlet from a nearby stack and browsed. On the third page, she found a minimap with the food businesses marked by little red stars.
“Is there anything I can help you with?” a pleasant feminine voice called from behind the counter.
Looking up, Drisy met the bored gaze of the recepti
onist. “I’ve found what I’m looking for, thanks.”
“Have a great day!”
Walking further into the building by the elevators, Drisy quickly found the enormous, cursive sign above the doorway for Florentine. Tossing the pamphlet into a nearby trash can, she stepped into the restaurant, immediately encompassed in delicious aromas. Tables and booths spread out across the restaurant bustled with conversation and silverware softly clanked against plates. Within moments, a cute hostess with pigtails appeared and Drisy requested a table for one. Collecting a menu, she was led toward an empty table when a young man suddenly approached.
“Drisy?” he asked, leaning forward to peer into her face. “Wow, it is you! Barely recognize you in civilian clothes.”
“Well, if it isn’t Tanner Greyson. What brings you so far into the sector?” Drisy spoke up, glancing over his attire. With the sleeves of his blue jacket rolled up, thick khaki pants, and black military boots, he looked out of place without his army fatigues.
“I would ask the same of you, but everyone heard about your promotion,” he smiled. “Congratulations.”
“Thank you! Care to join me?” she said, motioning to the table and the hostess patiently waiting nearby.
“An honor,” he winked, pulling out her chair and settling into the one across from her.
“I’ll grab another menu,” the hostess declared.
“No need. I won’t be eating, but I’ll take a glass of your most popular beer on tap,” Tanner stated.
“Anything for the lady?”
“Water, please.”
With a nod, the hostess walked back to her station and relayed the information to a waitress while Drisy slowly flipped through the menu.
“Do you recommend anything?” she asked, drawing a blank look from him. “You were already here, so I assume you’ve eaten.”
“Oh, it was a brief business meeting, so I only had a drink. Their beer is pretty decent, if you’d like an upgrade from water.”
She shook her head. “I’m technically still on duty for another couple of hours, but thanks for the recommendation.”
“Glad I caught you on break. How has life been treating you? It hasn’t been very long since you left patrol, but it must be a big change working in the lab.”
“Yes, it’ll take some getting used to. Everything is so quiet and demure compared to before.”
“With action, violence, survival. Yeah, I’m not so sure I could give up the lifestyle myself. The pay would have to be damn good,” he admitted.
“It’s triple,” she said as the waitress brought over their drinks.
He gaped at her. “Wow! Good thing I didn’t take a sip or I may have choked.”
“Welcome to Florentine. My name is Anna and I’ll be serving you today. Would you like to try the eggplant parmesan special today?” the young woman asked, pulling out her notepad, pen poised.
“No, thank you. I’ll take the penne alla vodka.”
“Excellent choice. It will be out shortly,” she replied, collecting the menu and hurrying off.
“Triple,” Tanner muttered. “Pretty sure I could give up plenty of things for that kind of paycheck. No wonder you transferred so quickly.”
Lowering her voice, Drisy leaned closer to say, “A lot of guards have been getting slaughtered by rogue test subjects lately, so they need someone more experienced on hand. After receiving orientation from a couple of them, it’s apparent they need more training first.”
“That bad? What a shame. They are literally guarding the most important research of our time. Can’t you put a word in with your father to hire better security?”
Taking a sip of cold water, she contemplated it for a moment. “I’m not sure. If I word it the right way and declare it a better opportunity to protect Delia… Maybe they would go for it.”
“For that level of pay, I could settle a lot of debt and we’d be able to work together again. It could be fun,” Tanner insisted.
“It would be nice to have a familiar face around. How are the other boys doing?”
“You know, same old. They won’t stop whining about how much they miss you,” he said, grinning mischievously.
“Don’t lie,” Drisy chuckled.
“Seriously. You’re the one who kept us all in line.”
“Who replaced me?”
“Kevin Bryont. He hasn’t shut up about it.”
“I bet, but he’s a good man. You still haven’t mentioned why you’re here,” Drisy reminded. “Surely, it wasn’t just to ask me for a job recommendation.”
“You caught me,” he said meekly. “I requested a few days off to handle some personal affairs before they send me on another tour outside of the sector.”
He hesitated as the waitress appeared to set down a plate of steaming pasta in front of Drisy.
“Is there anything else I can get for you?”
“No, thank you,” Drisy replied.
“Enjoy your meal,” she smiled, moving on to the next table.
“Continue,” Drisy encouraged him, stabbing a few pieces of pasta with her fork.
Taking a long swig of beer, he kept his voice low. “I had to send money to my sister before the doctors would see her again, which made me late on payment to the loan sharks. While checking up on her health, I’m trying to settle amicably with them during my time off.”
“I didn’t realize you have a sister,” Drisy mumbled around a mouthful.
“Her name is Ria. I don’t normally talk about her because when someone hears of an illness, they immediately jump to the conclusion of infected or Tainted. She already has a hard enough time trying to survive a rare form of cancer.”
“You don’t have anyone looking after her while you’re working?”
“Parents died when we were young and our uncle kicked us out once we were of age. Ria’s medical bills are steep because of experimental treatments and a live-in nurse. As long as the loan sharks back off for a bit, we’ll survive this, too,” he said, gulping down the rest of his drink.
“How much would get you out of trouble with the sharks?” Drisy asked.
“That’s between me and them.”
“How much?” she repeated, wiping her lips with a napkin.
“Too much. Let’s just say I won’t ever be retiring, but as long as my sister lives, it’ll be worth it,” he said.
“I’ve saved my earnings from the last several years and don’t have a use for it. It would be easier having a loan through a friend.”
His green eyes widened with alarm. “That’s not--I can’t--”
“You didn’t ask. I’m offering. Promise to think about it?”
Tanner shook his head vigorously. “Not a chance. It’s too much.”
“You know where I am if you change your mind,” Drisy said, glancing at her phone. “I have to get going or I’ll miss my ride home.” Rising from her seat, she waved her right wrist once over a small black square centered on the edge of the table and it began glowing green. “Send my best wishes to the boys and your sister,” she stated, giving him a one-armed hug around the shoulders.
“Always a pleasure to see you, Drisy,” he commented.
With ten minutes to spare, she left the restaurant and hurriedly exited the skyscraper’s main entrance, stepping aside to wait for her sister. Engines softly revved as cars passed by, traffic growing heavier by the moment as several people piled up along the sidewalk to flag a taxi down. Several wiped sweat from their brows as the scorching sun beat down on them. A sudden wave of sadness settled over Drisy. There would be no more baking in the sun during a long tour outside of the sectors. Her days to come held only a maze of stark, white corridors concealed underground until further notice.
“Our ride is here,” Delia’s voice called, breaking Drisy’s concentration.
Her sister waved her over before slipping into the rear seat. Reflexively thanking their driver, Drisy settled in beside her.
“I trust you occupied your time wisely?” Deli
a asked.
“Yes, I had an excellent meal at Florentine and ran into someone from my old squad.”
“This far into the sector? He must have requested some time off.”
Drisy nodded, her thoughts drifting back to the two women talking outside of the elevator. “I heard some women chatting before I left the lab. What is an exsanguination hangar?”
“Oh, you’ll see at some point. There’s no use in me explaining now,” her twin said with a dismissive wave. Digging into her purse, she pulled out her phone.
“Will the same officers escort me again?”
“Yes, Officer Davis is the most experienced and the other is still going through some training.” A soft ringing came from Delia’s phone as she finished speaking and she swiped the screen. “Hello? No, the results haven’t come in yet, Emily.”
Tuning out her sister’s conversation, Drisy quietly gazed out the window, hoping the next day would be more productive.
Chapter 3
A couple days passed of making daily rounds through the labs and familiarizing herself with some of the scientists working alongside her sister. In admiring their fierce dedication to their work, she found herself constantly reminded that she was not pursuing her own interests. Keeping to herself on breaks, Officer Wilson consistently stalked her.
“If you need anything at all, just let me know,” he constantly said every chance he had.
Drisy sighed as she dressed for the day, choosing a blue t-shirt and jeans for her weekend outing with Vivian. Nimbly braiding her long silver hair, she slipped a foldable knife into her pocket on the way out. Loud voices drifted up from downstairs as she reached the balcony and curiously peered over. Normally, if Vivian arrived before she was ready, the fiery redhead would march up the stairs and hurry things along. Drisy didn’t expect to find two men in black suits speaking with her father, their butler hovering nearby.
“We need to ask her a few questions, that’s all,” the skinnier of the two insisted.
“You can schedule a proper appointment. One that a lawyer can be present during,” Carson Hughes declared.
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