Umbra Ortum

by Q Allen

  The pair found an apartment in a less crowded hall on the second floor that was not occupied. They took the back paneling from the main bathroom and used it to make a false panel in the master bathroom. They hid their bag behind it. Minus the weapons they kept on them and supplies they were using.

  In the front room, Sophia had all of the blankets and towels that were left behind by the apartments’ previous squatters. She had shaken them out and used them to make mats on the floor for Tammy and herself. She stretched out on her back and watched Tammy as she sat with legs folded meditating.

  Primis? Are you there? Talk to me. We have been going north, but we still don’t know exactly where you are. Please, talk to me.

  There was no answer. The intensification in Dr. Coles’ sleep solution was taking its toll.

  With no communication with Primis, Tammy thought it a good time for them to gather supplies and then rest. She stood and checked the ammo in her 9mm Beretta, “Check your ammo, Sophie. We need to go out and get some supplies. Then we’ll come back and get some sleep. We might as well sit tight here until Primis shows us where to go.”

  “Shouldn’t one of us stay here?” Sophia asked concerned that someone would arrive and take over the safe place they found. “What if someone find this apartment and takes our stuff?”

  “No worries, I’ll lock the door.” Tammy said with a smile.

  “How are you going to do that? The knob is missing.” Sophia inquired.

  Looking around on the floors and in the cabinets Tammy found a piece of wood. Carefully she carved the piece into a wedged shape and cut a hole in the middle. She cut a piece of wire from an old lamp in their apartment and tied one end to the wooden wedge.

  Sophia checked the ammo in her Sig Sauer and the two went out into the hall. While Sophia looked out, Tammy placed the wooden wedge behind the door. She closed the door and used the wire to pull the wedge tight behind the door. Tammy then tucked the wire back under the door out of easy view.

  She turned to Sophia and smiled, “Click-click. Door’s locked.”

  Tammy laughed and offered up her hand for a high five. Sophia chuckled impressed with Tammy’s ingenuity. She gave Tammy an enthusiastic high five as the two walked away from the door with an added confidence that their location and supplies were a little more secure.

  Tammy pulled her hood up over her military baseball cap. No doubt something from buycapsandhats.com. Sophia’s cap just said D@R3 U in bold capital letters with all of her hair tucked under it which made her look like a young male. The grey man was in full affect.

  Walking through the desolate hall they passed a fellow homeless man sitting in the hall. The man looked like he had not had water in days. He stretched out his withered old grey hand towards the two woman as he mumbled something in a deep gruff voice. He was barely understandable.

  Tammy gripped the handle of the handgun at her waist and didn’t turn her head, “Just keep walking.”

  “No. I’m going to give him some water,” Sophia said half asking half demanding. She gave the man a bottle she had in her back pocket. He thanked her in a raspy incomprehensible mumble and quickly guzzled down the whole bottle. Tammy shook her head in disapproval. She wanted to remain unremarkable to everyone at the apartment building. Unmemorable.

  The two women turned and started walking away. Sophia chuckled, “I guess he was thirsty.”

  “We need to find another bag. So we’ll have one for the weapons, one for our medical stuff and other supplies, and the new one for food,” Tammy said as she and Sophia headed over a fence in the back of their building and on to one of the main streets. Sophia was keeping up just fine, keeping Primis from complaining and Tammy from worrying.

  “What kind of bag?” Sophia asked. “Like a book bag or backpack?”

  “A book bag would be perfect,” Tammy responded. “Something we can keep a good amount of food and stuff in though, but that wouldn’t look like an equipment bag. Something pink and frilly.”

  Out of the corner of Tammy’s eye she noticed something pink lying behind a dumpster. She motioned for Sophia to keep walking as she eased over to take a look. No luck. A discarded pink towel. Not something they thought they could clean and use. The two kept walking.

  “Where are we going?” Sophia asked looking around as they walked. “Do you know this area?”

  “No,” Tammy said jogging to catch up. “We just head to where it looks like the action is, if there is any around here, and keep our eyes peeled for needful things.”

  “Oh, ok. Like a gross discarded pink towel,” Sophia said sarcastically.

  Tammy replied with a chuckle, “Yes, but less gross and in more of a book bag form.”

  Their laughter was cut short when Sophia noticed a familiar man crossing the street behind them.

  “Whoa, Déjà vu,” Sophia said.

  “What is it?” Tammy asked. “Did you see a black cat?”

  Without pointing or looking around Sophia said, “That man behind us. I think I saw him a few blocks back.”

  Tammy scanned behind them briefly. Insouciantly. Only catching a glimpse of the man walking a block behind them. The man almost blended in with the other people on the street. He was wearing jeans and a t-shirt, but it was his brand new hat that made him look suspicious. Everyone else on the street that wore a hat, had words or some design on it. This man’s hat was blank. Just a plain brand new hat.

  “In an area like this if you see the same person more than once, they’re following you.” Tammy said. “Let’s turn some corners and see if he stays with us.”

  The pair walked casually around the next corner then picked up their pace. Sophia looked back, but didn’t see the man. They kept walking glancing back occasionally but there was no sign of him.

  “Do you think he could be one of them?” Sophia asked.

  “He could be,” Tammy said still looking around. “Wait, we’ll stand here with this group and see if he shows up.”

  Tammy and Sophia stood in the midst of a group of friends that were gathering to head to the nice part of town for a night of movies and partying. There was a theatre on their side of town, but the newer side of town had a nicer theatre with more variety of night venues where people could have drinks and order food.

  Tammy and Sophia walked along with the crowd, lingering behind listening to the chatter of the group. Listening to the thoughts of people not involved in a life or death pursuit. People who had no idea who or what Tammy was. Ordinary people just living their lives.

  “Do you see him?” Sophia asked peering over her shoulder.

  There was no sign of the man, but the two found themselves standing outside of the movie theatre. Tammy looked around for a moment. Looking carefully at the faces of each person in the crowd in front of the theatre, she observed their expressions. She was hoping to hear something from Primis about someone in the crowd, but she heard nothing.

  She turned to say something to Sophia but noticed that she was staring at the theatre deep in thought. Tammy considered that this whole thing was a lot for Sophia and it might be a good time to take a break from it.

  “No, I don’t see him at all. Maybe we lost him,” Tammy said half hoping not to see the man, half expecting the man to jump out at any minute. “Well, here we are at the theatre. Would you like to see a movie?”

  Sophia wanted to watch a movie at that moment more than ever. To just sit and escape her new reality for a short time. She held back her excitement as much as she could, “Yes! Let’s go see a movie.”

  The two giggled like school girls. Sophia’s eyes shined as she looked through the list of shows for the night. Most of the films were new, but the theatre chose an older film to show every week. This week that film was one from Sophia’s childhood. The one where the agents wear black suits and protect the planet from invasions from outer space.

  “Have you ever seen The Fighting Black Pantsuits?” Sophia cheerfully asked.

  Tammy smiled and started to speak, but
hesitated. She thought for a moment but couldn’t remember ever hearing of the movie. In fact, she couldn’t remember ever hearing of or seeing any movies.

  Why can’t I remember this movie? I can’t remember watching any movies. Primis? What did you mean when you said I was programmed? Primis?

  “What’s the matter, Tammy? It’s ok if you’ve never heard of the movie.” Sophia said.

  Tammy wiped a lone tear from her eye. Taking a deep breath she steadied herself, “It’s not just that Sophie, I can’t remember anything past a few months ago. And what’s really weird is that, before, Primis told me that the few memories I do have were not real. So, what does that mean? I mean, who does that make me?”

  “She hasn’t told you anything about why you don’t remember?” Sophia said with a caring pat on the back. “Maybe this Slither Eye group did something to you to erase your memory.”

  “I don’t know. Primis didn’t say,” Tammy said trying to shake the horrible sinking feeling. “We can talk about it later, we need to get inside. Let’s just have some fun for a little while, ok?”

  Sophia checked her pockets. Empty. “Do you have money for the movie?”

  “No, but I see where we can get some. Follow me,” Tammy said walking over to a large ornamental fountain that sat across from the movie theatre.

  Casually, Tammy sat on the edge of the fountain and started to drag her hand through the cool waters for change, “Stay right here in front of me.”

  Glancing back Sophia tried to position himself between the theatre crowd and Tammy. She took a few extra looks to make sure that the man with the blank hat was not sneaking up on them.

  After changing positions a few times, Tammy held her hands up in victory, “Got it! We have twenty eight dollars and sixty three cents. We can now enjoy your film The Pantsuits from Mars.”

  “The Fighting Black Pantsuits,” Sophia corrected.

  Giggling as they went, the two entered the theater, paying with all change from the fountain.

  Stealthily gliding out from the shadows, the man with the hat lurked behind a tree near the theatre. He didn’t follow them in, he just watched them as they disappeared with the crowd into the theatre.

  ***

  Now it was late. It was dark outside, but this side of town was very well lit. Tammy and Sophia left the theatre with the dispersing crowd. After gathering more money from the decorative fountain the two walked to the nearby big-box store. They still needed to gather supplies.

  They picked up a few personal clothing items, some medical supplies, some trek worthy foods, and a pink book bag with a large star on the back.

  “Tammy, we need to put some of this back. I don’t think we have enough for all of this? How much money is there?” Tammy asked.

  Tammy led Sophia to a quiet area of the store and counted the money. Thirty eight dollars and forty two cent. They didn’t want to put any of the items back. They were all important items.

  “Ok, I have an idea. Stand watch,” Tammy directed. As Sophia stood pretending to look at some nearby items, Tammy quickly changed the price tags on some of the items.

  “Ok, let’s go,” Tammy said.

  “What are we putting back?” Sophia asked.

  “Nothing, some of these were on sale but the store didn’t know it,” Tammy smiled a smile that told Sophia that she did something Sophia may not want to know about at the moment.

  “O.K.” Sophia said walking up to the registers.

  Both of them held their breath as they paid, in all change, and walked out of the store. The further they got away from the parking lot the better Sophia felt. By the time they made it down the street they were in full sprint laughing as they went.

  Tammy felt great, running around with her bestie, laughing, watching movies and having fun. Though she couldn’t remember her youth, she felt like she probably didn’t have any friends. She felt awkward around other people, but not around Sophia. Not then. In that moment she was the cool girl that everyone wanted to hang out with.

  The apartment building looked much like an elderly person happy to see familiar faces when Tammy and Sophia returned. Before going straight to the building, they went a block past and circled back to make sure they weren’t being followed before sneaking in.

  They configured their bags of weapons and supplies so that they would be ready to go at a moment’s notice. Now they could rest. With noise alarms set up around the apartment and the doors and windows barricaded, they were able to let their guard down a little.

  Sophia watched as Tammy readied her sleeping mat, tucking her handgun under her folded jacket pillow. She had her own troubles, but she couldn’t imagine what Tammy must be going through. She couldn’t remember her past. Couldn’t remember having friends. Couldn’t remember her family. The only thing she had was that voice in her head.

  How weird that must be? Sophia thought.

  “Sophie?” Tammy started. “I have been having nightmares…”

  “Well, you have done some things that…” Sophia began to respond.

  “No, not that. I mean, yeah, I have been having nightmares about those things too,” Tammy sat up on her mat. “But, I have been having these dreams where I am in some hospital, like the one I saw Primis in. There was a bunch of us. Women like me, in all glass rooms next to each other. The doctors and the guards were there too. Just like with Primis, except, they were making me do things to people.”

  “Things like…?” Sophia asked, afraid to hear the answer.

  “I couldn’t hear what the doctors’ were saying, but they were telling me what to do. This man was on the other side of this huge glass wall from me. They were telling me to kill him. I didn’t want to do it. But, somehow, I… I melted him,” Tammy started to cry. She could still see the fear and the horror in the man’s eyes. She felt it. She could still hear him screaming.

  “Melted…?” Sophia gasped. “You can’t melt a person, Tammy. I’m sure it was just your imagination. Your fears manifesting into a visual image.”

  “That’s what it looked like. He was just screaming and… and melting. His skin was just dissolving. There was another person there. Standing in the back. Observing. He looked like a military guy, but in a suit.”

  “No, the government couldn’t have anything to do with that sort of thing, right? They only want what’s best for us, right?”

  “Uh, Sophie…” Tammy started.

  “What do you think it means? Is Primis showing you these things? To show you who you were or where to go?”

  “No, they’re memories. They feel like memories. Primis hasn’t been talking to me. She said she needed to rest, but that was hours ago.”

  “If this whole thing is real, there’s no telling what Slither Eye could be doing to her. We won’t really know what’s real and what’s not until we get there and see for ourselves.”

  Tammy snapped her fingers. “I remember something,” she said. “In one part of the last memory, they let us out. They took us out a few at a time into the city. To a park, near this tiny house. Sophie, I know where Primis is.”

  “It was just a dream, Tammy. A horrible, horrible dream, but just a dream. It’s not real. It can’t be real… can it?”

  “What if it is? What if these are my real memories?” Tammy said. “We need to get some sleep. Tomorrow we are going to get Primis. I need answers.”

  The two lay down beside each other. Quiet. Hoping to fall asleep soon. And soon they did.

  Captis Umbra

  I NSIDE THE UNDERGROUND Slither Eye facility, Michael Madgik paced in a room full of monitors. He kept looking at his watch and checking with the Slither Eye agents over the radio.

  “Any movement,” he kept asking

  Tensions were high. Fear wafted through the air like a foul odor. Michael’s constant checking only made it worse for the agents and he knew it. He had to ask himself, was he sitting in wait for Umbra because it was the best thing to do? Or was he doing it because it put him close to the one he lo
ved?

  Either way, he needed to change his approach. Michael decided to go after Tammy. He knew that she would eventually head for the underground facility and Primis. If he could flush her out from wherever she was hiding, he might be able to trap her between a pursuing force and his forces at the facility.

  First, he needed to give FBI Agent Brown something else to chew on-something to keep him and the other real law enforcement out of the way. Agent Brown checked Tammy and Sophia’s home addresses and interviewed everyone as he was directed, but came up with nothing. Since then, he had blown up Agent Roland’s phone, wanting to meet up and share information. Decide their next move.

  Michael already knew his next move. An ‘anonymous’ tip for Agent Brown to follow. A random door he could kick in, miles away-but not too far. He could use the same tip to draw local law enforcement away as well, giving him complete autonomy in the area so he could execute the capture of Tammy Umbra.

  ***

  Agent Brown sat a desk at the Keoni County Sheriff’s Department leaving another message for the fake Special Agent Roland. He wasn’t answering the calls.

  Something’s not right with Roland. He’s been acting funny ever since the gas station. What could’ve happened? I should just locate him by his cell phone and surprise him. See what he’s really up to, Agent Brown thought.

  His phone rang. Special Agent Reno Roland, at last.

  “Reno, where have you been?” Agent Brown asked. He did his best not to sound exasperated.

  “Working. What did you find out at their homes?”

  “Absolutely nothing. It was a waste of our time,” Agent Brown barked. “Are you going to tell me what’s going on with you? You’ve been acting weird since that gas station. What happened?”

  “We have a fugitive to catch. We can chit-chat some other time. I have a tip for you to run down.”

  “Oh! Another tip. This better not be some bull…”

  “Go back to the hostage’s parent’s address. Bring backup and take the door. I have intel that puts our perp and her hostage there as of early this morning. I’ll be there as soon as I can.”