Subject A.S.H

Chapter 24

I was returning back to the labs today; i was glad as I would get to see Tori and perhaps Ash, but I was sad because I was going to not see Mum in person, for a while. Speaking of Mum, I didn't ask her anything more about the book, or her old job at the labs, because I didn't want the atmosphere between to be negative, right before I would leave. 

Despite it being Sunday today, the guards from the labs had already arrived at the house during the late afternoon, which I was surprised by, since I thought I'd be returning on Monday. However, I assumed that I was going back today, was so that I could start my work on Monday, and wouldn't be tired from the two and a half hour drive. I was lucky because I had most of my things packed away in the suitcase, so I wasn't in a big rush when they arrived. Although I hadn't realised they had been waiting for me for about an hour - I was having tea with Rose - and my phone was off and on silent, so I wasn't aware of the messages Mum had sent over the hour, I was hanging out with her. 

It was roughly six pm, by the time we entered the woods of the lab, known as the 'Abandoned Woods of Cradesville' (I checked on the phone) and as we were driving in the car, I barely made sight of a light of a regular house-sized looking building, in the distance, on the left side of the road. I wondered how I never noticed it when I first arrived at C.O.D.E labs, but it might've been a darker sky then. 

New place to visit and take a look at, I thought, yet I knew I wasn't going to go looking today.

As the car came into the the perimeter of the labs, I saw both Henry and Dr Turner, standing outside the doors of the building, observing the few cars with stone faces, including the one I was in, that entered. Once the car was parked, I hesitantly got out knowing that I'd have to walk past the two of them. Did they know about me and Tori breaking into their offices? I mustered whatever courage I had as I strided past them unsuspiciously, and made sure to make no eye-contact. 

"Miss Stone?" My eyes widened as Henry deep, intimidating voice called my name, and I turned around swiftly, with a tight smile, "Yes?" He gave me a quick look of disapproval, which I noticed even though it vanished as fast as it appeared, "Watch your back." I nodded, and headed towards the elevator, shaking nervously on the inside. What was he talking about?

~~~

I let myself fall back on to my bed, after I finished packing, and allowed myself to stay laying down for a while with my eyes lightly closed. Unfortunately, my thoughts kept going back to Henry's words, Watch your back, but I couldn't think of anything he was talking about, other than the fact that he knew I broke into his office with Tori, and that worried me. If he knew, I could get fired and wouldn't be able to see Ash again, or find out anything more about Dad's death. Maybe I could never see Tori again either. 

With all the different thoughts stuck in my head, I felt as though I need to go for a run, to just relax myself with the sounds and feeling of nature of the woods, but I wasn't feeling very energetic and I wasn't in the mood to get my leg muscles aching. I wanted to relax my mind and get rid of the worrying thoughts I had, but I couldn't get to sleep. 

I wasn't sure how long I had been lying on my bed and just thinking like a bored potato, but I was up on my feet as soon as i heard knocks on the door. Just before I opened the door, I heard two voices that I was hoping I wouldn't hear so soon. I plastered a smile on my face, and swung the door open as I ignored the negative vibes the two of them gave, every time I encountered them.

"Oh Dr Turner, Henry, to uh- to what do I owe this pleasure?" I said sweetly. Taking a glance at Henry, it looked as though he was trying to hold in some sort of anger, as his left eye twitched, and he had his signature glare. Dr Turner on the other hand, had a glare, but his face was void of any particular emotion. I cleared my throat, "Would you like to come in?" If I was anywhere else, I'd shut the door in their faces as soon as I saw them, and escape from the nearest window so that they wouldn't bother me, but they were senior people of the labs, so I could do nothing but act like a cautious doll.