Lost Names and Illusions

Chapter 3

It has been days since Wendell has seen Jamie. He was starting to get worried. He considered calling her, but then again, she may be get caught. He thought of calling Cindy, but Jamie’s father may just call the authorities. He was at a loss, so he decided to make himself useful. Research. It would be a difficult to anyone, but Wendell was probably the best hacker there was. Technology was his wife – he knows it in and out.

      Despite the government’s “parental lock” on the internet databases, he found out a couple things about the institution. It was founded in 2042 after there was an increase in rebel size. There were lots of rebellions around town. The leader was supposedly a man named Henry Longbourne. Longbourne…why does that name sound familiar?

      Due to his struggles in the institution he was subjected to whipping and electrocution in front of his crying son. His daughter was given away to a family of tailors and the son was sent to a military family but ran away. Tailors huh? There is a family owned tailor shop around here. Maybe I can find her. The information does not state any name or ages, but Wendell was convinced that all of that could be found in the hospital’s hall of records.

      Quickly, Wendell called his cousin.

      “Harold, I need a favor.”

      “For what? I am due to help a woman give birth in an hour.”

      “She can wait.”

      There was a scream in the background.

      “Okay, maybe she can’t wait, but when you are done, I need you to go into the hall of records and search for the name Longbourne. Surely, there must have been a woman who gave birth there.”

      “I will try my best. If it’s in there, I’ll find it. That name isn’t very common.”

      “Thanks,” Wendell hung up the phone and hoped for the best.

      Cindy was not enjoying herself. Two times already did this man want to go destroy her skin with candle lit dinners. She was hoping Jamie would be back soon, but alas, that was not the case. Romeo was simply vulgar in his talks about people lower than him and women but she endured it for Jamie’s sake.

      “And like I said Jamie, the man was completely crazy for hiring a woman to do his taxes. I think any self-respecting man would do his own taxes,” he droned on. It was another brunch. The sun was warm, and he was very talkative as usual.

      “Yes, I agree,” Cindy softly replied.

      “So Jamie, tell me something.”

      “What is it?”

      “When exactly are you going to introduce me to your friends?”

      “What are you talking about?”

      “Personally, I would love to meet the nurse Latoya, but I have heard from others that you have had others.”

      “Oh yes, the butler and I are great friends. Surely you have met him,” Cindy fiddles with her fingers nervously.

      “No, not the butler. I was told you were friends with a Mr. Wendell,” he raises an eyebrow. “Of course, I see no threat in talking to him. I mean, look at me. Any girl who would trade in all of this for a poorly dressed lab monkey. Preposterous. But, I do need to know whether or not you have been talking or seeing him as your future husband. We must tell each other…everything.”

      “I haven’t see him in years.”

      “Are you sure?”

      Zane was sitting in his corner when Jamie walked in, but there was something different about him. She brought him lunch and set the plate on the floor. He pushed it away and looked up into her eyes.

      “Do I scare you?”

      “N-no,” she stammered quietly.

      His light blue eyes bore into hers. “Tell the truth.”

      “I am not scared of you. You can’t touch me.” She puffed her chest out and said confidently.

      Then he stood up and walked over to her, towering over her. “Are you so sure about that?” He backed her into a corner. “I can do whatever it is that I please for this is my domain. These white walls…belong to me.” He grabs her chin, forcing her to look up at him. “I have everything I could ever need, but the power to change this world. Tell me, do you like living a lie?”

      “What are you talking about?”

      “I know a lot about you. Daughter of the government head. Prized possession of Romeo Daldore. Volunteer nurse.”

      “That’s not all that I am.”

      “Oh yes, that’s right. Sure. All we are to this world are names…names that might as well have been buried along with our history. Yet here we are, putting up the same façade every day that everything is ok when it is not. Why did you come to this institution? Is this some propaganda? Is this to better you image? What is it?” He started to shake her.

      “I’ve wanted to work here since I was child. I did it to see if anyone would tell me any stories…”

      “Stories about what…”

      “About how the world used to be…”

      “You mean…”

      “What happened before we rebuilt are society…what else is out there.”

      Zane really saw Jamie for the first time. He searched her eyes for any hint of false information, but they looked to sincere to be lying to him. “It’s too dangerous for a girl like you. You’re an important figure head. It’s better if you just go home.”

      “I will after you eat…”

      He looked at his food and then back at her. “Food is for chumps.”

      For a second, she thought he was going to kiss her. He leaned forward and then walked back to his corner. He threw the plate full of food in front of her feet.

      “Tell them I gave you a hard time.”

      Jamie could have sworn that she saw him smile if even for a brief second.

      “Sources tell me you have been seeing this man.” Romeo rested his cheek on his fist.

      “I have not seen Wendell in years Romeo.”

      He shrugged and smirked deviously. “If I find out otherwise, we will have to take extra precautions.”

      “Extra Precautions?”

      He nodded. “Precautions. Now, we wouldn’t want anything to happen to Wendell, would we?”

      “Not at all,” Cindy looked toward her cup. “Shall we get more to drink?”