Deprived

Chapter 8

Maize stopped thinking about the door and looked in front of her. She and the others had entered a long hallway. Maize's reflection in the mirrored hallway walls startled her. She looked like she didn't belong, and she didn't. Her uniform was worn, free from visible dust, but grimy at the hem. Her eyes were red from lack of sleep. Curls, dry and wayward, bounced around at the top of her head. She straightened the hem of her shirt with trembling hands.

She cocked her head up. She liked that she didn't look like she belonged. She'd give everyone something to talk about.

At the end of the hallway, the glass door swished open before they reached the threshold, revealing a spotless room with smooth white walls and one shiny skinny metal table smack in the middle.

The lady sitting behind the desk stood up when they entered. She wore a light gray uniform, similar to Zeno's. She smiled at them as they entered the room.

"Welcome to Wisteria." Her soft sterile voice echoed in the room.

She shimmied from behind the desk, then walked towards them. Her walk was stiff but not at the hips, legs long and thin, almost too thin. But why? Maize was sure there wasn't a shortage of food.

Her gray dress stopped a few inches below her butt. A chunk of yellow hair chopped straight covered her forehead and stayed firm above her eyebrows. The remainder of her hair smoothed straight behind her back like a length of yellow plastic.

She bowed her head to greet them and stood in front of Maize. Maize could hear Leon beside her sucking in the air.

Maize returned the bow then turned to look at Leon. His eyes were bulging out of its socket. His bottom lip was almost touching his chin.

"Leon!" Maize shouted.

It took two more calls of his name for Leon to come out of his stupor.

"Sorry, ma'am," Leon said. "It's just that you're so beautiful."

She smiled and bowed her head.

Maize leaned over and whispered in Leon's ear. "Calm down, doggy."

Leon didn't respond.

"I'm Anna." She said as she turned to Maize. "Chosen Maize. Please follow me." Her accent was crisp, tight, and lacked anything sweet.

Maize followed her to the door at the right side of the white desk.

Leon, a massive grin on his face, was directed to follow Zeno through the door on the left.

Maize and Anna stood in a tiny square room. The walls were made of a metal-like material. Only it was shinier and smoother than the rusted metal they had back in the village.

A single white cup stood on a shiny table. A white square chair sat next to the table.

Anna picked up the cup and handed it to Mazie.

"Drink this," Anna said, a smile planted on her face.

Maize didn't trust that smile that had never changed since they met. It stayed on her face like a doll's smile. Holding the cup in her hand, she studied it for a moment. The cup felt cold against her fingers. The liquid inside, orange. "What is it?"

"An elixir ... drink ... it'll cleanse you."

Maize doubted a cup of elixir would cleanse her from the hate she felt for President Aberdeen. From the sadness of having to leave her family behind or from the regret she had for being born in a time where there was no freedom.