Saving Face

Chapter Thirteen: Answers

Tomas carried Sarah from the lounge and she was surprised to find them in the halls of the transfer lab. Everything was familiar and foreign at the same time. The vast sizes and rainbow light surrounding everything turned the normal into something frightfully alien. With the knowledge she now possessed, an ominous sense of foreboding overshadowed the entire scene.

Could she trust Tomas?

Could she not trust him?

Tomas moved through the halls briskly, and when another white-coated attendant stepped into the corridor, he slipped her into one of his pockets and whispered, “Be quiet.”

Sarah, her face pressed against the white cloth of his pocket, did not have to be told twice. The peril of her current situation was driven home by how easily he hid her from sight.

If they want to, they could lock me away forever and no one would ever know. No one could ever find me.

She was completely at Tomas’ mercy. Sarah pushed aside the fears that multiplied with the thought. She could trust Tomas, she had to. The alternative was just too terrifying.

A moment later, Tomas pulled her from his pocket. He stood in a transfer station, although this one held only two gurneys. One lay empty, waiting for the donor, while the other held a motionless body covered by a white sheet and the ever-present, claustrophobic life support unit clamped around the head.

Tomas moved to the corner of the room and positioned her carefully on a high shelf. He placed a roll of paper towels and a stack of linens in front of her, arranged to hide her from view.

“What are you doing?”

If he left her like this, it might be months before anyone noticed her.

“Can you still see the gurneys?”

“Yes.”

“Good.” Tomas stepped back, critically eyed the shelf where he’d hidden her, and nodded. “You should be safe there.”

“Safe from what?”

He stepped closer, “You must remain silent. If they hear you,” he glanced around nervously, “If they hear you … well, let’s just say I don’t think I’d be able to save you.”

The open fear on his face sent a shiver of dread through her sleeping doll body. “Maybe this isn’t such a good idea.”

“You have to see.”

“I believe you, really.”

“That’s not enough. You need to know.”

Tomas headed for the door, but paused with one hand on the handle. “Remember. No matter what happens, you must remain silent. I’ll return for you after they’re gone.”

Then he slipped out of the room and left her alone. The closing of the door seemed unusually loud in the silent transfer station.

Sarah peered through the narrow gap toward the two gurneys in the center of the room. There were many transfer stations, more than were strictly necessary to handle the donor transfers. Some were not used for weeks at a time.

Had Tomas lied to her? He’d been acting a little weird lately. Had he decided to kidnap her and keep her as his own little toy?

Now I’m being ridiculous.

She had been turned into a doll, though. No technology she’d ever heard of could do that. Could it really be magic? What else could it be? Questions whirled through her mind, but she did not know enough to figure out any answers.