VOID - Cacciatore

Chapter Four - Clandestine

He had tried; so many times. But there was always someone looking over his shoulder; monitoring him; spying on his computer. He didn't want to be here. Every time he walked into the high-tech, possibly government (although which government he wouldn't know) building he would feel a sharp pang in his stomach which would rise to his throat and make him want to be sick. But the sight of his 16 co-workers busily running about and chatting forced him to bite it back awkwardly.

The spacious room was well-lit, with the stinging smell of bleach and fragrances slowly spread throughout his mind and settling on his tongue, causing him to hold his breath. he hated the stench of all the different perfumes bombarding his senses. At least the area he worked in looked nice enough; modern, built in lights; clean, transparent and rounded desks holding slim-line computers and stacked with neat folders; metallic floor with some strange print in the centre, possibly the coat of arms of whatever country he was in, he couldn't tell.

Every time he walked cautiously in here he would be watched by the Italian man he met only 4 months ago on that damned helicopter; he would stare from behind transparent glass walls that encased his office. His auburn eyes stabbing him even after Glen had sat at his desk; which had been purposefully placed so that his computer screen was facing the Italian.

Glen's desk was the barest as he had no need for personal trinkets reminding him of home. The only personal thing he had with him was a small, stuffed sheep with the most gormless expression that stared at him whilst he worked; a present given to him by his Canadian ex-girlfriend a few years ago. He couldn't help but chuckle to himself every time he saw it.

But he would soon be brought back to the harsh reality that he was here... in some strange country he had been taken to, where no one told him where he was. He was regretting agreeing to help these people find Void (which they had decided was her official name).

At least Bertoldo covered for him whenever Glen was late; which he usually was. After all, Bertoldo was now practically second in command around here.

As he walked awkwardly into the foul-smelling place he paced directly towards his freshly cleaned desk and sat down swiftly in the uncomfortable office chair. Everything here was too perfect; the smell, the smooth surfaces. Glen missed the ruggedness of his old lab. He couldn't help but glance back at the man that was, as always, watching him with those blank, probing eyes; almost as empty as Void's. Glen quickly snapped his head back around to his computer screen where some blueprints or schematics of some desert lay. His task? To find Void in this mess.

Glen had been given the most boring task of all, he still couldn't figure out why. Why this picture? Why search here? It was a though they he was only here so the government could keep an eye on him.

But after a few minutes he sensed the presence of another behind him, but he already knew who it was.

"Bertoldo," Glen greeted in monotone, refusing to look up from the screen that was far too bright it made his eyes sting.

He heard a heavy sigh and the sound of feet shuffling slightly. "I can't keep covering for you being late, y'know?" His voice was one of exhaustion.

Glen only mumbled in response. He suspected that the silence that followed was because Bertoldo had left, so he glanced over his shoulder briefly to find he was still there. "What?" He asked, curiosity seeping into his voice; Bertoldo never stood round.

Roughly nudging Glen out the way with his arm, Bertoldo swiftly slipped his pass key into the free socket on his computer; typed some password in what Glen guessed was Latin before removing the card harshly and sauntered off.

The whole thing left him baffled, his eyes never leaving his large head, jaw slightly open. His eyes then flickered around the room, but found no one had payed attention, so his eyes quickly darted back to the now dim screen.