DECEMBER JANE

December: Commision

The weather wasn't any warm, let alone brighter, but I didn't care. At least I was back at a reasonable hour. I stumbled in the front of the old hospital and carefully removed my now muddy boots, setting them in the same corner as before. My bag slipped off my shoulder, and I stuffed it under my arm. The ground felt gritty under my socks.

Walking up the staircase, I could hear the muttering between Ann and Smiles. There was another voice, strained and whimpering, which I assumed to be a patient. I couldn't stand the sound of the poor person, so I quickened my pace back to my room.

I dropped my bag near my dresser, as well as my jacket. My body slumped down on the old hospital bed again. I was starving.

There was a knock on the doorframe. I looked up to find Nurse Ann standing in the doorway. She was wearing her full uniform, which always indicated that she had some not so -in-Jesus-name-I-pray-amen work going on down the next hallway. Her hand raised to her face and pulled her mask down. She offered a warm smile.

"Sorry about the noise on this floor," she said. "Doctor just finished a pretty important patient." I nodded. I'm not particularly sure what the hell the 'patients' were sick with, but treatment never sounded any better.

"When am I gonna be allowed outside?" I asked.

"Smiles said it shouldn't be more than a few months."

"He said that a few months ago."

"December, there's stuff you won't understand."

"Like what?" I fell onto my back. "You guys can't be the best of whatever it is you won't tell me."

Ann paused. "What's that on your sock?"

"Hm?" I sat back up and attempted to look at both of my socks. To my horror, my right sock had a huge mud stain on it. "Oh, that?" I remarked. "That's been there."

"Darling, that looks as fresh as today's rain." She glared at me. "Where were you?"

My shoulder squirmed. "Maybe a mile down the road?" I squeaked.

"A mile?!" she cried. "What were you thinking?!"

Good thing I lied a little. Damn.

"I got antsy," I argued. "I want to write in peace."

"Tell Smiles, and maybe he'll give you another tour."
I rolled my eyes. "Why do you care? You'd kill me on a normal basis, ay?"

She stared at me for a little too long. "We have our reasons."

"Jesus, Annie, what are you, the secret society? What are you talking about, these reasons?"

She shook her head. "I don't agree with any of this as much as you do," she said. "But the Doctor seems to believe that he needs to lock you up here until it's safe for you to leave."

"So just don't tell him," I suggested. Sitting up, I looked at her with a shrug.

She sighed. "I can't confirm nor deny that for you."

I smiled. "Thanks, Annie."

She shook her head. "He'll kill me if he--"

"He'd kill anyone."

"Very funny."

I slipped off the bed. "The forest was very pretty this morning, you know?"

"... the forest?"

"Er, the tree lines that constitute."

She smiled. "I'm glad," she replied. "Are you hankering for anything this morning?"

"Of course I am," I said, walking with her to the main lobby.

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Waiting in the lobby was Smiles, who was now without a coat and mask. Without the mask, he looked like your basic white dude. It was sort of uncanny how normal he looked (minus the eyes, which upon discovering were not colored by contacts, I was disturbed). He was hunched over, nibbling on a sandwich. There were a few more stacked on the coffee table in the center of the room. That was pretty much my only sustenance since I've gotten here. Mystery soups, pasta, and plenty of random things shoved between two slices of bread. I haven't been poisoned yet, so I haven't gained reason to question.

"Dressed already?" he asked. I nodded. He straightened his posture. "It's good you're ready so early, then," he said, gesturing towards the sandwich pile. "Grab one. I've been meaning to speak to you as of late."

I grabbed a sandwich and plopped down on one of the old loveseats across from him. Unwrapping it, the sandwich has turkey and whatever condiments Smiles thought were necessary. Ann also snagged one and leaned against the wall beside me.

"You have a degree in STEM, yes?" he asked.

"I... guess. I can't remember all too well."

He frowned. "But you were an intern?"

For the record, I was a pathological liar.

"I had my bachelor's, I think," I noted. "But I guess I was going for my master's."

"How much material do you remember?"

"It's... not really a material thing. I just know how to make stuff, you know? You learn how to calculate your projects, not how to read instructions."

"So quite a bit?"

"Sure."

He folded the aluminum foil into a perfect square as he kept talking. "I have a proposal for you and your seemingly interesting knack for building... whatever," he said.

I glanced at Ann. "Uh... sure." Ann glanced at me too, but her eyes promised me something. Something good.

"How are you with computers?" Smiles asked.

I snickered. "Absolutely awful."

"Things triggered on a timer, perhaps?"

Telling him any sort of yes at that moment would certainly help, but showing my current portfolio would get my head chopped off. "I could try," I replied. He smiled. "I may commission you to work on some equipment," he said. "For the patients."

My stomach twisted. "How would you pay me?"

"There's cash," he offered. "But there's also freedom." I leaned forward. Murder may or may not be worth me actually being allowed out and about. Ann also pushed herself off the wall. She looked nervous.

"Freedom as in?"

"You can leave here as you like."

"Anywhere?"

He paused. "Anywhere." His voice seemed to force the singular word out. I felt nothing but anticipation. Outside, freedom to go wherever, whenever? What a dream.

"What am I building?"

He stood up and dusted himself off, turning to walk out. "Follow me," he said. "And that's based on your better judgment."