The Enhanced Ones (paused)

Ch. 20 Sage

I twist against my restraints. Scream through the tape over my mouth. The two men don't even look down at me. I had passed out after they had captured me and awoke to rope and tape. Energy spent I fall back against the wall behind me and look around. It's some sort of hallway. Dark and cold. Though not damp by any means. I close my eyes feeling another wave of dizziness coming.
"Where is she?" One of them speaks. I crack my eyes to see which one it is. The bald one. The only way I could tell between them in their matching suits and build. "She's always here."
The other man shrugs. "Something must be going on to distract her."

"Well, there is no other way to the containment facility." 

"Then we wait."

Wait? Here in the cold? I don't think so.
My eyes wander around the dark hallway. The two men face the wall leaving me unwatched. This could be good. I think. My ankles aren't bound. My dizziness is still strong but easing the more I keep my eyes open.

"I'm gonna call." Baldy says rooting around in his jacket.

"You should get a phone holster."

"Shut up." Baldy snaps. I hear a phone flip open and a short number get dialed. A buzzing fills the air. I turn my head and see a thin stream of white, like a smoke trail, leave his phone. Whips reach out and ebb through the wall.

I wish I could follow that trail. I close my eyes and wish so hard my eyes begin to tear up.

"Yeah we are at the slab but Orelia isn't here ... Okay ... Understood." Baldy shuts the phone and looks down at me. Looks like you get to take the long way."

I cringe at the way his lips twist into a grin.

I am yanked to my feet and dragged back down the long hallway. My hair falls forward and shields my face as tears soak my cheeks. We walk under a light and I feel a buzz. My hair lifts a little but drops as soon as we move forward. I begin to watch the pattern. It lifts and falls as we pass under each light. I begin to anticipate it.

"Ouch!" The other man says snatching his arm from me. He quickly grabs hold again his face no longer a bland mask. His eyes flick to baldy who never broke focus with the end of the hallway. By now my hair has lifted and fallen enough that my face is completely covered. I can see out, but from past experience  I know they can't see in. The next light we pass under I try to feel it. It takes a few passes. Not knowing how long the hallway is a try to keep myself from panicking. Soon baldy also snatches his hand away. Confusion marrs his face.
Soon adoor appears in the distance. My heart rate increases and I can hear a crackle. The tips of my hair sizzle as they touch the men's jackets. Their footsteps become hurried.

"What's she doing?"

"I don't know. But it's not gonna be healthy for us. Hurry it up!"

I stop walking and get dragged a foot before they drop me. Under a light.
I lay there for a moment waiting for them to pick me up. They don't. I grow warm. The hallway feels like the warmest beach. Down right toasty. I hear a zap and one of them curses and stumbles into one of the walls.

"She shocked me!"

My skin feels like its vibrating. Faster and faster. I open my eyes and roll over to look at the light. I can see the colors. All of them. "Beautiful"

The door down the hallway opens. And the sound of approaching heels makes my stomach turn. Men can be rough. But women are vicious.

"Why is she on the floor?" A feminine voice demands.

The two men stammer out a response. But the woman sounds dismissive. "She was supposed to be put in containment right away. Instead you dwaddle."

She steps closer and parts my hair. I gasp once I see her face. The woman from the bar. But something isn't right.

Her eyes are cold as she stares at me. After a moment she stands and orders the men to pick me back up.

When they grab my arms the two men cringe. I can hear their teeth grind. They don't pick me up to standing. Instead they drag me. When we reach the door they drop me inside what seems to be an elevator.

"Now go." The two men hurry off like the devil himself chases them. The woman kicks my boots. "Get up." When I don't move she walks over to my face. "Let me make this as clear as I can. I do not care about you or your wellbeing and I will close those doors and cut you off at the ankles. Understood?"

I pull my knees to my chest but do not get up from the floor.

"Good enough."

The doors close and I become trapped in a humming box with a crazy woman. No green eggs and ham are worth this. None at all.