Truth Chasers

(5) Saylor's Mission

Sunday 12th August, 2040.
Hughs- Section 2, Quarter 1.
4:50pm
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"Dad?" I stand across from him in a small white office. I ignore the feeling of panic and trepidation in my chest as I loom by the door. He is seated on a chair staring at me with full alertness. Why do I feel the need to run away?

"You're here." There are no emotions in his eyes as he says the words. My mouth becomes dry.
"I have a question to ask you."
I hold my breath.
"Why are you trying to be different?"

"D-different?" What does he mean by different? I'm still the same. I'm still me. Saylor.

"Different is the same as division and division is wrong." He stands to his feet and in the blink of an eye he moves so suddenly that he's now standing directly in front of me. My heart hammers in my chest. I can't breathe. I am afraid of this version of him. This steely eyed, emotionless man.
"Division is wrong." He repeats sternly.

I wake up with a start at the sound of my alarm and the first thought on my mind is dad. Not the weird dad I just dreamt about but dad in real life.

Meet me in my suite his text read.

I throw mouthwash into my mouth and rinse my face. When I'm sure I look presentable enough, I snag my U-card from the bedside table and dash to his room. I'm running so fast through the passage that when I notice a stranger approaching me, I try to make a quick swerve to the side to avoid coming in contact with her. I'm about to jog past her when her foot comes in contact with mine and I am projected forward. I dive to the floor head first with a heavy thud. My body aches terribly and I remember my time spent at the gym earlier. I sit up with much effort and give the lady an unfriendly glare.

"Oh my goodness! Are you okay?" She exclaims in an accent I can't place. It doesn't sound like any of the accents from section 2. She sticks her hand out in front of me, wanting to help me get up, I suppose, but I am too irritated to receive help from the person I am very sure just tripped me deliberately. I ignore her outstretched hand and push myself up to my feet, managing to suppress a painful groan as the muscles in my legs stretch.

There's something awfully creepy about this woman. Something familiar as well. I don't know why, but I immediately don't trust her. Maybe it's the way she's dressed. She has on a black trench coat and matching black fedora which tilts more forward than usual as though she's attempting to hide her face. Her blonde hair is restrained in a ponytail that swishes behind her and her eyes are hidden by a pair of dark sunglasses.

"You did that on purpose." I state annoyed.

"Pardon?" She's a good actress. If I wasn't so sure of myself, I would think I imagined her leg sticking out in my direction at the last minute.

"You stuck your foot out in my direction and made me fall. On. Purpose."

"You have me mistaken. I would never intend to harm you. You are so beautiful. A beautiful girl like you should never even obtain a single bruise."
I think of my knuckles with innumerable scars and my lip twitches. "But I understand you feel angry." She reaches into her pocket and searches for something. "Allow me to make it up to you. Here," She pulls out a card and hands it to me. I stare down at the card in her hand. It's an almost blank card that has just a phone number on the top and a cursive letter 'A' in the center. Nothing else is written on the card. "Perhaps I can treat you to breakfast tomorrow morning at the lounge?" She smiles at me in a way that adds to my exasperation. "Or we can have dinner right now if you're free?"

My mind strays to dad who is probably waiting for me to show up. "No, thank you." I seethe unable to hide my irritation. "Next time, keep your feet to yourself." I eye her suspiciously then turn on my heels and walk away. I can't shake the feeling that the creepy lady's eyes are still on me until I am out of her line of sight.