Space Egg

December 13th

At first I don't feel anything, just the silent throb of conciseness.
My body shifts under the light sheet half hazardously thrown over me. Then I feel the dull pain in my neck, and metal bed frame behind me. My hands grasp to my face, warm and stiff. My eyes feel swollen, stinging painfully.
I blink my eyes open. The Led lights had been dulled, the room faintly grey. I sit half hazardously near the head of the bed, my legs still tucked to my chest.
And then it hits me. The reality of my world once again. The reality of what had happened. The needle pressed against my neck, it was sedation. Which could only mean I had cried for who knows how long. If I had been forced to sleep, what had been my state? What was my state?
I slowly rise, testing my body's limits before I push the sheet off my legs.
"Watch the papers."
I look up to see Keefie perched in the metal chair pushed to the corner of the room. He looks tired, deep bags under his eyes, shoulders slouched forward. He has a pile of papers around him, a notebook and pen in his hand.
His gun rests on the table beside him, along with an empty folder.
"You created a fuss." He mutters rubbing his temples, the pen in his other hand tapping aimlessly against the arm of the chair.
I try not to be offended by his words, but still find spite growing in my chest.
"How about you try being kidnapped, thrown into a world you thought was a story, living out your nightmares-"
"Nothing you did." Keefie assures holding up his free hand. "Just internet sleuths think spreading every bit of information about you and your life is a good idea. A little bit of extra protection was called for." He mutters shaking his head, pulling a paper out of the pile revealing snap shots of my out cold face in a black SUV.
    I stare at the photo straining to remember the moment, finding myself empty handed.
    "When was that?"
    "Well you had to get here somehow. Turns out we should've tinted the windows more though." He lets the paper slip from his fingers, fluttering onto the floor to join the rest.
"I look sick." I mutter pulling myself up to reach the paper.
"Half dead." He agrees looking at the paper now in my hand. "That's the problem, the entire country is now on a wild man hunt for you. Not just the Crim."
My face is pale in the photo, tinted by the car windows glass. My brow is furrowed, only cheeks flushed a deep red. My skin is glassy coated in sweat, hands bound tightly behind me. I was buckled in tightly, and judging from the blur in the photo the car was going at quite the speed.
    "Think I'll get a true crime documentary?" I ask, forcing myself to smile a little. Because truly, the thought of there being a true crime documentary on me was just completely amusing.
This cracks a smile from Keefie. "There's two on YouTube."
This has my attention. "Can I watch them?"
"No chance." Keefie laugh's, plucking the paper out of my hand tucking it back into the folder.
"Right now people are fairly sure it's just witness protection program." Keefie tuts. "But this photo is sparking quite the controversy. Currently their going with either aliens or terrorist for this photo." He taps his hand on the folder. "Personally, I would roll with aliens."
I can't help but laugh at how absurd it is.
"And the cops, the FBI, what are they saying?"
"Not a peep." Keefie saids with a smile winking.
And then im reminded of what my Mother said. The Crim, Salvio, if all she had spoken of was true, then did they truly have such a strong grasp on our government? With the state of it right now I wouldn't put it last them. Whispers of a civil war had begun, disrupt has only been growing since the latest election. If I had any idea of what these people were like, civil war would only be the beginning.
    It only made sense that the Cops and FBI hadn't said a word. Surely there was Salvio on the inside, how else had they planted those bombs? It could've been anyone in that building. Agent Jefferson, the desk clerk, any one of the plethora of agents milling around the building.
"It'll die down soon. Sparks fizzle out fast."
He stares down at the mounds of paper around his feet. "A lot of sparks."
    I nod my head agreeing. "A lot of sparks. And a lot of time. A lot of time for me to be just stuck in this room. Am I ever going to be able to Leave?"
    Keefies hand begins aimlessly tapping again, the cheap plastic pen worn down from so much tapping.
    "My boss- Celph- whatever the heck you want to call him, wants to see you to discuss that."
"Good." I declare, pushing myself off the bed. My feet meet the linoleum tile cold beneath my socks. "Im going now."
"Uh, where did you come up with this idea?" Keefie aks, quirking a brow.
"Unlocked door." I point out, the door ever so slightly ajar.
"Me first." Keefie scowls, catching my arm before I can push past him. "And no running. Please."
I watch the scowl and deep bags under his eyes. I had surely created quite the hassle for him. I had no plans of running now.
    "No running." I promise, letting him grab his gun and click it back into the holster before he pushes the door open.
I try to step forward, but Keefie blocks the door with his arm.
"Kaz won't hurt you unless he has to, Celph might. Don't push your luck."
"I have no luck to push." I groan, the idea of being anywhere near Kaz making my skin bristle. I had no fear of Celph, he was a blond dweeb. Kaz on the other hand? I had seen what he could do. I had felt the pain first hand. I had a hard time believing what Keefie was saying.
"Pennie,"
I look up meeting Keefies eyes. They were serious, unusual for him.
"Don't push it."