Another Brick in the Wall

Comfortably Numb

Click. Click.

I've waited for half an hour and still not one "would you like anything?" or even "are you ok?". All they did was they asked my name and told me to wait while they scooted around the office filing papers and whispering. I've never been such a spectacle. 

Never thought that this was what my first run in with the police would be like. I imagined a liar detector and a bright light shining in my eyes, not skulking while everyone is rushing around. I wish they'd tell me what they were doing. I mean the silence and the hush is almost suffocating. I hate it.

The receptionist keeps clicking her pen. I have right mind to pluck it from her hand and throw it out the window. She is transfixed by whatever is on her computer screen; doubt it has anything to do with work. I wonder if she could shed any light on the situation...

"What are they doing?" I asked.

She looked up with a mixture of amplified confusion and subtle hint of resistance. Her eyes wandered all the way round the room until they landed on me.

"Ma'am, I'm afraid it's confidential at the moment."

Confidential. Well, I am the one they are investigating and I think that gives me the right to know what's going on, "Ok, well, when can I collect my bags?"

"When you are allowed to leave."

"And when's that?"

She looked both pained and irritated at this. She tried to hide this with a rather patronising smile and replied "Soon, darling."

An excruciating silence filled the room after that until it was broken by a door swinging open and an important looking officer walked through. He sat down in front of me and started to unfold the paperwork on the table.

"So, your name is Amber Murdock."

"I don't think it has changed," I countered.   

He stared straight at me. I don't think he was impressed.

"You are aware that your parents have reported you missing and that we legally have to return you to them." 

Well, I should've seen that coming. How do I get out of this one?

"I understand, but they must've known that I planned to go to college early to, you know, check it out."

"Really."

"Yes. They agreed to it and said that I could borrow the car."

"You didn't say that before."

Damn. I'm fighting a losing battle here. "I didn't think it was important."

"You've been reported missing which usually suggests that your parents had no knowledge of your location. Also, your college is in California." He pointed at a file that had every last record about me, including where I was going to college. This guy was good.

"So?"

"We're in Utah."

"I'm very lost then." It wasn't going down well.

"My responsibility at the moment is to return you to your parents and as there is obviously no reason for me not to do that I will check how far away your parents are and get you ready to be picked up, understand?"

This is not working. I get what they mean by "a rock and a hard place". I am trapped between my truth and reality. God, I sure hate reality. The only thing I can do now is tell the truth. 

"Wait! Look I can't go back there. Ok. I wish you'd believe why but-"

"Try me."

"You wouldn't understand. I- What I saw there it wasn't natural. It's like- well- it's like everyone there was... possessed."