A few minutes passed before I got a grip on myself. With my tears the numbness had flown away. It felt as if the bomb had only exploded in my mind and I was now trying to piece the facts together again.
A soft sliding sound pulled me back to reality. In the door opening stood Doctor Sinclair. "I don't need medical care anymore," I said. "Yes, you do," she replied," but that's not why I am here." I frowned at her. "I am here," she continued," because I am home."
When I finally looked away from her I saw the framed pictures, the flowers and books laying around everywhere. "I am sorry," I said," I must have gone into the wrong apartment." She shook her head as I got up. "No, you haven't," she said," you are my daughter and you're in the right apartment."
Fury rose up in me. With my eyes closed I swallowed and let me fall back onto the cough again.
Seconds later I felt the cough cave in a little under her weight. Her hand lay on my shoulder but I shook it off. "I am so..," she started. I knew she would say that. And I had known for those weeks what it would cause. All the words spilled out.
"No you're not," I yelled," you're not. Because if you had been I wouldn't have been send to the Middle to do the jobs nobody wants. Leave it be that they send me to the Lowers on very regular bases. But what do you care? You have a ginormous apartment, friends, family, a good job and a life. So why would you be sorry? That the best friend and brother of you daughter, who you don't even know, dies in a bomb explosion? You couldn't even begin to understand! I hate you. You will never be my mother. I don't have one."
With that said I turned, stalked out the door and went to the elevator. There were only Capsule Trains on the Elite levels so I took the elevator down too the Middle.
It came out in the hallway next to the changing rooms. With big steps I threw open the overly used looking door with a tiny hole in the middle. Inside were rows and rows of lockers. Mine was in the right corner. It was good to see that my things were still in there. Like I never left. I dumped my TUAC uniform inside. It sounded very hallow when I slammed my fist down on the wooden locker door, breaking thought the cheap wood. Blood spilled out off a cut on my right hand, but I didn't have the ease of mind to care. So I changed into my familiar black pants, black shirt, black boots and dark blue blouse to finally start to feel like myself a little. It was a good thing I had chosen to wear a catsuit when I went to spy on those idiots, I thought.
Silently but quick I made my way down the hallways, almost unnoticed. After three seemingly similar hallways I ducked into one of the storage rooms. There I climbed into the air shaft. As quick as I could I made my way down to the only quiet place Julian and I had ever known; the court room.
It hadn't been used for years now. A thick layer of dust was on almost everything. Just two chairs were neatly cleaned although at least two months had made sure that dust had pilled up on them too. I smacked my hand down on the biggest off the two. Dust rose up from the seat. After a few more claps I was good with the result. Exhausted I fell down. Despite my anger and pain I let my eyes wander too the two only doors that gave entrance to this room. In an instant it hit me. I had, by sort of an accident, found the Two Path Point Julian had talked about.
Immediately my sleep was gone. I had to find out why Julian had mentioned it. Hadn't it just been our escape place?
I searched the whole place from top to bottom. Dust rose and fell from the old dark red curtains, the mahogany desktops and the oak wooden seats covered in velvet. I had to admit that in the half light place I could barely make out a thing. I had to also admit that I couldn't stand any longer. With a grunt I let myself fall into the chair again. Before I could take a second breath I was asleep.
In my anger and sadness I hadn't at all noticed in how much pain I actually was. So when I woke I felt like needles were everywhere. One look at my watch and I knew it had screwed me over. I had been asleep for a day and a half.
Great, I thought to myself. Now the unofficial Lower that is an official Middle and an actual disgraced Elite is also too late for her second TUAC shift after she found out that she has to life with her mother who caused all of that. Oh, and her best friend just died after he left her something that she couldn't find. Just... Great.
I climbed into the air shaft and made my way down to the elevator. Since it was rush hour I didn't have to be quiet. Lucky me, the elevator hallway was deserted. Dropping down I knew had just made a big mistake.
A mens shot out of the shadows. His gun steady in his hand. It was also very steadily pointed at my heart. "You're coming with me," he said," we need to talk." I didn't even have a second to think about what he said before the elevator doors opened. My whole TUAC unite came out and in just a blink of an eye they arrested the men and gently pushed me in to the elevator.
"Lay down," Doctor Sinclair said. I glared at her even though I was very glad I could finally lay down. "Goodnight," she whispered long after I had closed my eyes. Sleep didn't come as easy as I had expected.
Racgo's muttered voice drifted around the corner. "Why did she go down to the Middle," Racgo asked her," what was she looking for?" I couldn't hear what my 'Mother' said but it clearly made Racgo mad. "I will hear the detailed story tomorrow," he said," make sure she stays here." With harsh steps he left the apartment.
My mother rumbled through some stuff but since there wasn't gonna be anything interesting to hear anymore I finally succeeded in letting my fatigue overtake me.
