Devil's Daughter

Chapter Six

Her face has changed. Stress lines sit comfortably on her forehead, and her golden locks are invaded by streaks of brown. Her eyes are dull, dark grey instead of blue. But what's changed the most is her mouth. Formerly smiling at every occasion, it's now a straight, emotionless line. "Annie?" This had better actually be her, or this is going to be really embarrassing.

She looks confused at the mention of her own name. "Doesn't she know? Does she mean 127W?" she says, turning to Tomato Coat. "I'm sorry about that, she's not used to how we do things here ...do you know her?"

Annie frowns. "I did know her," she specifies, emphasising the 'did'. "What's your name?" she says to me.

"Roza," I say slowly. She can't have forgotten my name!

"No. That is not your name. I'll repeat. What's your name?"

I know what she's talking about. She wants me to say 139F. But she's being so uptight and horrible, I think I'll stick to my first answer.

"Roza. My name is Roza. And you're Annie. My best friend," I say coolly. The cracks are beginning to show in her and Tomato Coat's calm appearances.

"You are not Roza. You were never Roza, just like how I was never Annie!" she hisses.

"Don't you understand? Roza isn't you! Your whole life was a fake, just an acting role we made you play. You are 139F. Say it," barks Tomato Coat. "No," I say simply.

"We'll have to use it," she says to Annie, who nods coldly. I'm getting rather scared that by 'it' she means torture machines or evil spells.

"If I'm not Roza, then who is?"

Tomato Coat laughs.

"Roza," she says, "is right down the corridor."

I was right down the corridor?! Or rather, she was?

This was getting too much to take in. "I'm.. I'm here?" I stutter. Annie's face visibly tenses again, her eyes narrowing at me. She takes a deep breath. "That's quite enough of your falsehoods," she exclaims. "I think.. I think 139F needs to meet her."

"Not now. Not when she's.. like this. She'll have to be cleansed. The sooner the better."

"The machines will be ready and set up in half an hour. I think we'll be able to fit her into the schedule."

"I'll leave you here with her until then, if you feel you can stop her trying to get out." Annie looks worried at the prospect of being alone with me. Ha! She's scared of me.

"Can't she stay here on her own? Of course, we'd lock the door."

Tomato Coat sighs. "All right. But you're in charge of locking up. There will be consequences if she happens to get out. Consequences for both of you." She sweeps out of the room and Annie scowls at the door, then locks the windows and leaves. I hear the click of a key turning in a lock. My situation is so utterly hopeless, it's almost funny.

I look around me, taking in the surroundings. It's so modern here, almost like a spaceship mixed with a hi-tech house showroom. There are beanbags everywhere, and I attempt sitting on one, but it starts sinking and I end up on the floor with my legs in the air. The walls are white, obviously, and there are three circular shaped windows leading to the corridor. I could easily fit through one, if they were open..

The one at the end is open.

Annie is so dead. But more importantly, I can get out!

It's too high up to reach just by hoisting myself up, so I pile the beanbags up (not so effective I admit) and clamber on top. I can just about reach the window. After I'm through, I have to jump to the ground. The landing is loud. Too loud for comfort, and I panic. Did anyone hear? Seemingly not, but I have to be more careful.

What am I going to do now? I can't exactly just walk out of this place, can I? Well, I guess I have to, if I want to escape. I head for the direction I think the front door is in. I'm going well when -

Footsteps. Going towards me I think. I can't run away or they'd hear me easily and just chase me back into the room. The only option I have is to dive into the nearest room and hope it's empty.

The first one I try is locked, so I go to the second one along. Faster! I say to myself. I open it and collapse inside on another beanbag.

Then I look up. I can't believe it.

Two eyes, fixated on my face.

But the eyes are my own.