Alice: Oblivion

F O U R

This wouldn't be the first time I've escaped from a murderous testing facility. Actually, I don't know if they are murderers, but I do know they were a threat to me. I needed to get as far away from them as possible. When I first escaped, I ran completely out of New Mexico, where DSTF Headquarters resided. I decided to go east into Texas. A giant Lone Star was planted next to the sign 'Welcome to Texas!'

Texas was dry and hot, and I already disliked it.

My mouth was dry. Sweat dripped slowly from my face and back. A few hours ago, I stopped running and began walking. My body was burning, feeling as if I were on fire. My feet were slightly aching. My stomach was churning on the insides, begging me for food. I was out for too long, in that coma. My body lacked the strength and stability to keep going for longer periods of time. This was all new to me. I wasn't used to being this tired.

I had no idea which town I was in. There was dead-looking grass, and a scarce variety of trees. They looked like big bushy palm trees, and small shriveled up shrubs. The ground was burning hot and my bare toes flexed away from the hard, dry ground.

"Well," Sub chimed in, "You must be in Texas!"

"Shut up." I rolled my eyes.

There must be a sign here somewhere, or at least a map. I looked down. I was still wearing the faded blue hospital scrubs. The hems around the feet were now dirty with mud and dust. My feet were caked with dirt.

I needed to clean up and get a place to stay.

After another thirty minutes of lurking around the outskirts of this small town, I spotted a family diner. The big white sign read 'Robyns Diner' and with small print underneath, it stated 'A family business'. I stared at the restaurant. It was about sixty yards away.

The diner stood at two stories, and red and brown bricks lined the outside walls. From here, they blended in well together, and the average person would not say they were two completely different colors. But they did blend in well. And they reminded me of dried blood, which is something one doesn't forget easily.

I immediately got the taste of pennies in my mouth. I had bitten the inside of my cheek to the point of drawing blood.

I concentrated on the dirty window next to the door of the shop. I could see well through the murky glass, smudged with fingerprints and dirt. There was a man and a woman sitting across from each other at one table, and two waitresses walking around serving the other hidden people. They may be open, but I have no money. I bet if I walked into a small town diner with lab scrubs on, I'd raise some eyebrows.

"Maybe if you equip a talent for pickpocketing, we might get to eat." Said Sub.

"You know what, Sub," I say, annoyed, "You're not alive! YOU DON'T NEED FOOD TO SURVIVE!"

Sub snorts, "That's what you think."

I sat there in a few seconds silence, truly and completely dumfounded. "What is that supposed to mean?"

Except this time, Sub didn't chime back with a snide remark, or a witty response. It was awkwardly silent, and it made me uncomfortable and suspicious.

"Sub? Answer me." I wanted to know what Sub meant by that. I got no response. Seconds dragged on into minutes, and the silence mocked me, screaming, 'ha, I won!'.

"Whatever," I needed to get my mind back on track. I was here to find out where I was. My stomach let out the noise of a deranged animal. I needed to eat, too. If I let anyone see me in these hospital clothes, they'd start asking questions. I don't need to be  sticking out like a sore thumb at the moment.