The Unexpected Days of Summer

II

Not really how I expected to die. I'd rather to be a pruning old lady who died in their sleep with a husband and some cats.

I can feel myself being put in the back of the vehicle. All I could manage was a meek "Why?" The man said something about not belonging here.

I gave up to let the darkness consume me. What's the point in fighting when I don't know what's going to be around if I wake up? I guess I'll just have to find out.

*    *   *   *

All I could feel was cold everywhere. Nothing was warm. My clothes weren't keeping in my body heat. So much for this sweater. I began to feel myself surfacing to consciousness from that Hell nap. I started to rub my arms to warm my body up. But that didn't work. Floridians cannot live in weather under seventy degrees or else layers of clothes is needed to survive the Arctic.

I looked up to see if there was anything above me. Besides the object I'm inside. Easing my way up to push the box open, I strained my arms hard enough for the top of the container to move. Moving this top is heavier than expected.

I laid down and used my legs to do the rest of the moving. I felt myself getting colder and colder. I felt little mists of water spraying at my face until  freezing water started to rush into this container I'm located in. I kicked the lid more until I made a gap big enough to escape through.

I don't understand why this is all happening. This guy at my house kidnapped me and I almost froze in that metal tub. If I stay in this place I don't know what could happen next.  I hastily looked around again while my eyes were still adjusting to the light fixture.

I saw chairs lined up around me in neat rows. Hundreds of seats occupied by unknown faces.  All these foreign bodies staring at me in awe. Well let me just doll myself up before I open the tub of water to impress whatever these things are.

"Oh my gosh, that's who he was talking about." Whispers said around the room.

I took my legs out and brushed off the comments. More and more became of conversation and started to become a huge mumble.

Alright. I have to get out of here. But I don't know where anything is or what time or day this has become. Either I sit here and have people clustered around me or find the nearest exit.

I could feel all the eyes looking right at me. I really have no idea what to do at this point. This tub has water  in it and I just want to hide where nobody can see me and I don't like people. I miss my cat. I don't know where I am. I'm cold. My clothes are wet. I want to go home. I can't help it but start to cry.

"Oh no Miss Rose please don't cry!" A tiny voice shouted. More tears began to rush down my face. "You must not cry! Mister Lucas would not be happy!"

"Why am I here?" I screamed as loud as I could voice. "Why Miss Rose we don't know. Go to Him and ask."

I finally looked down to see a little boy around four years old. "Where do I go?" He had deep blue eyes. "Go out that door in front of you, up the stairs to the top and  follow the hallway down to the first bedroom on the right. Don't be scared Miss Rose."

"Thank you." I tried to smile at the child but I was too overwhelmed to feel anything but my anxiety on maximum overload. I weaved throughout the web of chairs going knees to chest. Spotting the door the blue-eyed-boy pointed out.

The door looked so welcoming but scary at the same time. I swear if this little boy just lied his way into killing me we are going to have serious problems here. I'm scared out of my mind right now but he said don't be scared. Alright I guess I'll try.

I reached out and yanked the shiny gold door handle open and swiftly closed the door escaping all the murmurs and stares. Ridding myself of the horrid audience I acquired.

I searched as fast as my eyes could move in my head to find the stair case being guarded by four very intimidating muscle men.

I made my way closer to see a  older woman with red heir attempting to flirt with the guard standing right in the way of where I have to go.

The three unoccupied guards noticed me as I was coming up. "Reason?" One asked me firmly. "I need to see Lucas." I said as boldly as I could. "Identification." The same scary man asked in a monotone. I looked at him confused. This little boy is killing me here. "My name is Rose Parker."

If looks could kill that woman flirting with the guard I front of the stairs was about to peel my face off with her claws. "He doesn't want you! He wants me!"

The red headed old lady lunged at me and took me down to the ground. "Lady get the hell off me!" I screamed. Two guards took that animal and the other two helped me up, "Excuse us Miss Parker we didn't know you'd be arriving so soon."

"Can you tell me what this is all about and how everybody knows my name?" I squeaked out. "No I'm sorry Miss that's against the rules. Go see Mister Lucas for yourself."

He let me go past him from the wall they previously made. Up the stairs I go. Walking is good for the soul. Walking is good to keep you warm. Walking is good to get you answers. Up to the top I go. Flight one. Nope.

Three more flights to go. Crawling up the fourth flight of stairs is killing me. I am really out of shape for all this exercise at whatever time it is.

Rose you got this. Follow the hallway and you'll be there. I made my way further and further down the white hallway I feel like it's never going to end.

I see it. The door to the right. My heart just fluttered thinking about what Lucas could be. Is he ugly? Does he want to eat me?

Okay be a man. Knock on the door and face your fears. There could be cats. I raised my hand to the door to knock. "Come in." I heard a muffled voice come through the wood before I could even knock.

I stood there shocked not knowing what to do. How could he hear me? Alright I placed my hand on the knob and opened the mahogany door.