Alice: Oblivion

FIVE

My mind was elsewhere and I wasn't really paying attention. I was thinking about how Sub wasn't really talking much, and that whatever Sub knew, apparently wasn't telling me. Which pissed me off to a great extent. I also knew that my mind wasn't a great place to hash this out. So, I just stopped thinking and let my imagination wander.

The darkness swallowed me and this small town whole; it was like a dark, dense cotton sheet that had settled on top, smothering this lonely suburb.

I was walking among the shadows, passing small shops and alley, as empty as a failing students brain. The theme of dried blood-colored bricks that served as a foundation and support for the whole town, had turned a dark indigo along with the night sky. The moon shone through the clouds, illuminating the streets and casting deviant looking shadows. The sun had gone down long ago, leaving everything broken and cold. The night was awaiting the morning sun to come and fix the mess midnight had made.

And then it happened. Quick and painless, like ripping off a Band-Aid. A small, muffled cough echoed throughout the gloaming. It was late, and I bet anyone who was out this late was up to no good. Hours ago, had the people retired to their cozy houses; not a soul to be seen, let alone heard.

I stopped dead in my tracks. "Who is there?" I question. I say it boldly, to let them know I am not afraid of any confrontation.

I hear nothing further. Hesitantly, I step out from the shadows into the middle of the road, revealing myself.

"Alice no," Sub hisses. I ignore my petty subconscious. "You're still healing!" He continues, "If you die, I'll wither away and die too!"

"What? What do you mean? You're not alive. You're not a physical being." I retort, "You're all in my head!"

"There's something I have to tell you, Alice." Sub said grimly. I ignored my subconscious once more. I didn't notice anything odd while looking around. It just felt odd. "Alice!" Sub persisted in getting my attention.

"WHAT?" I'm extremely frustrated at the moment, "WHAT COULD YOU POSSIBLY WANT?"

I'm still trying to figure out what made that noise. "Alice, I'm alive. I have a body of my own. I'm alive."

I stop, completely and utterly confused. "What do you mean?" 

If this is true, Sub would be an actual, living, breathing person... I hope... his snarky attitude, the sarcastic personality, all of it. Of course, it could be a lie... But since when has Sub lied to me? Never. Anything is possible when you've been held captive in a demented science lab for a few years.

I decided to let my perplexing subconscious explain.

"Sub, I'm going to find somewhere to stay for a while, and you're going to explain everything to me. Don't leave anything out." I had to say, I was kind of disappointed; why didn't my little, obnoxious voice tell me sooner? Did Sub not trust me?

I quickly forget about the disturbance I felt.

After wandering this minute town for a few minutes, I came to a local bar. It wasn't anything fancy. Just a hidden, two story bar. I supposed the owner resided upstairs in a loft, or office. It happened to still be opened, at this late haunted hour. The windows were covered with a nasty shade of brown blinds, and you could hear the soft hum of twangy country music. The wooden double doors were propped open, and the scent of alcohol filled my nose.

Cautiously walking inside, my sweat began to dry. It was cooler than the Texas night. A few drunken men and women lingered inside. I believe one was inebriated to the point of being passed out; He lay slumped over a booth, his head resting on the table, snoring.

"Hello, ma'am," the bartender behind the counter greeted, "Can I get you anything?"

I glanced at the different colored bottles of tequila, vodka, and other beverages. Seeing bottles of water being made my throat go dry. I licked my lips. "Can I get two bottles of water?"

He merely nods, reaching back behind him to retrieve the drinks. "Thanks." I say, setting five dollars on the counter. "Keep the change."

"Alright, Sub," I think, "Spill the beans."

Sub is quiet for a second, so I take this opportunity to open my first bottle of water. Taking a swig, Sub begins the story.

"Before I began speaking to you, I was an actual human being," Sub intros, "But, my life was taken away when they got to me.

I was taken to an almost-identical testing facility. It was very-much like TLA. It was David's Shadow Testing Facility."

I picked at my water bottle label nervously. What did I think of this? How did they manage this?

"When they did the tests, they extracted my mind from my body, and stuffed my body into a large freezer case. For all I know, I'm still there." 

"So where exactly are you?" I wonder silently. "Who exactly are you?"

"Alice I can't really remember much before the incident... I've been inside your head for six years now. I'm like an actual conscious- and I've been wanting to tell you the truth, don't get me wrong, but I do miss my body. I just wasn't sure how to tell you, or how you'd react."

"...Who are you?" I ask. I had a sudden urge to meet my best friend- my only friend! I wanted to help Sub...

"My name is Adam Bennett, and I was 18 when David's Shadow Testing Facility took me off the streets. They promised me shelter under their terms. I accepted without reading the fine print. By then, you were the only person who had survived all of the testing and injections. They were ecstatic. When we arrived at David's Shadow Testing Facility weeks ago, my mind could sense my body was near. I was drawn to it- like a magnet. It felt like I needed to get back... Only I couldn't. They would have to reverse whatever they did to get my conscious out, to get it back in. I was comatose the whole time. You'd have to get someone on the inside to help."

I picked some more at the water bottle label, shredding the plastic-like material into small bits. The drink was already halfway gone. I took another sip, basking in the silence of the bar. Adam pulled me back from reality.

"So," said Adam, "What now?"

"Well, Adam," I thought, "I'd like to finally meet the only person who's put up with me for so long. You're my best friend, and this doesn't change anything. I want to help you."

"Yeah? Really?" Questioned Adam.

"Yes. Now lets go get your body back."