Out of the Lamp

Chapter 1: Triggered

ALIA

I glance around the concrete courtyard and cross over from the opposite road, to stand in front of double glass swing doors. I spot one of the girls from my orientation last year at the Bureau, tongue tied with her newest master. I curl my face in disgust and she opens her eyes, mid kiss, to flip me off.

Nice.

Nothing says 'welcome' on the first day quite like Monday morning hostility from one of your own kind. I shake my head and push past the doors into the University building. The outside noises switch from the hustle and bustle of city streets and rush hour traffic, to chattering of teenagers and young adults alike. I take in a deep breath to steady myself.

Step 1: arrive, alive - we good.

"Here!" Someone shouts right next to my ear, a hand clamping down on my right forearm. "I found one!"

I whip my head around to my attacker, a bright eyed, bushy tailed senior. Her confidence in handling and shepherding me through the foyer made her seniority blatant.

"N-no, I think you have the wrong idea!" I stutter. Shaking my head profusely. Momentarily, her words made me think she'd discovered my mother's blood. A heavy sense of relief washes over me as she brings us to a halt in front of the Drama Society's section of the fair. Yup, the University had been advertising it's multitude of extracurricular amenities since fresher's last week. A flash of irritation darkens my face. I didn't want to be here!

"Can I go?" I ask the bubbly brunette, her hands clamp down on both of my arms. "Take that as a no then, shall I?"

She grins. "We need a replacement - five minutes tops and you're good to go." She says, leading me behind a large wooden screen, Japanese style. Behind it is a quieter space with a green screen backdrop and a guy handling a camera and stand. They were rolling some kind of scene.

"Oh no!" I shake my head and keep no'ing her. She shoves a script into my hand and pushes me onto the makeshift stage.

"It's part of our 'new members' segment, we just need the unfamiliar face," she grins. Is this meant to be reassurance? "Just trying to get footage of 'rehearsals' if you get what i mean." She gestures quote signs in the air. Oh yeah, quite the badass we have here folks.

I widen my eyes and raise an eyebrow at her. "I can't act for shit." I lie. Acting and telling false information about myself, selling a facade and made up character, was what I did best.

My hand instinctively goes to the golden locket around my neck, fingers tracing the ornate and intricate centrepiece design. It had slipped out - yet again. I cast my eyes heavenwards; on another mission to screw me over, ain'tcha big guy. Heaven and hell had it in for me I tell ya.

"...and we're rolling!" The guy behind the camera yells, giving me the thumbs up.

Puffing my cheeks out exasperatedly, I glance down at the script. Girl 1 has all her parts highlighted in neon pink. Me, I'm guessing.

There's a commotion in front of me, and I look up in time to see a dark chestnut brown haired boy be spat out from behind the screen. His slightly flushed and disorientated expression betrays him as another victim. I offer an understanding smile, to which he bumps me off with a scowl.