Astralis

Episode Seven

After two vehicle swaps, Amelia and her kidnappers arrived at their destination. She tried not to think of them as kidnappers, because they seemed really nice, but she wasn't stupid either. She'd watched plenty of T.V.

"Where are we?" Amelia asked the man and woman she'd talked to in the van. She figured they were in charge of...whatever was happening to her.

The woman turned to Amelia. "We're at your new home Amelia. What do you think?" The woman waved her hand at the expansive building in front of them. Amelia thought it was ugly, it looked like a stinky old warehouse to her. She wrinkled her freckled nose.

"Is it nicer on the inside?" she asked.

They both laughed and the man replied. "Oh it's very nice Amelia, you'll have your very own room, with a T.V. and games and lots of movies to watch. And we've got a private teacher already lined up for you. You'll get to enjoy your summer first, of course," he promised, finishing with a wink.

"Wow, I get my own teacher?" she asked, wondering what was so special about her that she would have a teacher all to herself.

"Mmhm," the woman answered. "Mrs. Steele. You'll like her I just know it." She smiled down at Amelia. "But we do have a favor to ask, Amelia."

"What?"

"Because you're so special, we need to do some tests on you while you're here."

Amelia's eyes went wide. She didn't like that at all. Did they know about her "outbursts"? Or that she couldn't remember anything beyond last year? She'd never told anyone...

"Oh, sweetie, don't worry. There will be nothing scary at all." She crouched down next to Amelia, and lowered her voice conspiratorially. "In fact, I have it on good authority, you might even enjoy some of them..."

"No way!" Amelia said before she could catch herself. A hand flew up to her mouth.

"Yes way!" the woman replied. "Tip, the guy that will be performing the tests, is a total marshmallow. You're such a smart girl, I bet you'll have him wrapped around your finger in no time."

Amelia giggled. Ok, maybe this wouldn't be so bad...this woman seemed really nice.

The woman rose and held out a hand to Amelia. "C'mon cupcake, let's go introduce you to the rest of the gang. Since you don't remember us, I'm Atta, and my partner here is Jason."

Amelia took Atta's hand. "Nice to meet you, Atta and Jason. I'm hungry, can we have pizza? That's my favorite."

"You sure can Amelia," Jason said, as they walked into the warehouse.