X-periment 5

The Intruder

     As I step outside of the Dome, the Sentry guard waits for me down the empty hall. The hallways of the Institute are usually empty during this time given that all the Experiments are receiving their daily medication; in fact it’s the perfect time to take that one Experiment in particular that doesn’t take the pills to do an “errand”.
        I look behind me and as the door closes I see Celina still staring back at me with a puzzled expression. I shrug as if nothing’s wrong and give her a small smile. Please, don’t run after me, I’ll try to explain it to later, I think and as if she read my mind, she nods. I turn back to the Sentry Guard and standing next to him now is another Sentry. Great, I have escorts. They wait as I make my way down the hall and then turn the corner. Another walk around the Institute, I think to myself as I recall the last walk I had. It was the night of my encounter with Dr. X. –

         They walk in front of me not looking at me or each other and didn’t utter a word. They had no weapons in hand, but their demeanor was intimidating in itself. Even I didn’t want to say anything until we reached our destination. That left me to think about what I was about to do, who I was about to see. I had no idea how this intruder would act or look like. Maybe he or she has razor sharp teeth and bloodshot eyes. The possibilities were endless and then it hit me

           This intruder is the first person I will ever meet that has been outside of the Institute.

It’s a strange thought to think but it’s very true. Never have I taken a step outside of this building nor meet someone who has lived on the outside. It was exciting, but under these circumstances i kept myself from thinking any more of this. This person was dangerous. This person was a threat to us all, probably wanted our demise. I should hate the intruder not be curious about what his or her life was like in the outside world. I had one duty, I should be focusing on what approach I should take during the interrogation.

            I hadn’t noticed how long we’ve been walking, I hadn’t even seen what route we had taken which was very out of character for me. Even when I was walking to my classes or to my room, I always took in my bland surroundings, looking for any changes. Wherever I was now though was somewhat different. I suspected we were still in the Academy sector because we hadn’t passed the steel gray doors that led to the elevators and stairs of other sections, nor pass the Sentry checkpoint where they rotated and shifted every hour.  The tile floors where still the same but the walls were shinier, the lights were so much brighter than before, it was blinding. The two Sentries both craned to check if I was doing anything suspicious and I flared at them. Of course they didn’t trust me, even in this situation. I rolled my eyes but as we turn the corner my breath hitched. At the end of the hallway were 2 other Sentries who were armed and …. Dr. X? It shouldn’t have surprised me as much as it did but it was still unexpected. I thought our next encounter would be after I had interrogated the intruder this first day. Shaking off those thoughts, I walked towards the 3 men. My posture straighter, and my steps more confident I put on the best smug face I could manage. Dr. X grinned in an eerie delight as he saw me shove past my escorts.

            “Ah, Rye it seems as though you are prepared for this,” he sighed as he examined me head to toe walking around me slowly in circles.

            “Yes sir, I’ve been preparing this entire week for this, but hadn’t had enough anticipation to distract me from my training and studies of course.” I smiled. Yes, it was a small white lie, but it couldn’t hurt.

            Dr. X stopped walking around me and turned to face me.

            “I think you, out of all of your peers should know how dreadfully irking it is to wait. Anticipation is a terrible thing is it not?” Dr. X replied simply, his accent I’ve familiarized with British-dialect from my language studies, heavier than usual.