Isolation

Chapter 7

We reached the fourth floor and had ten minutes left. We were both tired from jogging up so many stairs and running down the endless hallways.
"Nikki my room is in the opposite direction. You're close to the fifth section door just a hallway and a turn down to the left. I have to go right and down to the fourth section doors then travel all the way to the end of section four. I'm going to have leave now, otherwise I won't get back in time. I'm sorry, but I can't get in trouble again. I'll talk with you tomorrow before initiation. I'll meet you outside your room at 7:00 sharp so be ready. There is clock in your wall you'll find it eventually but for now I gotta go. Bye!" And with that she sprinted off, but before I fully turned around I felt arms wrap around me in a quick hug and then spring off again as if they were never there. I turned around to see if it was Katie but by the time I turned around she was gone. Katie was never one for physical contact but I know that hug was from her. I jogged down the hallway deep in thought when I slammed into a body, and we both fell down. I heard something clatter to the ground and saw a high tech gun a few feet away and then suddenly it was inches from my nose. A loud demanding voice pulled me out of my trance.
"Who are you and what are you doing!?" The guy stood over me. He had a strong muscular physique. He had broad shoulders, intense chocolate brown eyes, tanned skin, and wore army like clothes. He had a machete on his back and knives around his calves. This guy was somebody I did not want to get angry.
"I'm Nikki. I'm new here and I'm sorry I ran into you but I most certainly don't deserve a gun in my face for it." I may have been startled but I don't let people walk all over me and use fear tactics to enforce their power over me. He didn't move the gun from my face for a full minute but I stared him down. I looked him straight in the eye never breaking eye contact. It was almost like a staring contest. Finally he spoke again.
"You the girl that just woke up today?" He questioned. An eyebrow raised but no other visible signs of reluctance to shoot me in the face.
"I'm flattered you've heard of me." I smirk and tilt my head at him. He groans, lowers his gun, and lends me a hand up. I take it and he helps me stand up. Not that I needed his help. It was more that I wanted to lend an olive branch to him.
"You got guts newbie. I'm Derek. Captain of Beta." His face looks stoic but I can see pride in his eyes as he announces his title as captain.
"Hello Derek, captain of Beta. Hey if you're a captain you must know my best friend Katie she's captain of Kappa!" As soon as I say that his face drops and an annoyed expression is now shown clearly on his face. "Anything wrong?" I raise an eyebrow at him and cross my arms over my chest prepared to defend my friend.
"Katheryne? You're friends with Katheryne? She has been a thorn in my side since the first day I met her. She breaks rules and disobeys orders and she influences others to do the same! She is a captain and supposed to be a positive influence on the other but she only stands for anarchy!" Derek practically shouts this. He seems to be seething.
"I'm sorry that you believe that but Katie is not a bad person. She doesn't break the rules as often as you make it seem like she does. She is a kind and caring person. She is and always will be a positive influence on others. Nobody is perfect but she doesn't deserve you to be talking about her behind her back. Now if you'll excuse me I have better company to be with than a narcissistic asshole like yourself!" I fire back and push my way around him. I don't get very far before he grabs my arm and hold me in place. He grabbed my arm so hard I let out a strangled noise. I try and pull to get away but he holds me tighter and tries to pin me against the wall. I turn around to look him in the eye, he realizes how hard he has been holding my arm and starts to release when I rip my arm from his grasp, and punch him in the nose. Granted that might not have been the wisest thing for me to do, but at the moment I don't care. I hear a sickening crunch and know that will leave a mark. He looks up at me startled I was able to land a punch. I'm a bit surprised myself but hey, maybe those taekwondo classes my dad forced me to take as a kid finally paid off. God I hate it when my dad's right. I look him dead in the eyes for a few seconds glaring him down and then storm off back to my room. I somehow remember where my room is and am so thankful I still had enough time to get back before curfew. I rest against the back of my door my adrenaline still racing. My room looks cleaner without the IV drip and all the other medical equipment. I see the clock that Katie was talking about. Although it's not really a clock it's like a see through iPad and a smaller replica like object next to it. I pull the iPad thing out of the wall. It responds to my touch by glowing a light green hue. Then a voice speaks from it, surprising me.
"Hello Miss Nikki! My name is Cube! How may I help you today?!" I don't exactly know what to say so I say the first thing that pops into my mind.
"What are you?" I realized what I said and how insensitive that sounds and immediately apologize. "I'm so sorry that was completely insensitive of me. I shouldn't have said that!"
"Oh it's fine! I don't mind I understand it's not easy to wake up suddenly and have a green glowing machine talking to you! I'm an AI. Plain and simple. Well not simple nor plain but that's a basic definition. Any other questions?" Cube finishes.
"Can you communicate with other AI's in this place?" I asked
"If you give me the name maybe I can!" Cube was an optimist. We were going to get along well.
"Katie is the person I'm trying to contact. Katheryne Strikes is her full name." I informed.
"Oh Lady Katheryne! She is a fine young miss now isn't she. A bit rough around the edges but has a heart of gold!" Cube seemed to have met Katie before, "Anyway enough of my babbling, I'll connect you now!" After that the screen went black then a few moments later Katie's face popped up.
"You found the clock!" Katie exclaimed. "I'm kidding it's not really a clock; it's an AI and Cube is a really cool AI. Anyway congrats on getting back in time, you're lucky you didn't run into any of the guards from Beta. They can be stupid with rules." I cringed remembering how I just punched the captain of Beta.
"Yea uh I actually did run into a guard, figuratively and literally. I guess it doesn't matter I'm fine and I got back in my room without getting in trouble so that's a good accomplishment." I only semi confessed to running into Derek. Kat doesn't need to know I punched him.
"What do you mean, you literally ran into a guard?" She questioned.
"Well I did actually run into, as in I collided with a guard. Yea but it's alright. Anyway, what time do I have to wake up tomorrow and what do I wear to like initiation or whatever?" I explained what happened with as little detail as possible. Then I jumped into getting all the facts, as per normal for me.
"We aren't done talking about how you ran into a guard, just FYI. Tomorrow I'll be outside your door at 6:00. So wake up at 5:45. Also you will be working out so I recommend exercise clothes. Or clothes that you can move around in easily." Katie yawned, it must've been a long day. Her eyes were still bright with life though, well her eyes never looked especially bright but they didn't look as tired as she seemed. "For now though if I were you I would settle in and get comfortable. Tomorrow is the day that begins the rest of your life. Be prepared, it's a real slap in the face. See ya tomorrow." Katie lectured me with a sunny smile.
"Thanks so much Katie! I really needed that confidence booster!" I sarcastically yelled at her. "Bye I guess I'll see you at 6:00."
"Bye" Katie answer then signed off. We were both laughing a bit at the end. Friend jokes. When I laid Cube on my bed he had already set an alarm to wake me up at 5:45.
"Night Cube." I said quietly as I tucked myself back into bed, it felt like I just woke up, which in actuality I did but I might as well and try and rest a bit more for tomorrow.
"Goodnight Miss Nikki." Cube answered quietly. Was he trying to sleep too? Probably not, but maybe he needs to rest and recharge. His recharging will be a bit different from mine but in retrospect it's the same reason. I closed my eyes and tried to meditate away the bubbling anxiety of what tomorrow will be like. Guess I'll just have to wait and see.