984 (Complex Series, #2)

Chapter Three

Ellen must have heard me. I back away. I hear the click-clack of Ellen's shoes coming closer. The sound bounces off the walls. It makes it even louder. I swallow.  What did I do to deserve Ellen herself? Ellen Windsor, the Head, has ordered the execution of hundreds of Officials. She can easily order my death.

I can't back up any further. If I do, I will fall back into the black ooze. I have no idea how deep the pit stretches. I stand on the hazardous edge. Dread tossing inside me. The click clack of shoes grows. I'm shaking. Ellen turns the corner.

Her bright red lips turn in her horrible smile. Her eyes land on me and she strides purposefully forward. She wears a tight black shirt and a black skirt that fans out around her knees. Bright red high-heeled shoes are strapped to her feet. The color matches her lipstick. She sniffs, daintily. She must smell my fear and her smile widens further.

She stops only one step or so in front of me. So close, I can see the makeup layered on her face. The wrinkles that she is obviously trying to hide, but are clearly outlined. I back away, along the edge. My back against the wall. Ellen moves around me. I'm against one wall, she is close to the other. In the narrow hallway, we are less than a step apart.

I slide along the wall, trying to get further away from the pit and Ellen. Ellen steps more towards the middle of the hall, still smiling grotesquely.

I can't hold her stare. But, I have to watch her. So I move my eyes down to her shoes. My heart nearly stops. She's floating over the ooze. Just the tips of her shoes touch the floor, the rest of her heels lie suspended in mid air over the pit.

I take a step backward. Ellen takes a step forward. I watch her shoes closely. They float just a slice about ground. Not enough to notice, not if you weren't paying very close attention.

I try something, I shout out, "Why are you here?"

Ellen doesn't show any bit of response. She doesn't show any recognition that she heard me. She continues with the idiotic smile.

The realization hits me. I start to laugh. Hysterical laughter as all the fear flies off me. It's too much to take in, so I begin to laugh. Ellen, of course, does nothing.

I force myself to choke my laughter. I remind myself once again I am on a test. As soon as I take a step, I hear the clack of Ellen taking a step behind me. But I don't let myself look back.

I turn a few more corners. Mentally, I prepare myself for anything. I turn another corner and the click clack stops. I spin around. Ellen disappeared.

After a few more steps, the hall ends with a metal door. I try sliding it open with my fingertips. It's locked. There's a keypad on the side of the door. I calmly walk over and type in a code. 8475. If this doesn't work, I don't have any other guesses on what it could be. I smile as the door slides open.

I walk into the room. I'm not sure what is waiting for me. Anything could be.

A square room. It's about fifteen paces across from wall to wall. On the other side of the room, a big metal desk sits, weighted down with hologram generators, portable visions, and installable screens. Behind the desk, are big rows of cabinets.

A women sitting  behind the desk motions for me to come closer.

I take a few stumbling steps forward and focus on the woman, who must be Miranda. She looks like she could be anywhere from a sixteen year to a twenty year. Glossy, black hair hangs tight to her chin. It shimmers at she tilts her head. I gasp slightly when I look at her eyes. One eye is dark brown, almost black. The other is a startling bright blue. They focus on my face, scanning through me. Her face isn't covered in scratches or bump like most people I've seen, pale and smooth.