Tattooed

XIX

I stood there frozen. My whole life I never had a face or a name to put to the government, and now two men from the inside were here at my front door at night. Trouble always seemed to come to my doorstep. They knew, I thought. They're here to lock me up like Wes.

I thought about running but couldn't bring my feet to move.

"Ms. Merzel," the man on the right continued. Both men were wearing white military style uniforms with thick vests. "You work at the Creative library yes?" I gave a small nod, my throat felt like there was a thick knot inside. "How do you spend your work day? Did you ever read through any of the books?"

There was no doubt they were on to me but I still shook my head frantically and stuttered out, "N-no I-I just do what what I'm told. I pack them and move them and reorganize the archives."

The two officers stared me down. The one on the left, who was a little shorter and lighter skinned than the one on the right, flitted his gaze to my neck and I immediately tugged my hair over my shoulder and continually pulled on it. The officers exchanged a look. I braced myself to be questioned more or maybe even dragged away but instead the man on the right spoke again.

"We came to tell you you will no longer be working in the library."

My eyes widened. "I'm sorry what? Why?"

"The government has instructed us to put you in a new position."

"Who in the government?" I demanded. I was met with a stare so hard I winced back and looked down.

The government worker ignored my question and kept talking. "Your new job assignment is in the same building but instead you'll have your own cubicle and is similar to your first assigned job. You start tomorrow morning at eight."

They left right after, not giving me a chance to ask any other questions. I should have been grateful, if they stayed any longer I might have gave something away, but I felt frustrated that I missed the chance to maybe learn something more about our mysterious government.

The next morning I went to my assigned cubicle. It was in the very back of the building with dim lighting and a light layer of dust. I had a desk, a lamp, and an uncomfortable, eccentric chair that clearly came from the mind of a Creative as art. No one came to talk to me or walk me through what I'm doing, there was just a printout of instructions taped to my computer.

I tapped my screen, logged in like instructed, and a program automatically opened up. It was like a survey, pictures came on screen and I was asked to describe them in one word. It kept going like that for hours. Soon I decided since I seemed to not have a boss to just clock out and leave. I was smart enough to know the government just wanted to transfer me and give me busy work, they didn't really care what I did here.

I decided to go visit the library before I headed home. I looked around for Gregory and Joleen. I couldn't find them anywhere and asked a passing employee if they were here today.

"Oh...Joleen and Gregory were reassigned last night. They don't work here anymore."

I gasped. "Where do they work?" The worker shrugged and I wanted to scream. Has no one ever stopped to think something shady is going on? Has it always been like this and I've just been ignorant like everyone else?

As much as I wanted to, I didn't dare go in the library. But it was no coincidence that Gregory, Joleen, and I were all reassigned last night. I just hoped it wasn't my fault.

I turned away and smacked into someone.

"Cecil!" Corinth admonished, rubbing her nose.

"Sorry! What are you doing here?"

"I came to see you of course." She hooked her arm through mine and started walking. I told her I don't work at the library anymore.

"What am I going to do now?" I whispered, "I have no eyes or ears anywhere. I can't help."

Corinth brought her mouth to my ear, and to passerbys it just looked like two girls gossiping. "You've done a lot to help already. We read through the whole book you brought us and we have a clearer picture on what exactly's going on."

"What is going on? Because two government men came to my house last night and transferred me and the two others working at the library. They're hiding things and their names are one of them." I had to put a lot of restraint to keep my voice from rising.

Corinth stopped. "Government people from the actual government came to your house?" She whisper hissed.

I nodded. "Let me come with you tonight. I want to exchange information, I want to know everything you do."

"Wes won't like that."

"I don't care anymore. It's affecting my life now I need to do something."

Corinth bit her lip. She sighed. "Ok. I agree with you, but I'm playing it safe and staying here tonight. Tomorrow we can go together."

I nod. "Thank you."

As we keep walking, I turn to look at the library one last time.