Surface R: Reunion

Part 02.3

::THOMAS::

"This way."

I follow obediently after Nina down a side tunnel. Correction, I follow her obediently albeit resignedly. I have to duck to get through it and I suspect it isn't used often. I still don't know where we're going. Nina spoke with Lindsay then came back to lead me down a twist of metal caverns that seemed to go nowhere. For all I know, we're going to this Lindsay person's personal compartment. Nina was adamant in her refusal to tell me where, exactly, we were going. It's hard not to be curious and suspicious.

"Down here."

She leads me downward to a slopping cave-like tunnel that goes straight to the right. Then, there's twists and turns that it didn't matter if we were going left, right or even circles—maybe spirals since we are going down. I was getting dizzy and gave up trying to remember what paths we were taking. I think that I'm supposed to be confused, that would explain the complication of these intricate paths. Nina and, I'm almost positive, Lindsay do not want me to know exactly where I am. I'm wondering now if we're still within the city. This might be a separated part that can only be reached with the turns and twists. Of course, I may be exaggerating.

"We're almost there."

I made an almost exasperated look. I must have a lot of patience to have it barely exasperated by this point, "Oh great, and where exactly is THERE?" I drawled.

I think Nina can sense my irritation and detects the sarcasm, but she does a good job ignoring it, and doesn't resolve giving me a shortcut. No matter how antsy I could be, for her, Lindsay's cause was too much to risk. Inwardly, I sighed. Nina stops and turns to the right where a small panel of keys is built into the cold, grey wall of the tunnel. Nina enters a rapid series of code, fingers flickering expertly as she types. A section of the tunnel break smoothly into a door. I'm not surprise. Then again, I'm rarely surprised. Although the room is definitely not the normal kind of private compartments, not like Nina's and mine. There are office equipment set up neatly around the room. And another panel of keys are at one side of the room, an entrance or exit to another room perhaps.

Then I see a young woman about my age, maybe younger by a year. She's sitting on a desk but turns when we enter and stands to greet us. "Hello Mr. Stone," she says with a smile. "it's nice to see you again."

I blinked, a little confused. "Eh? Again? Have we met?"

"I'm sure we have, that's why when I found out Nina was under you guardianship, I didn't hesitate to have her reach you. It couldn't have been more perfect, actually." Lindsay smiles softly. "although it appears you have forgotten me. Well, it was your best friend who always tried talking with me so that would explain it."

That's when it clicked. Lindsay Caghan, she was this dorky girl back when we were kids and Trey had a huge crush on her. Of course I say dorky because she was the smart type, but back then I got why he liked her. Now, she got even more attractive, her nice short-cropped violet hair. Her round-rimmed glasses made her eyes look bigger than it actually was which made really bring out the nice, teal color of it.

What the hell, I'm not supposed to be thinking of my best friend's crush like that. Disrespecting the bro code much?

"No, I remember you. Just now though." I finally spoke. "about it being nice to see you again... I guess we'll have to see with what you'll have me do."