The Trial

Chapeter 15

The building wasn't very large, but it wasn't exactly small either. it was shaped like a dome, and the outside of it looked like it was made from solar panels. when we entered the building, there was a short hallway maybe ten feet long. the door on the right was a bathroom. the door on the left was a waiting room that looked like it could seat up twenty. the door at the end of the hallway had to be the way to the machine, but, as we entered, Simon gestured to the waiting room and said "have a seat Rebecca. mason follow me."

"good luck and be careful." I murmured to mason, touching his arm with worry written all over my face. 

"same to you." he murmured with a forced smile, but I could see the nervousness etched in his eyes. 

I watched them disappear through the door, before I went into the waiting room. I was too nervous and worried to sit, so I started to pace. there were no papers or books to read. there was nothing but chairs and two corner tables. if I hadn't been anxious before, I would've been. I couldn't imagine how many people had spent there last few hours in the very room. it would've driven me crazy. in fact, I was starting to think I'd be better off waiting outside. 

I had paced the room for a few hours, before I heard the door open. I stopped pacing and looked up, expecting to see Simon, but Ares stepped in. my already foul mood got a little darker. "what are you doing here?" I asked in a clipped tone. 

he stepped inside and shut the door, and I realized two things. I was now stuck in a room with him, and I was actually angry about it. I'd never actually been angry before. I had almost always been calm and calculated. there were maybe a handful of times that I wasn't. I had to fight the urge to hit him. 

"look. I ... " he paused and shook his head, before went on. "mason didn't change anything. he's hurt, but he'll be okay." my anger was gone in an instant, and I felt worried but relieved at the same time. 

"what are his injuries?" I asked, barely above a whisper. 

"a few broken bones. he'll have a few good scars too, but he'll live. I promise."

I stood there for a moment, regaining my composure, before I said "thank you for letting me know. I assume it's my turn, now."

nodding, he sighed heavily and said "yeah. ... look. I ... " he took two quick steps towards me, and I automatically took three quick steps away from him. he stopped, and his shoulders sagged a little. "I need you to promise me you'll come back to me in one piece, Becca."

"I can't make that promise." I said, keeping all emotion from my voice. 

he took another step toward me, and I quickly took two steps back. he froze in place and searched my eyes for a long moment, before he sighed heavily again. "just try not to get killed. okay?"

"I can honestly say that is part of my plan, but, again, I can't promise anything."

he opened his mouth to say something else, but, to my relief, Simon came through the door. I took a deep, calming breath and started toward the door without needing to be told it was my turn. as I passed by Ares, he caught my arm, and I looked up at him. he searched my eyes and looked like he had something else to say, but I didn't want or need to hear it. I was done with his odd behavior. "it doesn't matter if I live or die. what does matter is changing the past." 

I started to walk toward the door again, trying to pull my arm from his grasp, but he tightened his grip and jerked me toward him. right in front of Simon, he crushed his lips to mine, and I stiffened in place against his chest with wide eyes. I was shocked, and I'm pretty sure Simon was too. 

when he released me, I took a step back, and his pleading eyes met mine. "it matters to me." I was too confused and shocked to say anything, so I simply turned around to face Simon. i hoped he'd hurry up and leave, so I could follow him. unfortunately, he stood there with a shocked look on his face too. as my eyes met his, he sobered up and shook his head. as he turned and started to leave, I quickly followed behind him. 

I was in a slight daze as I followed him through the door, but I quickly shook my head and tried to clear my mind. I needed a clear head. I needed to focus. he lead me across a small empty room to a door that read CAUTION: HIGH VOLTAGE. I paused as he opened the door and gestured for me to go inside. I glanced at him a little nervously, and he said "stand in the middle. I shall get to the operations booth, and the team and I will talk you through everything."

I nodded and stepped inside, moving to the center of the room. there was a long, narrow window across from the door. it was maybe a foot and a half tall but extended almost the entire width of the room, which was close to ten feet, give or take a few inches. the only light in the room seemed to be coming from the other side of the window. it wasn't sunlight. it was actual lights from the other side, which wasn't all that common, since it was almost always daylight. 

I stood there for a long minute, before Simon's voice came out over an intercom. "this will feel a little strange, but I promise it does not hurt. when you come to, it will be much like the simulations as far as the disorientation, but it will pass. just lay still, until you have regained your bearings. they will think you are dead, until you move."

"will it make a difference if I wasn't disoriented in the simulations?"

"you didn't feel any disorientation at all?" a women asked, sounding a little skeptical.

"no, ma'am." 

I was met with a long silence, before Simon said "we are going to start the process in just a few seconds. stand as still as you and good luck."

the room slowly started to light up. it took me a few seconds to realize that each tile on the floor, walls, and ceiling had a small light bulb of some kind in the center of every tile. each tile was about five inches square. the tiny lights got brighter and brighter, until I had to squint and shield my eyes. 

"take a deep breath and let it out very slowly. when you don't see the light anymore, you'll have been successfully sent back. remember. whatever happens to you will be real. good luck and be safe." the women from before said in a bland almost bored tone. 

as the lights got even brighter, I took a deep breath and closed my eyes as tight as I could. I felt my body tingling all over. it was like having every hair on my body standing on end. I felt really dizzy for a split second, but it passed just as fast as it came. the light that had been shining through my closed lids vanished, so I quickly opened my eyes.