Desolation Reigns

Chapter 12

I have been in this fortress for a little over two hours, my child sleeping to the sound of my still palpitating heartbeat. The warmth was kind to me but the intolerable feeling of fear was still there, in the back of my mind. I was not given a hello nor an answer before they shoved me in this blank room and stuck this weird contraption on my head. Noise blasting from it, piercing right into my eardrums; it sort of sounded like old classic rock. I felt anger bubbling under my skin, anger mixed with confusion and the rashfulness of protection. I can't hear myself think or my baby cry or...or... anything. Its a nothing I have never heard before. My head, usually filled with robotic noises and military thoughts, is now clear.

How strange.

There was a guard by the door, staring with malicious intent. Untrustworthy, i decided, humming along to what i believe is Rock You Like A Hurricane by The Scorpions. Fiddling my daughter's baby blanket with my two fingers, i breathed a simple tune to sooth her to sleep. What it was, I don't know, i think it was the song i was being forced to hear.

A loud bang shook me from my gazing state. A rebel, dawned with a mask and holster stood at the holding room door. While the mask was not truly a mask( more like a bandana worn to cover the nose mouth), i could not ell who this person was. They had a familiar sense about them, as if we had meet in another time, long ago. I grew wary of the comfort brought in their eyes to this uncomfortable situation, a sense of calm when i should be on guard. Fiddling with my child's blanket, i felt for something i managed to swipe from my apartment. Searching for its cool and laminated surface, i panicked when it was nowhere to be found. Don't fear. Its there.

Closing my eyes, i tried to slow my breathing. Counting my breaths and I'm now able to hear the blood coursing through my veins, trying desperately to warm me up. I am shivering, trying to move the warmth to my love cradled in my arms. I can't take this anymore. Prying my eyes open, I see a  different light than i did before. Not only was i in a different place, I was in a different room. An infinity room. My arms were like simulations, lagging only the smallest bit.  I could feel the life surrounding me. Even through the blackness, i could see. Where am I?

A light appeared, in the corner of the room, the only energy source i could feel. In a state of curiosity, i reached out to hold it with my non-baby carrying hand, grasping for the warmth that came with it. Weird. I could hold it but there was no surface. I could feel even though there was nothing there for me to touch. The heat was enough. I stared deep into its center and tried to pull the warmth closer. Bringing the the ball of energy to my chest, i compressed the ball until it burst, scattering bits of light all over the infinite room, like stars. I touched the closest star and a computer-like screen enlarged itself from it. Unopened tabs uncovering secrets of the world that even the smartest doctor nor philosopher knew none about. Information stacked up and reaching toward my brain, rushing closer, and closer, and closer, and closer, and closer-

"Adrienne?"

My eyesight cleared, light filled the room and bodies appeared instantaneously. The sound must have punched a hole through my dreamlike state. As shocked as i was, my gaze focused on only one individual.

"Sinclair?"