Steel Ethereal

Ch. 16 The Interrogation

            

Rob

I was hauled away from the graduation ceremony. A wool sack was wrapped around my head. I felt claustrophobic, but fought the urge to thrash around. Jenna kept behind me, guiding me. Though she was rough, I'd like to think she was on my side at that point.

The sack was removed from my head after a long walk. I knew I was led into a building as I felt the heat of day disappear and be replaced with what could have been artificial chill. My eyes stung as they adjusted to the flush of light over my face.

When my eyes could see, I noticed I was in a rectangular room with dark green tils lining the wall. Tiles of white covered the floor. A single light that dangled below shone a bright light illuminating the table I sat at. The setup of the room reminded me of a locker room restroom.

A large mirror covered most of the room. I was no fool. There were people behind watching me. I could feel their eyes on me.

Riley paced in front of me, a desk separating us. Jenna stood quietly in the corner locking her gaze on me.

"I have to say, that flair of your arm weld was quite the exit to becoming an officer. Feel the need to show off that you were top of your class?"

Riley's words sting a bit. I am in trouble, though I don't know what for. I am confused and growing more and more anxious.

"I... Just did what I thought I should have done. He rushed the stage. I stopped him."

Riley halts his pacing and leans over the back of a metal chair situated next to the table.

He sighs deeply, "I believe you, I wholeheartedly do."

"Sir..." Jenna starts with tension in her first words. Riley turns to her. The look on his face tells her to shut up. I see Jenna's body grow rigid from embarrassment.

"I swear... I can't explain it. I woke up feeling uneasy. I was already on my guard."

Riley sits down on the chair, laying his arms across the table. He and Jenna are both wearing uniforms that resemble the officers formal dress. Their uniforms are black and silver. Jenna's dress is silk and shimmers a bit. On her chest are numerous pins as well. Riley is more decorated than the commanding officer of the officer training.

"Would you say it was intuition?" He asks.

"It wasn't a vision. It was more like a small voice that whispers to me as I woke up. It told me to be cautious." My voice was meek as I felt what I said to the two bordered on insane.

I never broke eye contact with Riley as I spoke.

"Jenna," Riley says looking to his second in command.

She steps forward from the darkened corner of the room. She moved around my table. She had removed her jacket and rolled up her sleeves. Was she going to torture me?

Instead of having my head smashed into the table, I feel Jenna's fingers, chilled but gentle graze the side of my head. The touch was pleasant.

"What... What..." I asked when I tried shifting myself. I found myself glued in place. My eyes wouldn't obey me either. I could blink, but I struggled to move them even an inch.

"Rob, relax." Riley says raising a hand and lowering, "She's only checking your mind. Seeing if you're telling the truth."

His words are simple, as if reading my thoughts were as easy as a walk down the street.

I feel an odd flowing sensation in my mind, as if my blood cooled but continued to flow. I felt as if I were about to have a brain freeze.

"There's no lie in his head."