The Disparate One

Chapter 65 - Ousted

Ray arrived at the doors which is the entrance to the dome exhausted since he had to run starting from his quarters. There are two robot guards standing on the sides of the doors. He approached one of them and that is when he heard them starting to open. He fixed his posture and maintained it as he was walking past the doors. He was so glad to see Oxford who was standing straight, having a conversation with a person which resembles to be Cal. Ray slowly approached them with his hands swaying on his sides.

"Oxford... I guess you remember Ray?", Cal stepped away from Oxford when Ray came into his view.

Oxford slowly turned around and there he found Ray standing next to him. Ray smiled at him but faded quickly when he heard what Cal's orders. Ray thought that the reason why he was called here is to greet Oxford but he was wrong, Cal ordered him to bring Oxford to his detention cell immediately for some unknown reason. Ray stuttered when he glanced at Oxford and then to Cal who was just waiting for him to comply.

"W-What's the problem?", Ray questioned with curiosity.

"That's classified... take him away.", replied the man who is one of the high societies.

Ray wanted to ask another question but he decided to just turn around to face Oxford, grabbed him by his right arm and left the dome without saying a word. When they left the dome and were in the elevator, Ray looked around first for cameras or any device that can record before asking Oxford two what has just happened. Ray waited for a few seconds for the man to reply but it seems to him that Oxford wouldn't answer the question, maybe he is not allowed. Finally, the elevator's doors opened. Ray's eyes were shocked to see that they have arrived back to the first hallway, where he and Oxford met. The same exact metal doors, the light fixtures, and the condition of the hallway are still the same, all he needs is to hear the unexpected scream in this area. When Ray and Oxford stepped out of the elevator, he finally noticed that Oxford isn't wearing his black suit and is carrying a transparent clear folder. Oxford is wearing an orange janitor-like-suit and his hands are cuffed.

"They're listening aren't they?", Ray let out a question, still hoping that Oxford would reply, but the man didn't say anything or even a nod, Oxford only handed Ray the folder which he has been carrying from the beginning.

Ray flipped the folder open and immediately his eyes were caught by the big stamped ousted on the middle of the first page which is Oxford's general information, which is also for some reason, scratched out. He flipped onto the next page, it too has the big red stamp in the middle and all are scratched out. He closed the folder since it only contains two pages. He looked up to Oxford who was just standing straight in front of him, waiting for him to bring him to his cell.

"What about your family?", Ray questioned even though he already knows that he won't answer a thing.

Ray started to walk and Oxford follows behind him. Ray glanced at back to the folder to search for his detention number. After a few minutes, they arrived at the correct detention cell and the steel door suddenly starts to open. Ray was standing there in silence as he was watching Oxford walk into his cell and sat on the bed, also in silence. Ray moved away from the cell as the door was starting to close. He returned to his office after and there he saw his breakfast sitting in the middle of his desk. He placed the folder on the right side of the desk when he sat down to eat his breakfast.

"You give up easily."

A robotic voice was heard inside the office. Ray looked around and found Core leaning against the wall with his arms crossed and staring at him.

"I don't get it...", Ray said before taking a bite.

"You will... you just need to keep exploring... the only thing that stops you is following the rules."