White Walls

6

The next day was going to be silent for her sake, Lorna internalized, as she concluded that Raiden's method of answering questions required a certain level of patience that she hadn't the desire to spend on him. So when she awoke, she stood and moved to her bookshelf, eyes eager for the sanctity she felt in the black ink of words. Raiden awoke not so long afterwards, and, in his lethargic state, sought to relieve and wash himself in the bathroom. Lorna then realized that she had neglected washing herself, because she had been over-indulgent in her curiosity. An exhale past her lips as she looked over her books. Not one of them had triggered a desire to have an umpteenth read. After all if one was only allowed to do a single thing, then that's what one should do. Lorna was given permission to read, and read, she did. She made a mental note to remind the white coats to replenish her book stock. Her eyes soon fell to the new bookshelf that resided beside hers, as well as the books that had remained untouched since they arrived. Then Lorna found herself already selecting and removing a book that had peaked her interest. Her hands flipped over the book in question as she eyed it quietly. 'An Introduction to Music Theory', it shouted. Her current condition didn't permit her full understanding of 'music', however she did understand that music was simply the written representation of sound and that one can relay that sound using an instrument or a voice. The cover was a calm blue, which, in her eyes, emphasized the pictures of what she assumed were the instruments one can use to relay sound. Unconsciously, her index finger traced over the bold cursive text. The entranced girl moved over to her bed, without once looking up from the cover, and wondered as to why she hadn't ever been given something like this and why Raiden had these when she didn't. No doubt the book defeated her entire bookshelf in the matter of eccentricity. In fact, his entire bookshelf seemed to stain the room with color, rejecting the standard.

"I see." Her thoughts were interrupted by the boy, he spoke with his calm smile. "Music, hm?"

Had she no control of her expressions, she presumed her face would have changed to a scowl. His tone suggested he knew the reason she was drawn to the book, or possibly even beyond that. However, she chose to adopt indifference and spoke to him on the matter of temporary ownership of the book, to which he found no fault in and displayed a level of nonchalance toward. Thus, she began finding peace in the work. Her peace was soon infected by his questions.

"Have you ever seen an actual instrument before?" Lorna surmised he had meant a musical instrument, as well as corrected his question to 'Have (I) ever physically seen an actual instrument before?'

"Not to my memory." She answered, her eyes refused to abandon their fixation. Unbeknownst to her, Raiden's face was filled with pity. This girl was more of a lab rat than he was, or ever could be.

"Have you ever heard music?" Lorna remained silent for a moment, then shook her head and uttered a sound of disagreement. His pity intensified, but then his thoughts went off on a bit of a tangent. He wondered what it would be like to only have heard life in a monotone. The boy's initial thought was that it would have been bland and possibly frustrating. However, as his sight regained focus on the girl's form as she sat and gingerly turned the pages, all while her eyes squinted then widened in fascination at whatever new information she learned, he thought her existence even more lonesome and melancholic. Then, pondered on how she saw her current situation. Was she trapped or simply residing in her head?

"Ever since you came here," he asked quietly as he sat down, "What have they been doing to you?"

Raiden noticed the way she held a page still, mid-turn, in thought and perhaps hesitation. Lorna thought the question abnormal, as she thought their itinerary the same.

"Mental and physical training, they've been observing and testing my body." She believed his silence to be satisfaction and chose to refocus her attention to the literature at hand. But he was, in actuality, stuck between semi-patient expectation and doubt.

"Is that all?" His questions infected her much desired silence again, so she severed her fascination briefly to look up at his emotionally conflicted features.

"I've been allowed to eat, read, sleep and partake in hygiene practices-" Anything she could've added was prevented attention because of his insistent interrogation.

"Surely, you've been allowed to do something more than what they've ordered you to do?" As her blank expression met his confused one, she wondered the true difference between their limitations.

"Have you ever asked for more than what they've given you?" He continued.

"There hasn't been a need to." He searched for humor in her face, then marveled at the thought of a person being genuinely satisfied at the bare minimum of life, she indeed lacked enjoyment. Lorna, on the other hand, had no intention of building of the topic any longer and thus reverted her attention to the book. Her concentration was short-lived to her annoyance.

"You're kidding, aren't you?" She sighed in frustration and shot her eyes in his direction, causing him to jump slightly at the sudden action.

"I am not." She said sharply. "May I please have quiet? I wish to read without distraction."

His thin lips pursed as his mind continued the mental onslaught of unanswered questions. He gazed at the endless white of the wall. She had been serious, he thought repeatedly. The matter of her blandness or rather incongruity to him hadn't been a mystery anymore. He had never been so saddened because of a conclusion before. She was a person, but only a basic shell of a human.

"I've asked for silence." She stated much to his confusion. "Your foot's tapping is disturbing that." He hadn't even realized he had been doing so. Having quietly apologized, he folded his legs and keep it on the bed to avoid further discord.

She had never done anything outside of her ordered agenda-And, interestingly enough, seemed to hold little to no immediate interest in changing it or even any curiosity as to whether or not he had done so.

"090600." Raiden frowned transformed to scowl at his instinctive attentive attitude toward his designated 'name.'

"Don't call me that." He uttered sternly. Lorna currently held no regard for his minute annoyance in favor of her own.

"Your mumbling is disturbing me." His eyes blinked in confusion, Had he really been mumbling? His apology was soon interrupted by fascination.

"So you can display emotion?" He began. The female in constant question let out a breath of exasperation and stored the page she had read up to in her memory.

"Why wouldn't I be able to?" She asked in return. "Need I reiterate the fact that I am a person? I can give you physical evidence if you wish."

"And how would you go about doing so?"

"My body." Raiden's entire body exploded in laughter. A scene Lorna now thought she would be seeing often, as he seemed to laugh at things that weren't even entertaining in the slightest.

"You finally offered a joke I can enjoy." He said as he wiped his tears. "To what do I owe this pleasure?"

"I was not joking." His laughter magnified to Lorna's growing aggravation but she chose to ignore it.

"I am a person." She affirmed over his boisterous amusement.

At this, Raiden stopped, his mind remembering the past conversation.

"It seems this place," He paused briefly, "...has denied you proper emotions." She stared motionlessly, unfazed by his bipolar display. She exhaled.

"I suppose."

Then she had finally achieved the silence she desired.