The Anomaly Affliction

Twenty Nine

Trigger warning: injections

Arms feel heavy

Can't move my legs

Head hurts

Can hear a voice

"...awake..."

What's happening?

Lake?

"No, Miss Thorburn..."

A woman's voice. My eyes are opening. Slowly. Everything's fuzzy. Blink. Blink. Blink.

I can see my legs and my arms. I think I'm on a chair. My wrists are...bound to something...I'm tied up? Blink. Blink. Blink. Blink. Everything's focussing. I lean forward. My ankles are tied round the chair legs. My wrists are tied round the armrests. I don't recognise this floor. It's grey. Dark grey. Why am I tied up? I try to kick forward. I can't. I try to free my arms. I can't.

"It's no use."

The voice is louder now.

I lift my head slowly. It's heavy.

There's a woman standing in front of me. She's leaning over to be at my eye level.

Black high heels. Dark tights. Dark purple pencil skirt. Dark purple blazer, buttoned up. White shirt, buttoned up to the top. A brooch in the shape of the emblem of Nacoma. Full, smiling lips. Big blue eyes. Pale skin. Frown lines. Brown eyebrows. Golden hair.

President Curtis.

I feel my cheeks turn red with anger. I try to wriggle out of the binds with my arms and legs again.

"It's no use, Miss Thorburn," the President says. "You won't be able to get out."

She's right. I stop struggling and stare down at the floor, almost blinded with anger at the sight of her in front of me.

"Where am I?" I ask bluntly.

"Where do you think you are?"

I look around the room. Everything is the same dark grey colour: the walls, the floor, the ceiling. Several lights are arranged around the ceiling, casting a harsh white light on the room. The only door I can see is on the wall to the right. On the left of the room is a long shelving bay, crammed with syringes with some kind of navy fluid in them.

"Is this MisMap...?"

"Yes, Miss Thorburn," Curtis replies. "You are in MisMap Correctional Facility."

"Correctional Facility," I repeat disdainfully. "You mean prison?"

"Miss Thorburn, the people that come here are those in need of help."

"And I need help?"

Curtis stands up straight and smiles down at me condescendingly.

"Very much so. You've been brought here because you've lost your way. You've lost the happiness in your life...and that is exactly what this place is for. Bringing happiness back to those who need it."

The happiness in my life...Lake...

"What did you do to her?" I ask menacingly.

"Hm?" She scratches her chin, probably pretending not to know what I'm talking about. "Are you referring to Miss Summerall?"

"What did you do to her?" I repeat, leaving pauses between each word.

"Me? I didn't do anything to her, Miss Thorburn."