The Love Box

Chapter 18

I woke up in a small room; I didn’t know where I was, but I wasn’t afraid. The white colored walls kept me calm as I waited, but I didn’t know what I waited for. A note on the table in front of me read:

I will be back shortly,

-Nicki

I read the note over and over again and thought of Nicki; I couldn’t remember much, but I knew she was a mean hateful lady. The name Rylie came to my mind, but I couldn’t remember anything about her. Eventually I thought about myself and all I could really remember was that my name was Carrie; it was like my mind was wiped blank, but I would’ve known if that were to happen.

The door across from me opened, and I watched as Nicki entered the room. My hateful glare didn’t faze her; she had expected those actions from me.

“I’m glad you’re up,” She told me as she sat down in the chair on the opposite side of the table.

“Why?” I asked her with a sass in my voice; I didn’t know where it had come from or what it really was, but it happened. My thoughts were jumbled together and nothing was clear; the more I thought the more memories seemed to grow fainter and fainter until they were nonexistent.

“I need to tell you something,” Nicki told me as she leaned forward and folded her arms together. “Your mind has been wiped clean.” She told me; then she glanced at the door, but I didn’t know why she seemed frightened.

Nicki was frightened that was the first time I could remember her ever showing real emotion, “You’re a liar.” I told her.

“No that’s what Rylie wants you to think,” She told me; then she glanced back at the door again.

There was the name Rylie again; I couldn’t put her name to a face thought. It was like she wasn’t part of my memory, but I knew she was someone important.

“Why would she want me to think that?” I asked Nicki.

“Because she wants everyone to think that I’m the bad guy,” Nicki told me. “You have been at two meetings in the past few days and at one of them she decided to introduce slavery into Prudent yet everyone thinks I’m bad.”

“Slavery what is that?” I asked Nicki, but I had a feeling I knew what it was; I thought about it but nothing came to my mind.

“The ownership of people,” Nicki explained to me. “The dance project.”

The dance project came to my mind, and I remembered sitting at the table. Then I looked up in my memory and saw Nicki stood at the computer screen and explained what it was.

“You’re the one who brought that here!” I shouted. “I remember you telling us!”

“No!” Nicki shouted as she stood up and leaned more than halfway over the table; she supported herself with her hands flat on the desk. “That’s what Rylie implanted in your mind!”

“You’re a dirty liar!” I yelled; then the door opened and a lady entered.

“What’s wrong?” She asked me as the door closed behind her.

Nicki leaned back and said, “I was just questioning Carrie about a few things.”

“I told you that can only take place when I’m around,” The lady informed her as she scooted Nicki out of her way for her to sit in the chair across from me. “You may leave now.”

“I’m in charge of Prudent,” Nicki said. “You can’t tell me what to do.”

“Get out,” The lady who sat across from me said, and I jumped.