The Ultimate Rescue

Chapter IX

MACKENZIE

Music: Cell from Gradius V

If there's anything frustrating about being in captivity, it's that you have literally nothing to do except sleeping or waiting for something to happen. I've been here for less than two hours and I'm already about to lose my ever-loving mind.

Eventually, I decide that enough is enough, and I need to find something to do to pass the time. The only problem? There's NOTHING in this room that I can use for entertainment. There aren't even any books for me to read. So, against my better judgement, I decide to try exploring this base, to see what it's all about. Since I was unconscious when I was brought here, I never really got the chance to get a good look at everything going on here.

"Better than lying around here, waiting for something interesting to happen," I say to myself as I get up off the bed. Mrs. Smith didn't lock the door when she left a while back, so I'm able to leave the room.

The hallway I walk into resembles the hallways of a hotel. The lights above me are barely lit up, and the carpet below me is a dark navy blue with white, circular streaks. Doors line both sides of the hallway. This must be where everybody goes to rest, and not some prisoner hallway.

After less than a minute of walking around, I find an elevator door with a map next to it. According to the map, there are only three stories to this base, and I'm on the bottom floor. We're also underneath some sort of large structure; the map doesn't do a good job of illustrating what the structure is. And, of course, the elevator is out of order.

"Damn it," I grumble. There's a doorway to my left that leads to a staircase, and I have no choice but to take it. Fortunately, it's not a very long climb; only about two flights of stairs. The stairs lead to a large, rusty, dark blue door that shares color with the rest of the surfaces in this room.

Upon opening the door, I'm nearly blinded by lights much brighter than my eyes have been used to since I was brought here. It's only a series of fluorescent ceiling bulbs hanging from the series, but considering I've been stuck in the near dark for the past couple of hours... yeah, you get my point.

There's also a good deal of noise in this room. Apparently, this is some kind of food court, which would explain the smell of pancakes, bacon, and hashbrowns. Round tables are spread out throughout the room, and at least one person with a tray is occupying each table. When I walk into the room, all eyes avert their attention to me. A second later, everybody breaks out into smiles, "Hey!"s, and hands being thrown up in the air. As much as I despise this organization, I don't want to seem rude, so I put on a fake smile and respond with a weak wave.

"Mackenzie! How's it been?" a woman wearing business attire asks me.

"Uh... fine," I reply, nervously making my way through the food court. Thankfully, these people know what personal space is, so I don't have to constantly shove my way through people. That doesn't keep them from calling out to me and asking me questions like, "What brings you here?" or "Where are you going?". One dumbass asks me, "Did you hear about the Rays?" I don't even know what that question is referring to, other than maybe a sports team? I'm only familiar with the sports teams from Missouri, AKA where I've lived my entire life up until now.

Everybody's eyes continue to follow me until I reach the other end of the food court. Then, I turn around and tell everyone, "Listen, I'm just trying to get my bearings here. Don't force too much on me at once, please."

"Oh, no worries, Mackenzie!" a woman wearing chef attire and carrying a tray tells me, smiling brightly. It almost looks like fake sincerity, but what the hell do I know.

I keep my fake smile on as I pivot on my left foot to turn back around and keep walking forward. I roll my eyes as I enter the main lobby. Back when I was being raised by the illuminati, that's how I was always treated. Like an innocent little child that everybody always has to pay attention to. It's better than the alternative, but not by much.