Three Hearts Left Intact

Chapter 12: Reckless

Cautiously Lauren cracked the door open, she peaked in and saw Kaila sitting on the rug with tears streaming down her face. She could hear Kaila getting teary eyed for a while but the reasoning was still unknown to her. Lauren debated walking in just yet, closing the door quietly she began walking away. She decided to give Kaila some time to gather herself before they came into contact again. Taking the small plate of food she made from the cafeteria, Lauren trailed away.

Walking through the halls, Lauren maneuvered her way around to a door that opened into a different department. While the department Lauren worked in had bright walls, in here she traveled through dark maroon felted surroundings. Unlike the private rooms each person was given in Lauren's department, here there were hundreds of open cells. Each one containing thirty or more people all close to one another, fighting for some space. The noise level here was horrendous. The open cells meant every conversation, every pain and sorrow, every laugh was heard. The felted walls could only do so much in soundproofing the halls.

Making her way through the rooms filled with people, Lauren found herself standing in front of the head of the departments office. Knocking on the door, she waited for a clearing for her to enter. Once it finally came she walked in seeing an office almost identical to hers, just without the rug or bookshelves. This room sat with the bare minimum of a desk, a chair, and a few filing cabinets.

At the desk sat a man writing on papers. On one side of him sat a small pile while on the other sat a pile taller than his desk lamp. He didn't even look up from his work when Lauren stepped in and shut the door behind her.

"What do you want?" He asked rather annoyed at the fact she was in his office to begin with.

"Nice to see you too, Luke." She placed the plate of food down on his desk then put her hands on her hips waiting for him to look up and acknowledge her presence.

For the next minute he refused to take his attention away from his work, it wasn't until he realized Lauren wasn't going to continue unless he did so. Finally looking away from his work, Luke looked up meeting his little sisters eyes staring at his. "What?"

"What do you know about Lain Colden?"

"Lain? You mean the woman dads been dealing with?" He asked sitting back in his chair looking more interested in the conversation. Lauren nodded her head while walking around his desk and sitting on top of it. "What do you want to know about her?"

"How's she been doing?"

"Your seriously going to ask me that Lauren?!" He sighed out. "I sent you a folder detailing all this stuff out Laur, didn't you read through it. It had all the entries the doctors, interrogators, and dad had on her." He rolled his eyes at her reaching for a grape on the plate of food Lauren put down before she smacked his hand away.

"I never saw a folder? What are you talking about?"

"I sent you a folder that had everything you needed to know. Mom said I should send it to you. I asked John to put it in your bag cause I didn't want you in here to get it. But look where that got me. Of course you didn't see it, stay on top of your work Laur, you know dad hates it when we get behind on something."

Lauren's eyes widened quickly. "You mean the bag I take in the office with me everyday. The one I take back home when the days over with."

Luke crosses his arms getting redder by the minute. "Yes." He groaned more irritated at his sisters response. "What other bag would I be talking about? Did you not just hear a word I said other than that?" He asked uncrossing his arms and grabbing the plate of food regardless of Lauren's attempt to get it back. He began chowing down on the few fruits and vegetables that were on it.

"What did the folder have in it besides the entries?" She asked trying to rethink the past days events, trying to recall if she had looked through it or not.

"I don't remember Laur, it had a lot of entries and journals, some pictures, and I think something dad had about her. I don't remember. Mom sent me the information and told me to print it out and put it in a folder for you to have. She said it was important you looked through it since your looking after the Michael girl and all." He gagged at the mention of the Michael's.

'Michael's girl? I didn't look into the bag when I was home cause I was too focused on Kay...I remember putting it down for the night and then throwing things into it before we left this morning. I never looked at what was in it. Wait...I dumped out my entire bag onto the floor for Kaila! I thought I was just giving her activities! That's why she was crying! Her sticky hands got in my paperwork! Oh, that girl is in for a treat when I get my hands on her!' She jumped off Luke's desk, slapping his lamp off his desk in annoyance before walking out. He stood from his seat shouting at her to get out, while he growled at the small mess she made.

Taking her leave, Lauren slammed the door behind her and stomped all the way back through the labyrinth of maroon felted walls, back into her personal favorite of white. While her surroundings were as white as purity, all she could see was red. She was furious Kaila had gone through something she knew nothing about. Furious at the risk she put Lauren through. If any of the information she had bared witness to slipped out her head would be on a platter for all to enjoy.

Getting right back in front of her office door Lauren leaned in unlocking the door, still hearing the sorrow cries from within.
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Let me know what you think. Thanks Lexx signing off