Ocean Eyes *Permanently On Hold*

four: where I disappear and hide

"Hello, Aiting." the lady in front of me says pleasantly. "I'm Miss Carey. Please, have a seat."

I sit down nervously. I am seven years old, and I have no idea why my mother has dropped me at our neighbour's house after school. The room is cold and sterile, empty apart from a chair (which I am sitting on) and a table full of strange-looking equipment.

Miss Carey bends down and examines my bruised, scarred face, clucking her tongue. "Oh, dear. What happened at school?"

I remain silent. I don't want to talk about what happened. My English is not fluent, anyway. There is little chance she will understand.

Miss Carey smiles gently. "All right. Now I'm going to turn off the lights." She takes a remote control off the table and presses the button. The room is plunged into darkness.

There is a small click and a flash which leaves me momentarily blinded. The lights come on again. Miss Carey nods, looking at the camera screen. "Very good, very good."

I get up. "What?"

"Nothing, nothing at all. You're perfectly normal... for now." she says quietly.

"What you mean?" I ask suspiciously.

"You'll see." She smiles, but it is a strange smile, like I am a present she cannot wait to unwrap. "Come back tomorrow, Aiting."

"Yes," I reply. "I will."

And I do.