87 Below

Chapter 13: Change

The children scurry around the rushy warehouse. Their small feet pad against the floor as they chased each other. This was peaceful. This felt right. Atlas smiled as he at the shining faces as they laughed, unashamed. Just behind the children, a beautiful woman met his eyes.

"Hope," he whispered

Her smile radiated brighter than a million suns as she raised her hand to wave. Atlas took a step towards her when a voice as sweet as honey called to him.

"Atlas."

The boy spun around to find its source, but the only thing he could see was the warehouse wall. The voice sounded again. It was behind him once more.

"Atlas. Come find me." 

The smooth tone reminded him of a siren from myths. The ones that called young sailors to their doom.

Atlas turned around so that he was facing where the children had once been. They were gone. The warehouse had dissipated. His heart pounded and he looked around wildly. He was in an open field. Tallgrass and flowers swayed around him. The cool breeze kissed his face. The sun warmed his pale skin. Confusion tainted his thoughts as he glanced up toward the bright sky. The clouds danced in a calming swirl. Shutting his eyes, he let the soothing details wash over his body.

"Atlas. You have to find me."

The voice was back. It ripped him from his serein thoughts into this alternate reality. Atlas opened his eyes and tore his vision from the blue sky. He was still in the field, but this time, he wasn't alone. A woman stood a few feet away from him, her back turned.  Her exposed shoulders carried angry red scars. 

"Who are you? Who did this to you?" Atlas questioned the new woman. She said nothing. She remained motionless as the wind played with her black silky hair. An overwhelming sadness washed over Atlas. He didn't know who she was, but he knew he had to help her.

 Moving to grab her shoulder he reassured her, "I can help you." He grasped her beaten shoulder and gently turned her to face him. Fear forced his body away from the woman. His heart picked up its pace.

Her face was a clean slate. A white empty pit of flesh. She said nothing as Atlas scrambled away from the woman. Atlas squeezed his eyes shut to erase the horrific image from his mind.

His eyes opened to a more normal scene. He was in his assigned bunk again.

It was a dream.

He reasoned with his beating heart, willing it to slow down. Atlas threw his legs over his bedside. He welcomed the cold floor to cool his flushed body. The sweat caused his loose black curls to stick to his skin. The boy longed for the crisp air he had felt only hours ago.

Atlas had woke up shivering against the warehouse with Hope sleeping blissfully on his shoulder. Her body had been cool to the touch when Atlas lifted her. Colin had met them on the way in and directed Atlas first to Hope's room and then to his. Within minutes Atlas had let his tired body sink into the plush mattress. Only now, the mattress felt hard and uneven as he rubbed his tired eyes.

Standing to his feet, Atlas stretched his limbs, preparing for the day. He turned to curtained entrance to find clothes draped over the top. Reaching up, he pulled the materials down and headed back to his personal shower. We had several hours before dinner yesterday and Colin had taken the opportunity to give us the grand tour. Each room had a bed, a trunk, and a shower. The only necessities not available in the lodging areas were the toilets and food.

Atlas was grateful for the privacy as he stripped down to bathe. He couldn't remember taking a proper shower. As if instinct kicked in, he raised the lever to allow the water to flow. Gingerly reaching toward the water he let the cold liquid cascade over his hand. 

Perfect.

Atlas stepped into the small space. The water washed away all the troubles he had encountered. The icy temperature shocked his body awake. He blocked out any stray thoughts and went to work scrubbing himself clean.

Not bad.

Atlas examined his new look in the foggy mirror. A clear smudge where he had wiped the condensation away to expose his outfit. He didn't know who had supplied the clothing, but he was grateful for the change. His previous navy shirt and jeans lay in a crumbled wet pile beneath his feet. Pulling at the sides of his leather jacket he admired his reflection. The dark t-shirt was a bit loose on his body, but the military issue black pants were just right. 

Perhaps the starkest change was his face. The last time he looked into a mirror he was met with his own terrified blue eyes. This time, his eyes were soft he almost seemed...happy. Then again, that was before he met Hope. Pushing his damp hair back, 

 He stepped toward his new bed to string up the combat boots and get ready for the day. Atlas emerged from the curtains and was immediately shocked by the brightness. It had to be midday already.

How long was I asleep?

He leaned over the rusted metal railing to watch the children playing below him. His room and Hope's room were both located on the second floor just a few doors apart from each other. The metal groaned as he pushed away from it. He stepped towards Hope's quarters to check on her. 

He pulled the curtain back to find an empty bed. Puzzled, Atlas turned back towards the children below him. He trotted down the stairs when he spotted Will. 

"Will!" he called to the boy who was playing with the other boys again. The boy's blond hair fell into his face as he looked around in confusion. He eventually found Atlas and his face contorted into a grin. The younger boy rushed over to him through the swarm of kids. 

"Atlas!" Will said excitedly. 

"Hey, kid. You seen Hope?" Atlas looked around and still found no sign of the scarlet beauty.

Will nodded in confirmation, "Yeah, she went over there with some guys. I haven't seen her for a few hours though." he scratched at his head as if he was trying to recall the events.

Worry coursed through Atlas' veins.

With some guys? Who? Is she okay?

Atlas followed where Will's outstretched hand pointed. In the corner of the warehouse, a dark door was closed off to the bright world around them. Though it might be an unreasonable fear, he couldn't help his mind from wandering to the worst scenarios. Atlas stormed off to the mysterious room.

Please be okay.