La Femme Celeste

Preface

Early morning fog surrounds a black unmarked car as an unconscious woman is being carried by two men into a building known only as 'The Facility'. The men carry her into a laboratory and place her on a gurney. Scientists begin to place sensors on her body to monitor her vital signs. "Where is her chart?" A voice with a strong Italian accent sounded as one of the buildings administrators walked in and a laboratory assistant quickly rushed the woman's chart to her boss's hands. "Here you are, Madame DeLuca." Madame DeLuca took the chart and waved off the assistant. "Ah, Celeste Roux-Acari, I was wondering when we'd see her again. When she ran from us I thought she'd never turn up. Now that she's been apprehended I want her mind wiped and her clothes stripped from her. When the process is complete place her with the other prisoners." Without another word Madame DeLuca left the lab.

The scientists began to place more sensors onto Celeste's body and a helmet like sensor that would erase her memories. One of the scientists went to the computer and began to type in instructions for the helmet. When the task was complete the only memory left for Celeste is her name.

The assistants began to take Celeste's belongings and make a checklist of them. "Make sure you get everything down. One gold wedding band, one black t-shirt, one pair of black jeans, nothing in the pockets, one pair of black knickers, a pair of black tennis shoes and a pair of black socks." The assistants placed everything into labeled bags. "These belongings are similar to those of the last prisoner's." The second assistant looked to the first for information.

"I'm aware. When people are on the run they only have the essentials. Anything too personal could give away their past."

"Wouldn't they have any pictures of family or anything else?"

"It's possible that she could have had some pictures but she's been running from us for over three months. She knows that if she took pictures with her and she was to be captured we could target her family. She's smart enough to keep them safe by isolating herself from them. And according to her chart she does have family."

"Are we going after them as well?"

"Only Madame DeLuca or Mr. Lynch would know the answer to that question. We should alert some guards to take her to the holding cell."

The first assistant left the room and returned minutes later with three guards. The second assistant had just finished removing the sensors when they returned. Two of the guards lifted Celeste into their arms; the third guard led them out of the room and escorted the other two guards to the holding cell. When they reached the holding cell the guard unlocked the door and walked in ahead of the other two. "Stay where you are." The guard addressed the prisoners and beckoned the two guards forward. The guards walked past one bed and placed Celeste on the second bed in the room. The guards then turned and left the cell and locked the door behind them.

The two prisoners were finishing up breakfast when the woman was brought in. One felt pity for the woman and the other looked towards the clock and saw that the guards would be returning at nine 'o' clock to take their food trays. After the door was locked again, the prisoners got up from their chairs and went into their bedroom. One walked past the girl and went to the other bed and the second who felt pity for her sat next to her and covered her with the blanket from his bed and waited.