Wrong Room

1

Ashley looked at her reflection in the mirror. 4 more days, 4 more days until she would meet her Chosen. The man she'll spend the rest of her life with. The man who will help raise their children, who'll hold her hand while they walk down the street, and who she'll say "I do" to one day.  And who she'll one day say goodbye to, goodbye until the next life, where they may meet again if he chooses her again.

*14 years earlier*

Ashley's hands were sweating, she was wringing them uncomfortably under the watchful eyes of her parents. She was sitting in the office of the Astros. It smelled of bleach and fear. She didn't like it. Her chair was uncomfortable under her and her parents, though calm, were visibly in distress.

They'd been reluctant to bring her here, no one wants to say their child is different. Even when little Ash told them as best as she could, that her head felt "funny" and even though she didn't actually want to, she kept feeling like she had to leave. This was a side affect of when a soul starts pulling.

Only, this shouldn't happen to a 7 year old. Ashley shouldn't be feeling this until she reaches her teenage years. It was only when Ashley's teacher mentioned the pulling and how it'll feel did Ashley realize it might be what she's feeling, and what she'd been feeling throughout her entire life. She couldn't remember a time when she didn't have that unsettling feeling that she'd lost something and she needed to find it.

Because of this, she'd always put her toys exactly where they needed to go, never set things down that she might forget. She couldn't leave the house until her mother walked the entire house with her and unplugged all the electronics because Ashley was sure something had been left on, and that they were forgetting.

Ella, Ashley's mother, just assumed her daughter was weird. That was until the child attempted to tell her through tears that she felt like she wanted to leave. How does a mother respond to their 7 year old telling them they want to leave? Well, they deny it for a while, until the child says her head feels "funny" and they just can't seem to find what they're looking for but they're sure they have lost something.

Ella remembers what it felt like the day she felt her pull. She was anxious, she'd thought she'd forgotten to lock her car. She'd thought she'd possibly forgotten her homework at home. She called her dad through happy tears, telling him she thought she could feel her Chosen. It was a marvelous time, they celebrated when she got home. But she was 16!

Ash was only 7.

A rather striking looking Astro pushed open the white door, scanning the small family. His eyes settled on Ashley who retreated under his surprised gaze.

"What's this?" He asked with a confused look on his face.

David, Ashley's father, cleared his throat. "She uh- well, we think maybe- we're not sure but uh-" He looked to his wife, unsure of how to say the words.

"We think she's feeling her Chosen." Ella announced confidently though slightly uneasy. Avoiding the Astros eyes. "But we're not sure."

The Astro's eyebrows raised in complete surprise. "Really? How old is she?"

"7." Her parents said in unison.

The Astro's eyes bore into Ashley. She wiggled uncomfortably under his gaze.

"Miss Ashley?" He coos.

She looked up at him, her bright blue eyes filled with uncertainty. She wished more than anything she'd just kept her mouth shut.

"What do you feel my dear?"

Ashley swallowed hard, not really trusting this stranger. "I lost something. And I don't know what it is, and I can't find it. I think I need to go find it, but I don't know where to find it!" Ashley wiped a loose strand of blonde hair away from her eyes. Her mother had try to throw it all up in a cute ponytail but to her dismay it was now falling all around her face.

"I see." The Astro typed something into the computer that sat high on a desk. He looked over his small rimmed glasses at the girl, shaking his head slightly.

"Well, come on my dear. Let's see if you're Chosen is talking to you already!" He said almost too cheery. He held a hand out for the timid child and she looked to her parents for some type of direction.

Her father nodded to her, letting her know it was ok to leave with the stranger. She clasped his hand gingerly, still distrustful.

The Astro lead her out of the room, beyond the big white door everything was a shiny, clean gray. The floors shone like buffed glass. Ashley looked down and she could see her reflection staring back at her.

The man led her for a while, not speaking a word. Others passed and not a one could keep their eyes off her. Some even whispered things as she walked by.

She squeezed harder onto the strangers hand causing him to look down at her. A small smile hinted on his face. She reminded him of his own daughter, she would have been 9 this year.

"Don't be afraid my dear, no one here will hurt you."

"They're telling secrets about me."

"No, not at all. They're just interested in you, because you're special."

"Special?"

"Very much so, you're the youngest person to ever feel their Chosen. That's very special."  Dr. Gary Tanner cleared his throat, he left out the part that even though this child was indeed special, it was definitely not the special she ever wanted to be.

Ashley and the Astro walked down many more hallways until they stopped in front of a rather dull white door. Her fingers were sweaty but she'd come to feel safe holding the tall Astro's hand and didn't dare let it go.

He swiped a black card across a key box on the door and the light on top went from red to green, unlocking the heavy metal barrier.

Inside it was, what looked like, some form of operating room. There was a white bed in the middle, a chair next to a computer, and around 10 long gray tubes hanging from the ceiling. Other cabinets and odd bins littered the rest of the room, but Ashley was too focused on the tubes to notice.

"Don't be scared Ashley. They are just for show." Gary tried to reassure the child with the lie, but by the look on her wide blue eyes he knew she probably didn't believe him. "Climb up on that bed for me, will you?"

"I want my mommy." She exclaimed, still not releasing his hand. His heart broke for the sweet child. She seemed very polite, it's unfair what life does sometimes.

"Your mother is waiting for you outside, as soon as we get done I'll take you to her. Promise."

Ashley looked at the man questionably but obeyed. She climbed onto the bed, laying her head on the pillow.

"Not very comfy." She exclaimed. Gary chuckled slightly. He never dealt with kids, not in his line of work. Especially since his daughter died. He'd actually not been around a child for maybe 2 years. Ashley reminded him of Clair so much it almost hurt.

"Now, Ashley I need you to be brave. I'm gonna give you a little poke, and then you're gonna fall asleep. That's all, when you wake up everything will be better! Ok?"

Ashley was confused. She didn't feel different or bad. Why would she need to feel better? Still, she figured the grown up new best.
"Is it gonna hurt?"

"No, it'll just be a poke. You'll barely even feel it." 

She nodded, sticking out her arm when Gary motioned to it. He pulled out a small needle and she almost pulled her arm away but forced herself to be brave like he said.

He was right, it didn't hurt. But after he put the needle in her skin her eyes almost instantly got heavy. She could feel that familiar feeling that she'd lost something, slowly start to slip away. Something deep inside her that she couldn't understand started to protest. It didn't want to lose the feeling. Didn't want to lose the pull.

Ashley slipped into unconsciousness. Leaving the Astro and the room with all the tubes.

** Thank you so much for reading! Part two is on its way!**