Post by Ceeje on Dec 7, 2006 13:33:03 GMT -5
Alright. On to Chapter 3. Remember, all the characters are fictional, even though they are inspired by real people. 
The story is set in an unknown future. Enjoy! And, feedback is appreciated.
I entered the room, not sure what to expect. The room was very business-like. Standing behind the large, solid desk that was the main feature of the room, was a woman who I knew must be DG. She had the look of someone to whom people listened and obeyed. She didn't smile at first. She merely watched me as I studied the room. My eyes immediately went to the floor-to-ceiling windows that completely covered two walls. I wondered how far out a person could see. I caught glimpses of shadows that seemed to move of their own accord. It seemed impossible that we weren't being watched.
"Don't worry. They can't see in," DG said, correctly reading my thoughts, or so it seemed. "Come. Sit down."
I glanced at Nancy, and after her encouraging smile, I stepped forward to the chairs that DG had indicated with the wave of a hand. I sat, but noticed that Nancy had not.
"Thank you, Nancy," DG said. "I guess you're ready for a break now."
"Actually, I'm going back out," Nancy replied, standing straighter, as if ready for an argument.
"Don't you think you've already seen enough action tonight?" DG asserted.
"There's still a long time until daylight. They're getting too aggressive. I have to go back out," Nancy replied, a determined tone to her voice.
A worried look crossed DG's face, but she replied, "Okay, but be careful. We are not immortal, you know, despite all appearances."
"I will." Nancy flashed a smile at me and left the room.
That same worried look stole over DG's face, and she turned to the window wall to her right. She seemed so engrossed in studying the night that I though she had forgotten about me. But, of course, I was wrong.
"We used to be normal women," she began, without even turning toward me. "We were just a group of friends. We would get together for coffee or --"
"Coffee?" I asked, and immediately shut my mouth, worried that I had interrupted when I shouldn't have. My one fault had always been my inquisitive nature. It had gotten me in trouble more times than I could count.
DG turned back toward me. “Yes, coffee. It’s a hot beverage that people used to drink all the time. The Regime has banned it’s consumption for some time now.”
She moved back over to the desk, her brow wrinkled in thought. Then, as if coming to a conclusion that lifted a literal weight off her shoulders, she walked around toward me. “Let’s go over here,” she said, indicating an informal sitting area in the corner of the room farthest from the windows. I nodded my agreement and took a seat over there.
“I believe things happen for a reason,” DG began as she sat down across from me. “I know who you are—what you do for the Regime. You are a recorder. You record the Regime’s version of history.”
I nodded, though no reply was necessary.
“Are you happy with the history you record?” she questioned.
I struggled to find an answer that was both honest and respectful to the Regime, but couldn’t find one.
“Neither tonight’s events nor any of its participants will ever be in the official history, will it?” DG asked, noting my failure to answer her first question.
“No,” I answered, unable to look her in the eyes.
“That’s how it has been done these last 300 years. To the Regime and all its recorded history, we do not exist. The people who disappear in New City’s streets at night are quickly expunged from the record books, aren’t they?”
Still unable to meet her eyes, I nodded. I knew full well that people were routinely deleted from the history, because that was a task I had performed myself.
“Do you tire of recording a fabricated history?” she asked, leaning toward me. “Do you long to know the truth of the world in which you live?”
“I—”
“Before you answer, know this, if you stray from the Regime’s path, you cannot go back. Once you know the truth you cannot pretend you don’t. Once the box is open, you can’t put the lid back on.”
My heartbeat roared in my ears. Her words frightened me and excited me all at once.
“If you choose the truth, you can stay here, under the protection of the Asylum. If not, then we will deliver you to your housing unit at first light,” DG sat back and waited for my answer.
I didn’t know what to say. Stay the course? Or take a chance? I glanced out the window and in a flash, the fear I had felt out there came rushing back. Nancy’s words filled my head. People—children—were suffering and I had been looking the other way. Just following orders. In a moment of sudden clarity, I made my choice.
“I want the truth.”
The story is set in an unknown future. Enjoy! And, feedback is appreciated.The Asylum
Chapter Three
Chapter Three
I entered the room, not sure what to expect. The room was very business-like. Standing behind the large, solid desk that was the main feature of the room, was a woman who I knew must be DG. She had the look of someone to whom people listened and obeyed. She didn't smile at first. She merely watched me as I studied the room. My eyes immediately went to the floor-to-ceiling windows that completely covered two walls. I wondered how far out a person could see. I caught glimpses of shadows that seemed to move of their own accord. It seemed impossible that we weren't being watched.
"Don't worry. They can't see in," DG said, correctly reading my thoughts, or so it seemed. "Come. Sit down."
I glanced at Nancy, and after her encouraging smile, I stepped forward to the chairs that DG had indicated with the wave of a hand. I sat, but noticed that Nancy had not.
"Thank you, Nancy," DG said. "I guess you're ready for a break now."
"Actually, I'm going back out," Nancy replied, standing straighter, as if ready for an argument.
"Don't you think you've already seen enough action tonight?" DG asserted.
"There's still a long time until daylight. They're getting too aggressive. I have to go back out," Nancy replied, a determined tone to her voice.
A worried look crossed DG's face, but she replied, "Okay, but be careful. We are not immortal, you know, despite all appearances."
"I will." Nancy flashed a smile at me and left the room.
That same worried look stole over DG's face, and she turned to the window wall to her right. She seemed so engrossed in studying the night that I though she had forgotten about me. But, of course, I was wrong.
"We used to be normal women," she began, without even turning toward me. "We were just a group of friends. We would get together for coffee or --"
"Coffee?" I asked, and immediately shut my mouth, worried that I had interrupted when I shouldn't have. My one fault had always been my inquisitive nature. It had gotten me in trouble more times than I could count.
DG turned back toward me. “Yes, coffee. It’s a hot beverage that people used to drink all the time. The Regime has banned it’s consumption for some time now.”
She moved back over to the desk, her brow wrinkled in thought. Then, as if coming to a conclusion that lifted a literal weight off her shoulders, she walked around toward me. “Let’s go over here,” she said, indicating an informal sitting area in the corner of the room farthest from the windows. I nodded my agreement and took a seat over there.
“I believe things happen for a reason,” DG began as she sat down across from me. “I know who you are—what you do for the Regime. You are a recorder. You record the Regime’s version of history.”
I nodded, though no reply was necessary.
“Are you happy with the history you record?” she questioned.
I struggled to find an answer that was both honest and respectful to the Regime, but couldn’t find one.
“Neither tonight’s events nor any of its participants will ever be in the official history, will it?” DG asked, noting my failure to answer her first question.
“No,” I answered, unable to look her in the eyes.
“That’s how it has been done these last 300 years. To the Regime and all its recorded history, we do not exist. The people who disappear in New City’s streets at night are quickly expunged from the record books, aren’t they?”
Still unable to meet her eyes, I nodded. I knew full well that people were routinely deleted from the history, because that was a task I had performed myself.
“Do you tire of recording a fabricated history?” she asked, leaning toward me. “Do you long to know the truth of the world in which you live?”
“I—”
“Before you answer, know this, if you stray from the Regime’s path, you cannot go back. Once you know the truth you cannot pretend you don’t. Once the box is open, you can’t put the lid back on.”
My heartbeat roared in my ears. Her words frightened me and excited me all at once.
“If you choose the truth, you can stay here, under the protection of the Asylum. If not, then we will deliver you to your housing unit at first light,” DG sat back and waited for my answer.
I didn’t know what to say. Stay the course? Or take a chance? I glanced out the window and in a flash, the fear I had felt out there came rushing back. Nancy’s words filled my head. People—children—were suffering and I had been looking the other way. Just following orders. In a moment of sudden clarity, I made my choice.
“I want the truth.”
. How much longer till the next chapter??
Love it Ceeje! You have Nancy and DG pegged so much! I can hear Nancy's stubborn and stern tone, and DG's encouraging, supportive and honest voice. Can't wait to read more!!
;D ;D ;D 
mmmm.. has Ceeje forgotten about us? 
