Unshift 243
Unshift 243
243 Lisa: Strange Introductions
LISA
Wherever I am, it's huge.
We've taken at least three or four turns, and I've already forgotten how to get back. Was it left
it?
first, or right? The last turn was to our right. Wait... Wten how to get back. Was it left
Shit.
Every time I lag behind, trying to map this place in my head-which is little better than at toddler's scribbling at this point, with my confusion over lefts and rights-the tiny woman turns and scolds me, telling me to pick up my
feet.
Before, I would have given her some sort of smartass comment and maybe even slowed down.
But now, my body feels cold sweat at the idea of making her angry. Even if I'm a prisoner, at least I'm a clean and comfortable prisoner here. I don't want to go back to the previous standard of kidnapping.
So I shut my mouth and hurry behind, wondering how she can be so freaking fast with such tiny legs. She's probably the size of a kindergartener, but faster than a full-grown adult.
What bizarre witchcraft is that?
I force myself to focus on the path ahead, ignoring the endless parade of closed doors lining these stark corridors. No pictures, no decorations, not even a potted plant breaks up the monotony. Just door after identical door, their handles gleaming dully in the harsh overhead lighting.
The silence is oppressive. Our footsteps echo off the bare walls, amplifying the sound until it feels like we're being followed by an army. I resist the urge to look over my shoulder. "Keep up, my tiny guide snaps for what feels like the hundredth time.
I lengthen my stride, closing the gap between us. Seriously though, how can someone so small move so fast?
We round another corner, and I blink in surprise, Windows. Actual windows line this hallway, letting in natural light.
Wow.
The sun.
seen it
a good look outside, my guide veers sharply to the right. She pushes open a set of glass double doors, ushering me through with
and humidity hit me like a wall. I stumble, momentarily
Lush greenery surrounds us on
243
Lisa: Strango Introductions
The air is thick
flowers.
My simple cotton outfit, so comfortable in the air-conditioned halls, now feels
on us. I trail after
a thought strikes me with
realization freezes me in place. I could turn around right now and bolt. My guide is tiny. I could easily
But then what?
have no idea where I am or how to get out
knows what punishment would await
fleeting fantasy of freedom and hurry
the greenhouse, where an equally diminutive old man sits at a table. His beard cascades to his feet, and he
for normal
some kind of booster that gets him to the level he needs to
too worried about
I stumble, barely catching myself as I fall into the seat. The woman bows
my skin, making me acutely aware of every bead of sweat forming on
not anywhere. Would rather not be
as I think that, there's something about this old man that puts me at ease. A sense of warmth, of friendliness, radiates from him. It's
we've never met.
on high alert. Instead, I find myself relaxing
be some kind of trick. Maybe
security.
arms of the chair as I force myself to stay alert. I won't fall for
his Ble. 1
seemingly oblivious to my internal study him, searching for any hint of malice or deception. His wrinkled
unhurried as he reads.
movements
I'm about to break the silence myself, he folds the newspaper and sets it aside. His gaze meets mine, and I'm struck by the intensity in his eyes. They're
strong and deep for such
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
The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!