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.
it in
the right. She pushes open a set of glass double doors, ushering me through with impatient
like a wall. I stumble,
massive greenhouse. Lush greenery surrounds us on
243
Lisa: Strango Introductions
is thick
flowers.
sweat immediately form on my skin. My simple cotton outfit, so comfortable in the
blanket of warmth pressing down on us. I trail after her, trying not to trip
walk deeper into this indoor jungle, a thought strikes me with the force of a physical blow. I could
and bolt. My guide is tiny. I could
But then what?
no idea where I am or how to get out of this place. Those endless,
punishment would await me
shake off the fleeting fantasy of freedom and hurry to catch up with my
greenhouse, where an equally diminutive old man sits at a table. His beard cascades to his feet, and
it's sized for normal adult
booster that gets him
but I'm too
I fall into the seat. The woman bows to
every bead of sweat forming on my body. I shift in my seat, wishing
anywhere. Would rather not be in
this old man that puts me at ease. A sense of warmth, of friendliness, radiates from him. It's
we've never met.
After everything I've been through, I should be on high alert. Instead, I find myself relaxing in his presence, my guard lowering despite my best
has to be some kind of trick. Maybe they've drugged me. Maybe this whole setup is designed to lull
security.
force myself to stay alert. I won't fall for whatever game
his Ble. 1
study him, searching for any hint of malice or deception. His wrinkled face
unhurried as he reads.
movements
aside. His gaze meets mine, and I'm struck by the intensity in his eyes. They're old eyes, yes, but sharp and clear, almost terrifying
he says, his voice surprisingly strong
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
The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!