Twenty-One

The five of them fit easily into the inner elevator.  To Anaya, it looked like any other typical elevator as it quickly ascended.  She noticed, though, that there was no electronic panel to tell it where to take them.

How was that possible?  Where was it taking them?

The elevator came to a gentle stop and the metallic door slid opened.

“We’re on level six.” Dan said as he took the first step out. “Which is divided into two sections, C-1 and C-2.  Your home is located in C-1.”

Anaya’s eyes widened as she walked away from everyone.  The corridor before her spread wide with the entire right side being nothing but a clear window to the outside world.  She expected to see the dark cavern; instead, she stared out at the expansive harbor with deep, blue water and rolling white caps. The sky above streaked with purplish hues as the orange sun sat low in the horizon.

She reached out and pressed a hand on the cold glass.   Her lips slowly curved into a smile.

Home.

“How is this possible?” She asked as her eyes strayed among the waves.

“It’s what you would call virtual reality.” Dan answered.

“I-it looks so real.”  She whispered as the smile disappeared.

“It certainly does.” He smiled at her which vanished when he sighed.  “This is where I must take my leave.”

Anaya spun around to face the tall man with golden brown eyes. “Leave???”

“Yes.” He replied solemnly.  “I have completed my duty which was to get you and your family down here safely.”

She shook her head and then looked up at him with wet eyes. “W-will I see you again?”

Dan lightly laid a hand on her shoulder.  “Yes.”

He quickly turned away and shook Dad’s hand. “Dr. Watson.”

“Take care of yourself.” Dad said in a gruff voice.

He nodded and then turned and patted the top of Eli’s head who slept in Mom’s arms. “Mrs. Watson.  Eli.”

Dan stepped back and into the elevator.  “Until next time.” He held up a hand, and bowed his head slowly as the door closed.

And he was gone.

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Dad cleared his throat.  “I guess we go on from here.”

Dad and Mom, with Eli, started to walk down the corridor, but Anaya didn’t move as she stared at the harbor scene through the window.

“Ana?” Mom’s voice drifted to her.

Anaya felt like she was in a trance.  Her mind filled with murky images and faces as she gazed at the seawater below.   Somewhere near the corner of her mind, she could almost make out a shadowy figure in a dark robe.   When it moved towards the center, it disappeared.

She must still be in her bed.  All of this had to be some kind of a dream.

“Ana?”  Mom’s voice became louder, and much clearer.

She forced herself to turn away from the glass.  “Coming.”

Together, they walked towards the circular table.  It sat in the interior part of the corridor.  Sitting in the middle of the gray table was a man dressed in off-white shirt and pants.  He had sandy-brown hair and blue eyes.  Like Daisy, Anaya noticed the black, electronic device under his right ear lobe.

“Excuse me, um?” Dad began as he cocked his head at the man.

“You may address me as Mark.” The man spoke as he looked at them with emotionless eyes.

“Very well, Mark.” Dad nodded once. “We’re here to, um, check in.”

Anaya glanced away as she smirked at Dad’s choice of words.

“Of course you are, Dr. Watson.” Mark’s expression, unchanged, as he placed a white container down in front of Dad.  Inside were three sets of peculiar-looking bracelets.  Each one was slim and black, and contained a touch screen the size of a small sticky note.

“You will wear this device at all times.” Mark continued. “It will be your guide and key to everything in Redemption.  Lose it and you will be fined three summus.  If you exceed 12 summus within 10 lunar cycles, you will face the Counselor to receive your punishment.”

“Summus? Lunar cycles?” Dad stammered. “Counselor for punishment?”

“The digilocator will teach you what you need to know.” The man at the desk pushed the container closer to Dad.

Without another word, Dad picked up two computerized devices and passed them each to Mom and Anaya.  He hesitated before grabbing the last one.

“John?” Mom touched his back.

“I’m fine.” He muttered and picked up the last digilocator. “I feel like I just sold my soul to the devil.”

Copyright © 2012 Carrie Ann Golden

All rights reserved.

 

To Chapter Twenty-two