I reluctantly shook Doctor Sener's latex gloved hand. My handcuffs making a clanking sound at the movement. Ashley remained still as the same courtesy was offered to her. The doctor's hand closed and returned it to her side.
"I understand this is quite a shock. But soon you will understand and accept your new roles in our intricate system."
That's awfully presumptuous. She swiftly turned on her heel and procceded to walk back towards the hall from which she came. Ashley and I were urged forward from behind to follow her by our agent escorts.
The hall was long and broken up by dozens of metal doors. Each had an I.D. keycard reader above the handle of the door; similar to the one that I saw the agent use to open the entryway doors.
Motion security cameras monitored the length of the hall, following our movements forward. The paintings between the doors were that of tranquil landscapes. This all seems like a cleverly disguised jail.
Finally, Doctor Sener slowed and swiped her I.D. badge to open a door near the end of the lengthy hallway. She displayed a polite smile with a gesture to enter the room before her.
"Sit, please, make yourselves comfortable."
I fought the urge to scoff as I led the way, my sister at my heels, toward the two arm chairs positioned in front of a shiny wooden desk. Audry Sener PHD, the golden name plate proudly displayed on her desk. Her office was littered with crosses, traditional religious art, and biblical quotes scribed on several small trinkets. I knew better than for the Christian atmosphere to ease my unease. Through time, I've learned that even the most horrid people are able to quote the bible and sit in the front church pew every Sunday morning.
The Doctor sat gracefully behind her desk as we shuffled in our chairs uncomfortably, with our captors looming behind us. She opened the files before her and read in silence. The tension so thick around me, it became a struggle to keep still.
"You two have been missing in the mountains for sometime now. I'm impressed to see you both in relatively good health."
The doctor continued to flip through the papers. I kept my lips pressed in a tight line before my sharp tongue landed us in deeper shit. I'm surprised Ashley has yet to have an outburst. Looking at her now, I could tell she was fighting her own internal battle to prevent a verbal assult on Doctor Sener. Ash wasn't even attempting to conceal the contempt she harbored for the woman.
"It must have been quite an excursion for you two young ladies. Tell me, just between us girls, was there anyone lending you a hand, possibly? Did you have company perhaps?"
Our silence made her smile grow wider. She waved a hand dismissing the matter.
"A story for another time perhaps. Now, I feel you both may have many questions for me that might take priority over my facination of your endeavors."
I opened my mouth but she cut me off before I could utter a syllable.
"You see, our mission here at the Lifeline Facility is health and prosperity for all. Yours is no exception. For now, your roles here are quite simple. Your health being our most urgent priority for example. You will follow a strict diet and excercise regimen assigned weekly. Of course your mental health is also of grave importance to all of us here as well. You will find a list of acceptable recreational enrichment activities on your regimen schedule."
She leaned forward and handed me a pamphlet that resembled a summer camp brochure. Ashley remained statuesque as the Doctor placed her pamphlet in her lap over her cuff bound hands.
"The Facility is seperated into sanctions. There are several sanctions of dormitories refered to as 'Living Sanctions'. This is where you will find your assigned sleep, dressing, and bathing chambers. Next we have our state of the art 'Nutrition Sanction'. All of your meals are to be served here in our cafeteria. Attached is the clinic. We have a team of medical doctors at the ready to meet any health ailments that may occur. Last, but not least, the 'Recreation Sanctions'. These include full gyms, entertainment halls, stocked libraries, and a lounge with direct access to our community garden."
It felt like she was trying to sell us into complicity even though we all knew we were going to be forced into following her orders regardless.
"I should mention as well, our 'Rehabilitation Sanction'. Designed to remind all who are unable to follow our guidelines of how serious we are about the cause of our mission. We need everyone's comitment to match our own to reach our common goal here at Lifeline facility."
I had no desire to ever find out how they exicuted their 'Rehabilitation' practices. The hair on the back of my neck stood on end at the thought of what manner of torture occured there.
"And how long do you intend to keep us here?"
Ashley finally found her voice. Her words sounded as if there were to be a hidden threat behind them.
"As long as it takes sweet girl."
The Doctor met Ashley's tone with an eerily pleasant one.
"If you have no further questions, I'd like to escort you personally to your living quarters."
I looked over at Ashley again. The fire in her eyes practically glowing as she burned her gaze into the Doctor now rising from her seat.
We were nudged from our seats and urged to stand as well by the muted LBA agents.
We were led to an elevator. Every surface, save the button panel, covered in mirrors. God, I looked like a corpse. My normally tanned complexion whitewashed; complete with dark circles firmly formed under each brown eye. Ash and I have both seen better days.
The door opened on the 4th floor with a ding. We were led out and down another hall, this time passing women in all white tracksuits. Identity cards strung around their necks on black lanyards. None of them so much as spared a glance over at our party passing by. Doctor Sener stopped at a door with the number 301 inscribed on a metal plate bolted to it. The agent who has nearly mirrored my every move came around my front and began unlocking my cuffs with the keys he retrieved from his belt. I rubbed my sore wrists. The agent opened the door and I began to walk forward when I realized my sisters cuffs were still fastened. She looked at me concerned, then at the Doctor.
"The sanctions are seperated by gender and age. 20 to 25 are designated to reside on the 5th floor, 26-30 on the 4th."
My sisters hold on her emotions finally gave way.
"ABSOLUTELY FUCKING NOT! YOU'RE NOT SEPERATING US!"
The agent behind her pinned her arms to her side holding her back from the now very impatient looking Doctor.
"We make no exceptions Miss Jensen. And it would be in your best interest to cease your childish outburst at once."
She spit on the shield protecting the Doctor's face and began to thrash violently to free herself from the guards grip. I elbowed the agent encroaching on me from behind in the gut before surging forward. I embraced Ashley fully causing her to become still almost at once. I could barely find my voice to whisper in her ear.
"I will come for you. There's no fighting them head on."
She shook her head and looked at me like I had lost my mind as I was pulled away from her by the agent recovering from having the wind knocked out if him.
"You can't let them do this...YOU CAN'T LET THEM SEPERATE US!"
She bagan to sob and the only thing holding her up was the agent who had restrained her.
"Ashley, we don't have a choice."
I was hoping she could read the warning look in my eyes if only to understand this isn't at all what I wanted either. They demonstrated in our capture that they will not be taking no for an answer.
The pleasant front the doctor had carefully kept in place up until now finally slipped as she wiped Ashley's spit from her shield with a saniwipe.
"I would listen to your sister before your foolishness grants you a tour of Rehabilitation on your first day Miss Jensen."
I scowled at Doctor Sener as she continued to sanitize her shield. Then turned to Ashley again.
"I love you sis. I will see you soon, okay?"
She didn't respond as they began to lead her away. She looked back and gave me a heart shattering look.
I will get us out of here.