Every child ever born dreamed of what it would be like to be greater than everyone else. Every century saw something different for children to dream about in that fashion. My generation grew up with super heroes from comic books to television. Falling asleep at night I remember desperately asking God to give me the powers of Superman so I could be the super hero that saved all my friends and family in separate peril. Dreams of what you could do and all the people you could help as a young innocent child seemed to spur us on and our imagination into a frenzy.
It had been two days since I destroyed the two way mirrors in my room. They were watching me from behind the glass of the interrogation room every single second of the day. In my mind could see eight high definition, high speed cameras behind the mirrors pointed at me. The number of people watching and taking notes had quadrupled and that number was still on the rise.
They were good enough to remove the table and chairs and give me my bed, but that was all I had in the room. Throughout the day I would spend my time doing things unseen by anyone. Some of it was here and some of it was elsewhere, not wanting them to know too much.
Jim had been missing since our last conversation. At that point his deciding factor to not come talk, escaped me. Our conversation before went surprisingly well. On the other hand, he had a broken hand at one point. He had no need for medication since it was healed, but inpatience was growing. It was time to do something more. To that point the two way mirrors in my room had been replaced.
Looking into the mirror, "Mary, could you please tell General Thompson next to you to send in Jim, please love?" Closing my eyes as they rolled back, "He is on the fourth floor in a conference room having a meeting. They are talking about what to do with me, if anything they can do. Thank you, both." I smiled.
A speaker cracked in the room, "Michael," it was the General, "I'm afraid I can't do that right now."
My patience had run thin with all of the red tape and their attempt to control a situation they had no chance of controlling. Sitting Indian style on the bed, "General, I was not asking." My eyes twitched and rolled back in my head along with shaking of both hands. My body lifted up in the air hovering above the bed. My eyes opened but they didn't roll back, "Either you can get him or I can go see him myself. Which would you prefer?" A response was not needed.
"I understand," he was frustrated, but had nothing else he could do. "I'll call him down right now." Lowering myself back down I simply nodded in acknowledgement.
Over the days since Jim and I had talked, there was only learning of a lot of things and more importantly how to control them. The levitation thing was just a fun parlor trick and I'm sure it was scary to my keepers. Though, I did see Mary laugh in the back of my mind when I gave the general the ultimatum.
There was only one thing left for me to do before I left. It would still take some time and I had to be in this place in order to do it right. It was getting cramped in this little room, but knowing they wanted to keep as close and eye on me as They could. If they could, and they'd thought about it, they would build a room around my bed with cameras the size of the walls to watch every single blink I made.
"Hello, Jim," I said as he walked in the room. "How is your hand?" I said with a calm and soothing politeness.
"Fine, thank you. I was told you wanted to see me," he was agitated by the notion that I had beckoned him and he had to come running. He literally ran all the way down to me. He was still breathing a bit heavy and his heart was racing from the exercise.
"Yes, Jim. The Mirrors are backup in my room along with all the new cameras and audio among other new equipment. I want to go back to my room." Before he had a chance to protest, "Yes you can, Jim or I will go back there myself," leaving it up to him.
He was staring into my eyes and knew he had no way of stopping me. He wanted to keep this as hospitable as he could. "Okay. I'll walk you down there right now."
Getting off the bed we walked out into the hallway. There were twenty guards on both sides of the hall, each had a taser and was crammed next to one another pointing them at me like I was coming out of a death row cell.
"Jim, I am starting to think you do not trust me," with a chuckle.
"It's not me, Michael," he kept walking down to my door. He opened it and I walked in ahead of him. If I would have jumped there would have been enough electricity in the hallway to light a small city.
"I know, Jim. I was just giving you a little shit. Lighten up. I told you I was not going anywhere."
Climbing up on the desk I sat Indian style again. Jim watched me very closely with me closing my eyes.
"Jim, the other thing I need is for you to go get Delilah and bring her to me."
"Michael, there is no way they will let…..," he stopped as my arms started to twitch and my eyes closed. Every wall in the room and the new mirrors flexed outward bowing to a crackling sound. "Okay! Okay! I'll go get her. Just don't destroy the room, please."
"Thank you, Jim. I appreciate it," letting the walls come back in slowly as not to let any damage be done to them. After all, the room was in good shape. They had to redo the walls because all the cameras had to be pulled out and replaced. It was nice to smell the fresh paint.
He walked out of the room and down the hall. Five of the forty men in the hallway came in and stood around me watching every heave of my chest as I breathed. Everyone from behind the mirrors in the interrogation room was now behind the mirrors in my room, watching intently. I could see three of them scrolling through the digital footage of the walls bowing outward and watching me to see what I was doing when it happened.
Popping my eyes open, one of the guards jumped back and fired the taser. Two inches from my face I stopped it as the electricity shot out and slowed to a crawl. Everyone was at full speed, just the electricity was slowed. I stuck my hand out and let the arks catch my fingertips. The sensations were tingling up and down my body like a tickle.
Motioning for the guard that shot it to come closer, "Gerald, come closer and take your glove off." He was terrified. "I won't hurt you, I promise." He looked around and the other guards were shaking their heads. He walked up to me and pulled his glove off.
"Now put your hand next to mine." As he did I let the ark jump to his fingertips. He smiled and then began to giggle.
"It tickles but it feels so good running through my body," he said relaxed.
"It released the tension in your muscles, Gerald." He put the glove back on and reeled in the prongs from the taser. He put the weapon back in its holster on his belt and leaned up against the wall.
Pulling my hand back down I closed my eyes as they twitched like I was in REM sleep. I could see Delilah coming down the hall with Jim. When they were trying to get through the crowd I opened my eyes again.
Looking at each of the men, "Leave us, please," Gerald helped usher everyone out of the room as Jim and Delilah walked in. "Jim, please, give us some time to talk. You should finish your meeting about me anyway. Again, thank you," I gave him a genuine smile.
As soon as the door was shut I jumped off the desk as she ran over and jumped into my arms. As our skin touched, I felt as if I was made whole again. My heart was ripping through my chest and she kissed me with the electricity from the taser flowing through my body and into our lips ever so gently.
The soft gentleness of her lips touching mine that I hadn't felt in so long and desired only to feel again was finally mine. Her tongue met mine and I could taste that flavor of the sweetest thing that had ever been in my mouth.
Pulling her away, I looked deep into the crystal blue lakes in her eyes. They were pouring out water like a storm at Niagara Falls. Running my fingers down the side of her face, she looked down in shame.
"I'm so sorry, Michael." Just hearing her say my name sent chills running up and down my body. It was like euphoria had been unleashed in my heart and was running to ever cell in I had.
"Why are you sorry?" looking down as she looked up at me.
"For leaving, you," she started to cry more profusely. It almost became uncontrollable.
"No. It wasn't you, Delilah. It was me." Her sobbing slowly stopped.
"I can't tell what you're thinking," she said with a surprise, wholeheartedly expecting to be able to do just that.
"I know. Soon, love, soon. I will tell you everything soon," holding her against me not wanting to ever let go of her again.
Behind the mirrors and even through the shower every analyst on the floor was watching. My eyes rolled and I could see people filled elevators and more coming down the stairs. This was some sort of event as we became some new attraction.
Looking at the mirror where Jim was standing next to the General, "Maybe we should charge admission, Jim. Might help your budget," in the back of my mind he chuckled and Delilah did as well.
Holding her away from me, "Tonight you're going to stay with me," with the protest coming I stuck my arm up shaking and the mirror flexed. They were all agreeing after that. "Tomorrow you will have to go back, but not for long." She nodded, but did not entirely understand and it was evident in her expression.
Taking her face in my hands, "Jim, could you come in here, please, and bring the General?" smiling at her she smiled back.
Sitting her down in the chair behind the desk, Jim walked in followed by the general. He was stiff and conservative with his movements in front of me. Gerald was standing behind all of us as the lone guard. His taser was still holstered.
"Delilah, I would like you to meet Jim. Jim, this is Delilah." He shook hands with her and her with him, but it was strange for them both. They had known each other for almost 10 years now. It was not only amusing, but necessary. You see, everyone in this building thought of the people behind the doors as objects and not actual people. I wanted to start changing that with everyone I could in the small amount of time I had left there.
"It is very nice to meet you, Jim," she said with a sincere tone and a smile.
Motioning to Gerald, "Would you mind standing in here next to the doorway, please?" Gerald did as I asked. Something was about to happen and Gerald was in the way.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, young lady," he let go of her hand.
"Oh for Christ's sake this is ridiculous!" the general yelled out and headed for the door.
Lifting my arm I slammed the door shut right in front of him. The door locked with a click. He turned to me in fear and anger.
"You will be hospitable and treat everyone in and out of this room like a fucking human being," my rage was starting to take hold and drag me to the place I had only been once before, "or I will turn every platelet in your blood stream into a shard of glass and watch as it tears you up from the inside out!" The door began to rattle as did the walls before Delilah reached out and touched my arm. Instant calm shot through my body and everything stopped shaking.
"Michael," Jim started, "I'm sure it was just his frustration getting the better of him. A man use to controlling a situation now in a situation he has no control over."
"I apologize," Thompson said, but he did not sound sincere. "I am frustrated with this."
"No, it is I that must apologize. I have no right to threaten you or anyone. Please, forgive me." I nodded at him.
"Accepted," the General replied.
"Now, would the two of you, and your wives if you so wish, please join Delilah and I for dinner this evening?" Jim looked a little perplexed. "Jim, have Chef stick around tonight for a small gathering. It will make him happy to cook in this setting. Tell him to choose the menu and the wine selection."
Jim smiled at the two of us and agreed, "It would be my pleasure. Dinner sounds fantastic and I would very much like to bring my wife."
Glancing at the general as he nodded, "And, for this gift I will give you what you have wanted for the last ten years, " both men looked at one another in confused intrigue, "the answers to each and every question you wish to ask. Every truth that the two of us," I pointed at Delilah, "have."
"Well, that is fantastic," Thompson blurted out. "We shall all see you tonight, then."
"Jim, could you possibly have some appropriate attire brought to us, please?" I could do some changing of things, but actual clothes sounded nice.
"Not a problem, Michael." Jim shook my hand and so did Thompson. They waved to Delilah as they walked out of the room. "Gerald, would you mind watching the door so no one just walks in on us, please?"
As he walked out closing the door, "Will do, boss," he shot me a smile. Now, that was odd.
Turning my attention back to Delilah, I felt my body flutter with the feelings I remembered having for her. Even every time I saw her locked up in that room down the hall she made me feel excitement just to see her again. Her presence alone made me feel amazing.
"Have you slept much, love?" knowing the answer, but I wanted to hear her voice now that we were alone.
"No, not much at all over the last ten years," she had a faint smile at the corner of her mouth. Her eyes were still a little puffy from crying and, to me, it was so very attractive.
"Well, I would like to shower before we have dinner. You can either join me or you can lie down and try to get a nap in?" Her look said it all. Looking at the mirror in front of me, "Can we have three towels, please?" Puzzled was the only look I got back from her. "You're hair," easy enough. I did not think about the fact she probably didn't have a towel just for her hair in the last ten years.
In the shower I turned the water as hot as it would go. In a vain attempt to steam up the Plexiglas, which was suppose to be fog proof, and realized it wouldn't happen. Spinning around and looking at Delilah, I decided to do something I knew I could I just did not want to show the mirrors too much.
"My keepers, I am sorry for this, but a little privacy will be much appreciated. You will know we are both in the shower, which should suffice. I will put it back the way I found it when we are done. Thank you." Delilah got up out of the chair and watched me as I turned back to the shower.
In my mind I could see it. My hands started to shake and my eyes rolled as a crackling sound came from the inside of the shower. On the door was growing frosted glass like a blind being pulled for a window came down from the top. Within a few seconds every surface of the shower was completely frosted.
Deep in my mind I could see and hear the reaction of the crowd behind the mirrors. There was now closed to a hundred people packed behind the walls surrounding the room. At this point, during the renovation, they had connected all the rooms on the three sides. The majority of the crowd was moving to the shower area to see for themselves what had happened. It felt like an exhibit at the zoo.
I pulled off my Crocks and my scrubs. As quickly as I could, trying to block the view, I pulled Delilah's close off and helped her into the shower. Way too hot, I turned the water down a bit. For the first time in ten years, at least in this room, I felt some privacy. My tray, that usually passed my heavily examined shower items, opened as my head flashed with an image. Sitting in the drawer was a bottle of shower gel, shampoo and conditioner and a puffy shower sponge.
"Thank you, Mary," she was laughing behind the drawer.
Taking some soap I poured it onto the sponge as I spun Delilah around. Ever so gently, I rubbed the sponge from her neck all the way down the spine of her back. I rubbed it over each cheek of her but and down her legs. Kneeling down I washed both of her feet. Turning her toward me, I came up both legs washing every inch of her up to her stomach. Circling and then washing each breast, she looked at me with soft and relaxed eyes as I leaned in and kissed her lips.
Electricity flowed through my body from my lips down to my feet as I remembered that night all those years ago. The same feelings were still as strong as they ever were. My heart was double beating and racing as my tongue intertwined with hers.
Within the deepest and darkest part of her eyes I could see something I had never seen before. Tranquil and peaceful as it was, I could see myself staring back at me. I was as much a part of her as she was a part of me.
She pulled me up against her as I kissed her neck and she breathed heavy in my ear. "Make love to me," she said and gave me flashbacks of a time long passed. We did, right there behind the frosted glass of the shower with a crowded three rooms listening in on the audio, which I turned off as soon as I remembered, as if no one else in the world existed.
Sitting on the floor with her between my legs as the shower beat down on us, I whispered into her ear, "Do you know?"
She whispered back, "Yes. You might know more, but I know enough."
With that, I turned the audio back on and pulled her to her feet, "You can put down the handheld dishes now." A couple of handheld audio dishes were pointed at the shower to try and hear what we were saying.
Delilah washed her hair as did I. We washed off each other's bodies and then I turned off the water. Hopping out I grabbed the towels off the bed bringing them back to her. She dried off in the shower while I did the same outside. I wasn't shy about it at that point. Too many years had gone by.
Lying on the bed was a black suit, white shirt, black tie, black socks and a black evening dress. On the floor was a pair of black dress shoes and black heals. Leave it to the government to have plenty of black clothing lying around.
Nodding at the mirror knowing full well Jim was behind it, I put on the suit and Delilah put on the dress. On the desk were a hair dryer and some makeup.
"Thank you for the makeup Jim, but it really is not my color." A group of people behind the walls laughed and no one needed to be special to hear it.
It took a good fifteen minutes for Delilah to dry her hair and throw on some makeup, record time for most women going to dinner, from what I had seen.
Standing directly in front of me as I looked up and down at her, "You are gorgeous, my love." She leaned in and kissed me as a thank you. A better one I could not imagine although the shower was nice.
Gerald opened the door for Jim, "You look magnificent, Delilah." He looked her over and then to me, "Shall we go then?" He was wearing almost exactly the same thing as earlier. This suit was different, though, but still black.
"Please. After you," offering my arm to Delilah and following Jim out the door. In the hallway we were the only live bodies. The only guard was Gerald and he was picking up the rear. "I see they decided the forty guards were unnecessary."
We took a right in the hallway and headed for the elevators. We would be going to the sixth floor where the dining hall was for high ranking guests.
"After I left the two of you, the General went back to my meeting without me," he said with an interesting smile glazing over his face. "He simply told them there was absolutely nothing anyone in the United States' government could do to keep you in these walls if you did not wish to be kept here." That would be a great topic for dinner, realizing when you cannot control the uncontrollable.
As we entered the elevator I could not help but be captivated by Delilah's beauty and grace. If I had not known better I would have thought she had been walking around in heels her entire life.
We got off at the sixth floor and followed Jim down a long dark hallway with black granite tile. Paintings lined the hallway, different men in poses, some in uniform and some in suits. The last few were famous presidents Lincoln and Washington.
At the end of the hallway, a set of double doors stood. Jim pushed them open to reveal a very large room. It had only one round table setup with a table cloth and settings. Seated at the table was the General in his dress uniform, a woman to his right in a silver gown and two seats over from her was Jim's wife Diana. We walked up to the table as a group and started the introductions.
Jim turned to me, "Did you want to or should I?" It made me laugh as well as him since he was being a smartass. I pulled out Delilah's chair for her. "Michael, this is my wife Diana and the General's wife Claire."
"It is very nice to meet you both," I reached down and kissed both of their hands. "This is Delilah," I swung my arm presenting her.
"Very nice to meet you," Claire said and then Diana. Both women were smiling as we all sat down. A waiter was there to serve us dressed in a tuxedo and even had a white towel over his arm. The General motioned to him.
"Michael, Delilah, would you care for a drink to start?" he asked hospitably.
"Oh, yes. We will both have a Grey Goose Dirty Martini," Delilah smiled up at me remembering our first drink together.
"Jim?" the General motioned.
"Double Gin and Tonic, please." The waiter moved over behind us where the bar was to make the drinks.
"So," Diana broke the ice, "Michael, I hear we have you to thank for getting us time with our men this evening." Both women giggled a bit. I nodded gracefully, "That doesn't happen often and I know I can speak for Claire as well when I say thank you very much." She was very genuine. My eyes rolled and I could see the flashing images of the last 10 years when Jim was not around much because he was observing me. Many nights were spent in the building and not in his bed next to her.
"Well," looking at Delilah before looking back at Diana, "since we were the cause of the last 10 years of nights that Jim and the General spent here and not at home, I figured what better way to apologize than for the two of you to be here when these men get the answers they have been looking for. You might as well here it too since you have just as much invested."
Everyone stopped for a moment in stunned silence. The waiter dropped off the two martinis and the one gin and tonic and waited behind us. The General looked back and motioned in a circle with his index finger. This made the waiter take off to get the first course.
"Since you brought it up," the general started in a pointed tone, "what is it you will tell us?"
Sipping my martini I set down the glass putting both elbows on the table and lacing my fingers. "We will answer every single question that you ask, in detail, and in full truth of what we do know. If we do not know something or cannot say, we will tell you that as well." I brushed the back of my hand down Delilah's cheek. "But first, let me say this, we will only answer one time. You have 24 cameras on us and fourteen microphones. Six of those are under this table at each place setting. That will be more than enough to capture what we say and play it back to your content."
Looking around the table and then at the large room with a small wooden tiled floor which had speakers over it, I stood up, took a quick sip and then offering my hand to Delilah, "Gentlemen, before you begin the questions, I would like to have a single dance with this lovely woman." She took my hand and gazing into my eyes stood up.
"Michael," Jim said a little surprised, "there's no music." I looked at him, in front of all of them and my eyes rolled back. Pointing toward the ceiling, Tchaikovsky's 'Symphony Number 5: Valse' began to play. Jim just shook his head with excited entertainment as he turned back to the table. We walked over to the dance floor as the women looked stunned and Claire even spilled a bit of her drink.
Delilah was against me and just started to move in circles as she place her head on my chest. The pace of the music was a little faster than I wanted, but it was still very beautiful. We were just holding one another and then I started to take longer strides. Not moving in circles we began to dance around to the rhythm of the music. Her eyes began to glow and then I noticed something I had never noticed about myself before. Under the black jacket and white shirt, just where my heart was, there was a light blue glow. Winking and smiling I gazed at her beautiful face, lost inside her blazing starry blue eyes.
As the music faded we headed back to the table to find a small dinner salad waiting for us. I pulled Delilah's seat and then sat myself. Looking up, the women were still in shock.
"Ladies," there was no other way to put this other than to be up front and truthful, "if you had a problem with that, you might want to drink some more. The rest of the night might really be rough on you." Jim and I both grinned at one another and drank down what was in front of us.