Wake Louchette
I was sitting on this small sofa as I glared towards the environment right in front of our hotel room. My fingers were twirling the pen I was holding while thinking of more similarities between the plants in Prisila compared here in Layvanna. I placed my left hand on the sofa's armrest while tapping my notebook. I am fond of drawing, so I drew the similarities, slightly sketched figures, for visual purposes.
It was raining. Every drop of this cold rain, pattering in this transparent wall, gave an emotional sound in my ears. It was ranging in monotonous long and short, splattering nuances.
I was also distracted by the kind of glass they used to give their guests access to the garden. Yes, it was transparent, but it was not even a one-way mirror, so there's a clear chance that anyone has seen us from the outside.
A few moments later, an irritating cracking sound of the door gradually opened. Familiar footsteps of Hisha came in.
"What's with the mysterious entrance?" I asked in a formal expression while my eyes were still prowling around these blurry glass walls.
"Nothing," She replied in witty. "I want to ask if you are planning to visit Sarah in their home? I mean, since we had their address..." She continued, but a hesitant demeanor was dominant in her words. Probably, she knew I was too serious lately, and she doesn't want to ruin the work ethics we had as researchers: not just co-workers.
I sighed, and to draw shall I continue.
I heard her gasped in silence. "Don't get me wrong. I didn't mean to address that for leisure."
"Did I said something?" I immediately cut off her words, for my concentration was disturbed, and I didn't get what she was addressing.
I made her shut and stilled for a few seconds. Afterwhich, she replied with a deep exhale. "Well, Lance went with the authorities to fetch Sarah at her home."
I did not mind her. Hence, I continued plotting my observations. But even though I haven't made words, she was persistent, continued talking about the recent.
"Lance called me and said the authorities don't go well with Sarah's family and herself."
Oh! Wait, that random leaf out there looked similar to the leaves of the plant we had inside the company. I might as well explain the similarities.
"Lance said those who captured Sarah brought pain to her. She was crying, and she was having a difficult time breathing properly. He said they forced her to-"
I almost choke my saliva after hearing what Hisha just said. Pardon me? Did she mean the authorities mistreated Sarah? And she was hurting?
Without any further thoughts, I stood up and faced Hisha's directions. Her eyes were shocked, and she moved a little bit backward.
My bad. I didn't mean to startle you. We made eye contact for a while before fixing ourselves on our own.
"Prepare the car," I commanded as I hurriedly grabbed the important things I brought, including my cowhide leathered jacket.
Sarah quickly nodded, and with the same reaction as mine, she instantly went out to do my favor.
-
With aggressive thoughts, trying to keep a calm feeling, I dropped my phone in front of me. I kept calling Lance, but he was not answering my call!
Damn! I was driving, so I can't keep my focus on two different things!
I wanted to ask if anything unacceptable was happening to Sarah and her family. If she was still breathing until now or was she still holding on to her mourn to recover?
What if the authorities did not perform their job properly?
And without further noticing, I was driving fast.
"Slow down, Wake. You might make the same mistake as you had done before." Hisha convinced while stressing the possibility of having accidents. To be frank, it was not about an accident.
I froze and began to drive slowly as I remembered a blurry figure of a person, with a body laid in the middle of the street on that cold stream of midnight, totally lifeless. I could not figure out who that person was, the age, the face... My memory of such a nightmare faded a long time ago.
I shook my head to stop going back to my past. I should forget about it. It's been a long time.
"Right, thanks for reminding me." I simpered, smiling self-consciously.
"Of course."
-
When we finally arrived at Sarah's address, I immediately get out of my car. I didn't mind anything at that time, including some neighborhoods that were sneaking themselves to capture pieces of information about the sudden happening.
All that I care about right now is Sarah.
The guards' selective greeting did not get a response from me. The doors were instantly opened even though I haven't asked them to do it for me.
Sarah's house is not that large nor small. It was just enough for a family of three members so it is reasonable. For that reason, it didn't take me too long to find her.
The voices of the mother's plea and the authorities' objection were echoing all over the house. This gave me more access to where I can find them. Until such time, I found myself walking near the kitchen. Their voices became more intense!
A person was guarding the door. I didn't ask him to get out of my way since I was the one who initiated to pull him away. I knew he couldn't believe what I did, but who cares?
I smacked the door. And when my feet stepped inside the kitchen, I breathed heavily as I looked towards the head of this responsibility. Lance immediately moved at my back with Hisha who just arrived.
Aaron, the one who controls his fellow-men, went in front of me and bowed. His co-workers then followed.
God, stop the damn formality. Do they think I am alright with what they did?
"What brought you here, Doctor Wake? Your team should be staying in the hotel to prepare for the scientific experiment." Aaron asked with a formal approach.
Oh?
"Are you controlling my actions? So you are giving me orders right now?" I countered him in a cold, irritated voice. I laughed sarcastically in my thoughts.
He did not respond. He bowed his head and felt ashamed. I glared at him in a furrow.
That's good. Bastard.
I was about to teach this man a lesson when I heard Sarah's rapid breathing. I instantly went towards her and kneeled so that I have better access to her chains. Her head was quite lifeless as it fell into the ground when those people who 'assisted' her moved back. Luckily, I was able to control it and made her head placed on my shoulders.
Finally, I am here.
I quickly untie the chain they used to 'control' Sarah's hand movements. That is their purpose but I do not think they fully understood the situation. It was a hard metal with electricity on it that they can control anytime they want the pulse to stop beating for a moment. And of course, that will only work for those who have a rare ability, not a normal human.
The moment that Sarah's hands became free, she promptly hugged me.
I froze.
But at the same time, I was satisfied. I heard her sighed in relief. Her breathing became normal again. However, she seemed to be uncomfortable.
I was startled when she moved her hands in my back as if she was looking for something! I wanted to stop her, but I couldn't. I just let her do that stuff.
What is she doing?
While she was doing this weird thing, I spotted her mom who was sitting on a couch, eyes completely closed. She was unconscious yet our colleagues assisted her. On the other side, beside the mother, Sarah's sister, Sophia, if I remembered correctly, was doing something on her phone. She seemed to enjoy it.
Others who witnessed what Sarah did seemed to look unexplainable. They were all wondering for a bunch of reasons for Sarah's intention of doing such a thing.
Later on, Sarah tore my jacket.
Wait, why did she do that? I just borrowed it from my brother!
I was completely shocked by what she did. Damn...
Those authorities around us were about to make their move, probably getting Sarah away, but I signaled them to stop and let it be.
I felt that this innocent lady was more comfortable after tearing that jacket. Maybe it was her way of expressing her difficulties.
Her eyes were half-closed, with her face buried in my arms. I was tapping her back as her hands were trembling to look for the jacket she tore. But, to the surprise of many including me, the jacket disappeared.
It turned into water.