Weapons

Chapter 3

I glance to my right at the trees moving past the automobile. We've been in the car for eleven hours, except the few times we've stopped to use the loo and the sun is rising. Don is resting his head on my shoulder while sound asleep. He appears so peaceful. Exhausted myself, I fight to hold my eyelids open.

The sun is stunning as it rises through the trees we're passing. The dark sky gets lighter and gives off a beautiful violet and blue glow. The driver hasn't spoken except the few times we've stopped. He doesn't look strained. He seems empty minded and emotionless.

Don jumps awake from a deep sleep. His eyes are moving as he remembers what's happened and who we're with. “Good morning” I say drowsily. Don rubs his eyes and yawns while not realizing I've said anything at all. “Where are we”? Don says as he looks at the driver.

The driver doesn't say anything, he continues to look at the narrow road ahead of us. “Are we almost there?” I ask. There's a short pause just before the driver replies, “why so eager”? I don't say anything. We continue down the narrow street and see a man wear the same white outfit as the man that's driving in the distance. Trying to understand what that man could be doing in the middle of nowhere, I begin to wonder if we're getting close.

The driver comes to a stop in front of the man standing alongside the route we're traveling on. The fellow I saw standing beside the road opens the passenger door. “Hello, my name is Doctor Isaac,” the guy says while holding his palm out. I take his hand and step out of the wagon. One man from the model t following behind us approaches and helps Don out of the vehicle.

Dr. Isaac hands our driver a piece of stationery. The fellow pulls a pen from his shirt pocket. He writes something on the bottom of the paper and hands it back to Dr. Isaac. “Let's get you both to your new home,” Dr. Isaac says as the model ts drive off. He starts toward the trees, while Don and I follow behind him. I can see better now that the sun has risen more.

Dr. Isaac is quiet and while Don is still waking up. I can hear the dead leaves crunching beneath my feet. I glance up to look at the beautiful green timbers. It's taking everything I have to keep dragging myself through the woodland area Dr. Isaac is leading us through. “Are we almost there”? I ask Dr. Isaac as he continues to stroll through the woods. “We've only been walking for approximately 2 hours,” he replies as if Don and I know where he's showing us.

“How much longer”? I inquire. “We're here” he says. We've arrived at a clearing in the middle of nowhere. “There's nothing here,” I reply. Dr. Isaac goes a few steps forward and takes a small card out of his trousers.

The badge is a pale gray which has nothing written on it. Dr. Isaac holds the card up to the clearing and an enormous dome shaped frame appears. The architecture appears to be made of iron and has no windows. I try to process seeing a building appear out of nowhere. “How? There was nothing here,” Don asks as he stares at the building with amazement.

“Science,” Dr. Isaac replies with a smirk on his face. He walks toward the construction, gesturing for me and Don to follow. We approach the building to see an enormous iron door fit with the domed shape. You wouldn't notice the door at first glance. I'm amazed and exhausted at the same time.

I've never seen anything like this before. My eyes and hears must be playing tricks on me due to the lack of sleep. This is incredible. Dr. Isaac holds his gray card up to the large door and it opens. He walks in, motioning us to follow.

“It's dark in here,” Don says. Don's afraid of the dark, he's been afraid of the dark sense I can remember. A bunch of bright lights turn on, one following the other down a long corridor. The walls are white, and the floor is made of hard wood. At the end of the corridor is a white metal door.

“What do you call this place?” I ask as Don and I continue to follow Dr. Isaac down the long, bright hall. “The hospital,” Dr. Isaac replies with. “This place is amazing inside and out,” Don says. “Thank you. Our scientists have worked very hard over the years to make it what it is today. It wasn't easy, but it's for a good cause,” replies Dr. Isaac. “How many people work here?” I ask before I yawn.

“At this location alone, we have 83 employees, which is including all of our scientists, doctors, and nurses” Dr. Isaac says proudly. “This isn't the only location” Don asks curiously. “We have 17 locations across the United States; if all goes well with this location, 3 more locations are going to get built in the U.S.” Dr. Isaac says. “What do you mean, if all progresses well?” Don inquires eagerly. “Well, we would have to have at least one successful experiment.” Dr. Isaac replies.

We arrive at the door at the end of the hall. Dr. Isaac holds the card up to the door and opens it. Don and I follow him through the doorway, and we come to a long hallway in front, to the right, and to the left of us. I look around at the amount of space there is. I've never been in a building this big and unique.

There are several doors down each of the corridors, and each hallway appears identical. Dr. Isaac gestures me and Don down the left hall. The lights on the ceiling are so bright, they're almost blinding. We approach a door with the number “10112”. They appear to have an adhesive sicking them to the door. Dr. Isaac holds his card up to a narrow black box next to the door.

It opens and Dr. Isaac motions me and Don to go in. “This will be your room while you stay here” Dr. Isaac says. I took around and saw two small beds with clean white sheets and blankets. The room is white with a tile floor. “Are we both staying in here” asks Don.

“Yes, we've concluded that in order for our program to succeed, it would be beneficial for you both to share a room,” replies Dr. Isaac. Dr. Isaac points to a small door to the right of our beds. “Through that door is the bathroom, there's a tub in there which you both will be required to take turns using,” Dr. Isaac says. “In the dresser next to each of the beds are garments which you will be obliged to change into after bathing and before bed,” Dr. Isaac continues. “So we already have clothes in the dressers,” asks Don.

“Yes, furthermore you both will be expected to eat three meals a day, and you will eat them at the table” Dr. Isaac replies as he points to the table set on the left side of the bedroom. I'm exhausted. I try to pay attention to everything that's being said, but I'm fighting to keep my eyelids open. Don still looks fatigued as well. I'm too tired to even think about eating.

We left before we were able to eat our mother's casserole last evening. I feel drained. “I know you're both exhausted, it must've been a long ride from Kentucky. I'm going to let you both get settled and get some rest. When you both wake, you must bathe and change and part with garments you are wearing, for there is no reason to keep the clothes you have on,” Dr. Isaac says.

I'd rather not part with this gown. It's my favorite dress, and my aunt made it for me. I'm struggling to see this as a new start. Likewise, I'm trying to be positive. “I'm going to take myself to work. You both get plenty of rest. The door is going to lock when I leave the room, but there's no need to worry. We only lock the doors to make sure you don't wander off and get lost,” says Dr. Isaac as he moves toward the exit.

The door closes behind Dr. Isaac, and Don sighs. “I don't know how I feel about this,” he says. “What do you mean?” “Something about this just doesn't feel right, almost as if it's too good to be true,” Don says, looking into my eyes. He looks worried.

He's never been the most trusting person, neither have I. “I suppose you may be right, but at least we're together,” I reply. I move toward one of the small beds and sit on the edge. “You don't see anything suspicious about all of this,” Don asks. “I do, I'm just too tired to think right now” I say as I lay my head down on the pillow and move my legs onto the bed.

Don walks to the other small bed. His bed is just a few feet across from mine. It's comforting. “I'm tired, Willow,” he says. “I know”. I watch as he lays down on his bed to face me.

I can't fight it anymore. My eyelids continue to fall as if I attached weights to them. I'm worried and exhausted at the same moment. I can't help but to give in. Likewise, I look up at Don one last time and find him asleep. Furthermore, I shut my eyes.