DEUS EX MACHINA

The florescent light that hung from the center of the ceiling emitted a low hum. Light reflected off of every corner of the small white room and irritated Tetra’s eyes. The hum once inaudible, now reverberated in her eardrums. Her foot lifted and dropped. The sole of her white shoe clacked against the linoleum and broke the hums cycle. Tetra eyed the door opposite her but only for a moment. She chose to instead focus on her hands. Try as she might she couldn’t seem to stop them from their movement. Oh, what she wouldn’t give to be back in her families living unit. To sit with her mother on the couch again as she flipped through programs. A habit that in the past annoyed her to no end, but now she longed to experience again. She thought of her younger brother, who would be back home from the learning program any minute. Of her father, who had no idea where she was at the moment. Tetra didn’t want to leave her father and brother in the dark, but it was for the best. Her mother had cried, and squeezed her tighter than normal when the news came. As if when she let tetra go, the girl would fade from existence. Her mother was a strong woman, the undoubtable pillar of the family. She knew that she would console the two males once they received the news. Her thoughts were interrupted by the door beside her as it opened. A tall older man walked into the small room. He eyed the clipboard in his hands. His long white coat flowed with every step. He pressed his pen against the paper with force and left heavy inkblots with every word. The man turned his attention to Tetra, he lowered his hands to his side and gave her a smile. “Oh, my apologies I didn’t know you had already arrived,” He said and extended his free hand to her. She heisted, her hands still tangled within each other. His hand was damp with sweat. “It’s Tetra, you’re name I mean?” He asked. “Yes, that’s me,” she replied and leaned forward to stand. “You can remain seated, there are a few forms that need to be filled out.” She nodded and leaned back in the chair, the cold metal sent a chill through her spine. He handed her the clip board and pen. “Have you ever used one before?” he asked. She looked at the slim cylinder in her hands. “Only once or twice but I know how it works,” she replied and tapped it to the paper. “My name is Almos, by the way,” he said and made his way to the center of the room. He stepped on a small black plate nestled in the floor and a blue light emanated from it. Within seconds a metal desk rose from the ground accompanied by a small bench. He took a seat. She scanned the paper and filled out the appropriate areas. The pen felt unfamiliar in her hand, the tool of a past era. Somehow she found herself lost in the twists and turns of the pen. It seemed to calm her mind. Her tranquility was only broken by almos’s voice. “So, are you excited?” He asked. Tetra looked up at the man, his eyes were trained on her. She felt a bit uncomfortable under his scrutiny, though his gaze seemed kind. “It’s such an honor, to just be in your presence,” he said in an almost stammer. She put on her best faux smile. “That’s kind of you to say,” she replied. She broke eye contact and went back to the form. After she double checked it she stood and approached the desk. “Finished already?” he asked, his tone saturated with cheer. “Yes, I’m pretty sure I got everything.” He took the clipboard and slid it into a compartment in the desk. “It’s not a problem, more of a formality actually,” he said and stood. He gestured for her to follow him. Tetra moved around the desk and followed Almos to the door on the opposite wall. As the door slid open they entered a long corridor with a thick red carpet. The right wall of the hall was white metal similar to the last room. However, the left wall featured a floor to ceiling window.