The Facility

Cassidy awoke when the lights in her room went on, although she stayed in bed feigning sleep.

“Breakfast,” said a voice she recognized.

Peg had returned with breakfast, but it felt as if she had just gone to sleep.

“Come on, before it gets cold.”

Cass wiped the sleep from her eyes and sat up. She looked over to see Peg standing by the main table, which held a tray and a box.

“Go put some water on your face to wake up, them come eat. I’ll show you what I brought while you eat,” Peg prompted again.

Cass got out of bed and walked to the sink, putting some water on her face. She did not bother with the mirror, instead pulling her fingers through her hair quickly.

Taking a step towards the toilet, she paused and looked at Peg who watched her.

Her emotions battled within: She had to pee badly she realized. But there was no real privacy. She could sit and patch Peg watch her.

The thought caused her to blush in embarrassment.

As if Peg could read her mind, Cass thought she saw a frown to start to form on Peg’s lips before it disappeared, and Peg turned around to busy herself with the box she brought.

Cass, still embarrassed but thankful, quickly went over and closed the little door, pulling down her clothes and sitting in one motion. She wanted to flush to cover the sound of her relief, but the toilet was automatic and there was no way she could without standing up. The sound echoed in the quiet space.

She knew she should have been embarrassed but then she thought that was ridiculous considering Peg was a nurse and probably did more personal things for patients than to listen to them pee, but still.

Finished, she washed her hands and came over to the table and sat. Cass pulled the cover off the tray and saw the things she had marked on the card they gave her at dinner, although she had expected it to have been trashed by her display.

As that, she sighed. Her display. She had given Hugo exactly what he wanted, a display of her powers.

Cassidy looked at and smelled the food. An omelet with onions and peppers, hash browns and toast. Butter and assorted jelly packs sat next to the plastic plate.

A plastic bottle of chocolate milk sat on its side next to one of orange juice. Salt and pepper packets and a plastic spork completed the tray.

Adding the seasoning to the omelet, Cass took the spork and began to eat.

“Good, no?” Peg asked.

Cass did not want to admit the food was pretty good but did not want to be rude to Peg. “It is,” she said nodding.

“We want you guys to be healthy, so we don’t skimp, and we have real cooks to prepare the food. Just wait until your birthday,” Peg said smiling.

Cass smiled back as she chewed, feeling anything but happy. She did not want to be here for her birthday, which was still six months away.

“So, what’s in the box?” she asked in-between bites.

Peg reached into the box and began to pull out items, sitting them down on the table between them.

The first few were books, then some magazines and finally another thin book the same size as the magazines, along with a brightly colored box a little bigger than a pack of playing cards.

Cass recognized the box – crayons – and gave her a small frown.

“I didn’t ask what you like to read, so I brought you a selection. Let me know what you like, and I will try to find you something that fits.

“I picked up a few magazines a girl your age might be interested in as well. The coloring book and crayons…” she said smiling again, “… well, I find it relaxing to color and figured you might as well. If not, I won’t take offense.”

With that, Peg sat across from Cass silent until Cass had finished eating.

Moving all she had brought to the side, Peg said, “Be a dear and put your tray over by the door for me, will you? I need the room on the table.”

Cassidy looked at the nurse curiously but picked up the tray and walked it over to the clear wall. Setting it down next to where she thought the door was, she walked back to the table and stopped just before sitting down.

“Wha- “the question died on her lips. On top, the tabletop had turned into a screen of sorts.

Cass looked at it closer and realized it was a computer screen.

“I can’t get you music or anything electronic, however I’ve been told you can access what music we have available and you can request something we don’t have. Here, take a look,” Peg told her.

“H-how?” Cass asked.

“It’s like a tablet. It is touch screen. Go ahead,” Peg said gesturing. “Try it.”

Cass reached out a hand and touched the tabletop and the screen changed. It looked similar to her computer and she began to explore the folders that contained the mp3 music files.

She was disappointed but not surprised to not find any Lindsey Stirling, but she did find Kelly Clarkson and U2 among the artists.

Several folders contained mpeg files she knew must be movies. The folders were named familiar titles, as most were kids movies or young adult movies.

She selected one at random and the movie started playing; the sound coming through the unseen speakers around the room gave it a natural surround sound.

Cass closed the movie app and went back to the music files, selecting one. The music app started and played the song throughout the room.

As the music played, Peg asked, “So it’s okay for a start?”

Cass nodded and said, “There are a few artists I’d like to get added, but yes, it’s a good start.”

“Good. Hugo agreed to limited access so you can get into the music and movies, as well as a few e-books. As time goes on, and your behavior stays positive, you will get access to more things like games.

“Now I’ve got to go check on others, so I’ll see you for lunch.”

Cass paused the song playing, and said, “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome. I know it is not much, but it is a start. Enjoy it.”

Peg turned and started to walk away when Cass asked, “About the… violin?”

Peg didn’t stop, but replied, “I’m working on it, but Hugo sees it as a weapon to be used, not an instrument. Show him you are willing to work with him and you aren’t a threat and I’m sure something can be worked out.”

She picked up the tray by the door and held her hand up to the clear wall.

The door in the wall opened and then closed just after Peg walked out.

Cass started the music again and turned the volume up while she went to brush her hair and teeth.

Finishing, she walked back over to the table and looked at the items that Peg had brought her. She picked up the books one at a time and examined them, reading the fronts and backs.

The first was a romance, which caused Cass to wrinkle her nose before setting it aside. Picking up the next one, she read that it was a crime thriller book. A woman named Vickey was killed, but by whom?

She set this one down as a possibility and picked up the last one. It said it was science fiction, but she had her doubts as it was named The Number of the Beast. It was written by someone named Robert A. Heinlein and the book looked well worn.

Turning it over, she read the back – it talked about a family, a flying car, and alternate universes.

She liked sci-fi and although the name of the book was strange, the synopsis had her curious.

Taking the book, she retreated to the bed, sitting across it with her back to the wall, and with the music still playing, she began reading.

Cass went on reading until the music abruptly stopped and she looked up startled.

Peg stood at the table, which had a tray of food on it. “Your lunch,” she announced.

Cass blinked twice. “Can I get a clock? Or a watch?”

Peg smiled and said, “I’ll see what I can do, but in the meantime, its lunch time, so come eat.”

Cass looked at her and hesitated. She hated bending pages, dog-earring it, so she set it face down to keep it open to her page. This was not much better since it breaks down the spine, but the book was already well used so she did not think it would hurt much.

“Could I get a bookmark? And more Heinlein books?” Cass asked as she walked stiffly over to the table. She had not really moved in hours.

Peg’s lips quirked up. “So, you found at least one book you liked it seems. From the looks of it, you haven’t moved in a while.”

Cassidy agreed, answering, “Not since you left really. Or not long after.”

She dug into her turkey sandwich, alternating bites of fries and pickle with it.

As Cass ate, Peg asked her about the book, and the girl told the nurse about what she had read.

Finishing her lunch, Cass filled out her dinner menu and Peg told her, “Don’t stay up too late tonight. After breakfast tomorrow you will be taken to the lab for your first day of testing. It’s important you’re rested, okay?”

“Okay,” Cassidy said obediently.

They talked for a few more minutes, then Peg left.

Cass realized she had not moved for a long time before eating and now she had to pee badly.

Racing to the toilet, she took care of business and washed her hands, then returned to reading after selecting a group of artists to play.

She read until dinner arrived. Still engrossed in the book, she once again did not know Peg had arrived until the music turned off.

Cassidy looked up to see Peg standing by the table which held her tray and another box. She scooted to the edge of her bed and stood, stretching. Cass winced as her stiff muscles protested at being pulled after being in one position for so long.

She stiffly walked to the table and sat, looking at the box Peg brought expectantly.

Peg smiled and said, “You could use this I guess,” reaching into the box pulling out a small, longish rectangle.

Cass took the bookmark and put it into the book she was still holding open with a finger, then set the book down.

“Thank you,” she told the nurse.

“I’m not done yet.” She pulled out something else and held it next to her own wrist before handing it to the girl.

Cass took what was offered and looked at it. It was a watch. I’s band was an opaque white and made of something like her flip-flops. Something other kids called gummy sandals.

As for the watch itself, it too was white, in a harder plastic casing. It was an analog watch.

Normally she wore digital watches, but it did not really matter as she was just happy to be able to have a way to tell time.

Quickly putting it around her wrist, she fastened it, thankful for it.

“What is it with this place and white?” she mumbled.

Peg heard her comment but ignored it, pulling out several books, setting them in front of Cass’s tray, spines facing the girl.

“Eat,” Peg prompted.

The hand that was headed towards the books paused, then changed direction and uncovered the tray so she could eat.

Peg asked her about the book again, since she had not done much else since she started reading it.

Cass told her the basic story as she ate, describing the people, the invention that allowed all of them to switch between locations, times and other universes, and their adventures in those other places.

In the lulls, Cassidy eyed the other books Peg had set down in front of her tray. All were Heinlein novels.

There was Star Beast, Have Spacesuit will Travel, The Cat who Walked through Walls, Stranger in a Strange Land and Starship Troopers, which had been made into a movie she had seen.

When she finished eating, she filed out the menu card for the net day and thanked Peg for the things she had brought.

Peg reminded her about getting sleep and not staying up all night reading, due to her activities the next day.

Cassidy promised not to stay up too late and Peg left with the empty tray and box.

Cass took the new books over to where the bookcase was, opened it and put the books into it before closing it.

Walking to her bed with the book she was currently reading in hand, she paused at her first thought to climb up and start reading again.

Sighing, she set the book down, got out clothes and towels and headed to the shower.

Putting the new clothes on the outside shelf, she got into the shower, stripped and put the old clothes into the mystery hole as the water warmed up.

Once done, she stepped under the water, letting it run down over her, felling the warmth loosen the tight muscles she had inadvertently caused.

Grabbing the shampoo, she stepped back out from under the water and lathered up her hair.

As she rubbed her fingers through her hair, into her scalp, she heard a distant voice that said, “Hello?”

Cassidy squeaked, nearly slipping as she jumped and tried to cover herself even though the frosted glass supposedly blocked any view of her.

Arms held over herself, she walked to the glass and stood on her tiptoes to see above the frosted section.

She scanned the room for any movement but saw none.

Carefully she stepped backwards into the water, keeping an eye on the shower doors and glass for a peeping tom.

She rinsed her hair, trying to keep her face out of the water and on eye open, then washed more by feel than sight while watching for movement.

Rinsing off, she turned the water off and got her towels and dried her body first, then wrapped the towel around her body before using the second to dry her hair. As she dried the top of her head, she heard the same voice. “Can you…ear me?”

With her head covered, she jumped again, pulling the towel off her head to look out into her room again. Again, she saw nothing.

Hoping to startle whoever was there, she used her ability and moved the screen, dragging it across the floor.

She saw no movement except for the screen. Was she hearing things now?

Wrapping the towel around her hanging hair, she dried it the best she could and got her clothes and put them on before coming out of the shower.

Going to the mirror, she took her brush and brushed out the tangles in her long hair, then parted it into thirds, putting the first and third sections over her shoulders to keep it separated.

Her fingers danced as she deftly braided her hair, pulling it over her shoulder to finish the last half before using the only elastic band she had to wrap the end.

Cass flipped it over her shoulder and brushed her teeth before padding back to her bed.

She laid down and got comfortable, intending on reading for a while longer before going to bed but remembered the screen.

Not wanting to cause any grief, she slid it back to its original position, or at least close enough, then laid back and opened her book and began to read.

Getting lost in her book, she let herself be drawn into the story and nearly flung the book away when she heard, “…try…tomorrow again.”

It was quiet except for the hum of the air and she had not heard the door or footsteps or anything.

She looked all around and still saw nothing.

“Show yourself,” she said quietly, but got no response.

Cass put her bookmark into the book and laid it on the table above her head and said, “Dim the lights.”

The lights in the room dimmed and Cass, still raised on one elbow, looked around noticing no movement but that when the lights lowered the material in the clear wall took on a smokey appearance.

This dimmed the lights from the hallway, but still left it easily seen through.

With a sigh, Cassidy laid down pulling the blanket up to her chin and closed her eyes.