“Yes. That is part of the contract.” Sung shook his head. “But I wish you’d change your mind.” Colli’s resolve must have mirrored on her face, because the commander continued after a small hesitation. “Turn in your uniform and report to the infirmary.” He pulled his hair back, then wrapped it into a small knot at the base of his neck. “I’ll have Dr. Johnson prepare the injection. That’ll neutralize the links. After that the implants will dissolve.”
With that final memory strong in her mind Colli turned to Mary. “It’s too late. I can’t go back now.”
“Why are you so sure?” Mary smiled.
Colli shook her head. She tried to use a frown, when she couldn’t find the words to answer.
“Just wait. Give me a chance.” Mary kept her eyes on the road. Colli could feel more than see her sister’s determination. “Twenty minutes and we’ll be there.”
“Do I have a choice?” Colli bit out the words.
Mary laughed. “Not really.” For the rest of the journey neither said anything to the other. By the time Mary pulled off the road, Colli’s resentment had combined with the heat, to trickle salty sweat from her forehead. Joined with tears, it burnt her eyes. Frustration grew to a bitterness Colli found hard to control.
Colli fought to keep the truth that tightened around her heart from escaping into hostile words. Anger always worked against her. The determination she’d fought so long to maintain began to melt away. Had her wish to be rid of The Discipline been premature? Colli’s shoulders slumped. Is Mary right?
Before Colli could voice her powerlessness, Mary held up her right hand, palm out. Mary brought the car to a stop in front of a convenience store. Gas pumps, dry and abandoned, were marked with a closed sign that creaked back and forth on a rusty chain. Mary set the brake, and got out of the car. Without looking back she went to the front door.
Solid, weathered boards gave the building a feeling of impenetrability. When Mary placed her hand on a small dark smudge in the middle of the doorjamb, the solid access swung effortlessly inward. She stepped inside, out of sight.
The ominous sound of a growing wind whistled through thick branches of the surrounding trees. A loose bough fell from above, hitting the hood of the car with a loud bang. Another hit the windshield. The gale grew. Colli jumped out of the car, when a limb speared through the open driver’s window.
Snap. Pop. More sharp projectiles stabbed the ground at her feet. A forceful gust pushed her toward the building. Before she entered, Colli looked back. The sign hung strangely silent. Forceful and heavy, a strong force pushed against her. Before she realized what happened, Colli was inside. The door slammed shut. Old and musty smells attacked her nostrils. The floor creaked with age as Colli stepped cautiously on it.
“Mary?” Colli whispered, afraid to disturb even more dust flecks than those that already gathered in the light that entered through holes in the ceiling. She looked around. It should be wet and decayed here. It wasn’t. “Mary?” she repeated. This time there was an answer.
“Colli. Over here.” Mary’s voice came from a dark corner. “It’s alright. Don’t be afraid.”
At the edge of the shadows, Colli stopped.
Laughter, strange and some how familiar rang through the room.
“Wh…who’s there?” Colli’s trembled.
“Step forward.” Tired and restrained, the familiar male voice pulled her. Colli stumbled over an indentation on the floor. From below a beam shone up to offer a beacon. “No one here will hurt you.”