-21:00-
Clear liquid gushed into the metallic bowl beneath the faucet. After the sink had gotten half filled, Ray stopped the flow by pushing a lever on the top of the faucet towards the misty mirror behind. As he splashed water onto his down-ridden face, he felts revitalized — almost immediately by the warmth of the liquid.
- Using his left hand, he swabbed a portion of the mirror to get a better view of himself. What stared back was another person — or what it seemed to be — with red eyes , and a very pale face – almost as white as the vampire that he had slayed an hours ago.
“Lousy contact lenses,” he grumbled to himself, almost aloud.
- As he removed the transparent films from his eyes, he realized his Solaris in the reflection of the mirror — leaning against the ceramic wall, soiled in dark brown substances.
“After I change my lenses,” he took a metallic casing from his side pouch by the belt and pressed a small red button by the side of it. Opening silently, it revealed another pair of lenses submerged in what seemed like liquid carbon dioxide (dry ice).
- Holding the lens in front of his left eye, Ray seemed reluctant to regain his perfect vision. And, at the moment when the contact lens was in place…
“Argh!!” He felt a searing pain through his left eyeball. He pounding his clenched fists on the transparent sink counter which felt cold and solid, like glass, every time his fists landed on the wet surface. When pain distraction had outran its effect, he paced around the bathroom with his eyes closed focusing on the thought that the pain will subside soon.
- With his left eye still stinging, he continued the excruciating torture for the right eye.
He was sitting on top of the bidet, with both eyes closed — trying to let them get use to the ‘foreign texture’. His appeasement act was interrupted by …
- “rrrr…rrrr….rrrrr” The pouch on his right was vibrating.
It was his palmtop communication device. He brought it out and read the message displayed on his high-resolution screen.
- “Mission OrderVenue : ImprodusTeam Assigned : 4In charge : Brown – Jon Hailey the Ortauc
-Acknowledgment Reply required for this order-
–EOF– ”
After sending the reply, he dried his hands with a towel taken from a neat stack on the transparent shelf that was by the corner of the sink’s counter. Picking up the long sword leaning on the wall opposite to the sink, he sheathed it back into its leather vessel and slung it on his back.
- Feeling that he had done whatever he needed in the bathroom, Ray turned to leave by the metallic sliding door which was locked all this while. As he placed his hand onto the white panel to the right, the door slid open even before he made direct contact with the panel’s surface.
Stepping through, a long hallway awaited him. Two men were standing across the corridor chatting animatedly. They glanced towards Ray as he strode down in their direction.
- “Hey! Have you received the order? I just happen to meet Chrome and we are making our way to the rally point.” The man in tattered jeans, sleeveless top, and a small goaty ,that Ray does not really agree with, greeted him.
“I got it. Let’s go.” Ray replied as he led the way down the long hallway.
- The men soon caught up with him.
“Do you think everyone’s there yet?” Chrome asked.
- “You bet so! Our team’s the best … With Ortuac as our leader and stuff. We’re efficient, ya know. Hahaha!” The other man boasted out loud, his name is Pridge.
“Isn’t it, ATL”
- There was silence from Ray. He had his earphones on already. Three of them walked on, with Chrome and Pridge gossiping and Ray keeping his cool.
___________________________________
Published on: Dec 2004
Rating: Teens
Author: Orangeline (ICC)
Orangeline says:
- “In 2004, I thought this was the best I’ve ever written for this title – Eric (my proofreader) said otherwise.”
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