Chapter 2

Later that day, I had been sent to the level they called Negative One. It had a long, white hallway, decorated with doors.

It scared me. Of course, right now, everything scared me. Who else was I going to meet? Who else was going to hurt me? Just because I'm different.
I started walking, not sure of where to go. My bare feet made slapping noises against the tiles. When I got to the first cross-section in the hallways, a door to my right opened. Milo was there.

I gasped. I wasn't sure whether I should be standing there. I tensed, ready to run.

"Tara, please, come in. Your appointment was scheduled for five minutes ago," he said calmly.

Slowly, I walked through the door. He asked me to sit down. The chair didn't look very hygienic to me.

"I just need to run a few blood tests," he told me. I was feeling awfully uncomfortable in the seat. I was at a major disadvantage if he wanted to try anything again.

He pulled a syringe out of his pocket and took the cap off, and got some tubes ready. I jumped at the sight of the needle. He came closer with it and I grunted, stiff against my seat. I took my arms away from him. He looked me directly in the eyes.

"It won't hurt, I promise," he told me. "Just a pinch, is all."

I nodded.

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When I got back to the dining hall I saw Mary again, but she was with two others. 

I didn't want to meet anymore people. I wanted to be alone. My arm was sore, and my head hurt, and I just wanted to sleep. I turned around and tried to turn the knob. Locked. I tried knocking on it.

"They lock it when you're escorted in," came a voice. It must have been the woman across from Mary. "Press the button on the knob, someone will come."

I pressed the button and waited. I was surprised when Dyten was the one to come and get me. He brought me out of the dining hall.

"Would you like to go up to your room?" he asked. I nodded slowly. "Are you alright?" 

I shook my head.

"Come on," he walked to the elevator. I followed. 

When we got back to the room he sat down. I chose the other side of the room. I just wanted to be alone. Even if he made me feel better, I just wanted to sleep.

"I have something to tell you," he started.

"My name is Dyten. Does that sound familiar?" 

I thought for a moment. It didn't sound familiar, but it felt familiar. I shook my head.

He closed his eyes, disappointed. "I have a daughter," he told me. It looked as if he was trying to find a way to tell me something important. It seemed he couldn't find the right words. 

I was tired of this already. Whatever he needed me to know could wait. I was exhausted, and hungry, and upset. My arm was sore, my feet were cold, my headache was turning into a migraine... My stomach made noises at me.

"She's seven," he said. "Almost 8. She was born some months before you were abducted. Do you understand where I'm going with this?"

I shook my head again. I didn't really care. I needed to sleep. I tried pointing to the bed, but he shook his head. 

"Tara, you were my wife," he said.