Leaving the Light
By: Christine Schnell
Chapter 2.
Bram wasn't the only thing people were tight lipped about. It
had occurred to me that these people were not here of their own
free will same as I. But who was our captor and why were we
here? These are questions no one could answer, or at least
would answer.
The doctor, Dr. Wendel he insisted I call him, too had
questions for me. Strange questions, asking about issues that I
cared nothing for. Mostly politics and the like, though he did
question upon new technologies that I was more than happy to
explain to him about, like Palm pilots and 20 Gigabyte hard
drives. He seemed interested but would have been more so if I
knew anything about the medical technologies out there. I
explained to him that his place looked much more technologically
advanced than any doctor's office I had been in. He seemed
somewhat pleased at that.
The doctor was the most helpful but even he was tight lipped
when I asked certain questions. He confirmed that I was brought
here to work, but I would be well treated. Yet he was reluctant
to give details. He said I still wasn't recovered enough and I
shouldn't stress myself over it. I asked him about Bram, as he
obviously knew the man and I was interested to know who it was
that had taken such an interest in me. "He's a good man." Dr.
Wendel began to explain.
"But..." I prompted when he stopped.
"I think it would be best if you kept your distance from him
for the time being. He may have impure motives."
"What does that mean exactly?" I hated generalizations.
He hesitated and locked eyes with me for a moment displaying
his honesty to me. "There are certain people here who are to be
avoided, at least where relationships are concerned."
"And he's one of them?"
His eyes left mine and he began to examine his hands. "Let's
just say it would be best for you if you didn't become involved
with him."
"Even though 'he's a nice guy?'" If he was so nice why was it
bad for me to be involved with him?
"It's not him. It's those that he associates himself with."
"And who are they?"
He tapped his fingers nervously on the table and gave a sigh
when he decided what to say. "They are not your concern yet."
He stood to leave. "Just take my advice, don't get involved
with Bram." Only problem was I never took any advice that was
against something I wanted.
There was one person however, that I felt I could talk to,
despite the warnings, and I was impatient to see him again to
get my answers. It wasn't until three days later that I would
see Bram again. He approached me as I was eating a rather tasty
filet minion. "Nothing but the best served here." Mentioned
the cook as he handed me a plate. I was inclined to believe him
and I was desperately looking forward to desert. Hmmm, Banana
Flamb! I can taste it now, how long it's been since I've had
that desert. Too bad that cook died so long ago, I wouldn't
mind one right now.
Oh but I've digressed. Unfortunately you will find I tend to
do that now and then, if I do feel free to slap me upside the
head, figuratively speaking that is.
Now back to Bram. Actually my back was to him as he walked
across the room. "Ah, the rose has budded and is blooming
before me."
"Oh brother." I thought I was overhearing someone else's
conversation and honestly didn't think he was talking to me. I
had to cover my mouth before I burst laughing at such a corny
line.
Then he spoke again while he rounded the table and I recognized
the voice before I even saw the face. "You think it's funny.
I'll have you know that line used to woo women away from their
lovers."
"Yeah, in the dark ages perhaps."
He smiled a coy smile, he was playing with me.
"Next I suppose you'll say my 'eyes are like the stars?'"
His smile never faded. "No they're too bright, they blind me
from the light of the stars."
Can it get any cornier? But he seemed serious in a playful
sort of way. I just couldn't figure out what he wanted. "I
thought the physical didn't matter to you?"
"It doesn't, for I can not see past your eyes, and as you know
eyes are the window to the soul."
"So it's my soul you're after?" I had taken on a coy attitude
myself, why not have a little fun with it?
"That's what I've fallen in love with."
Whoa, breaks! Where's the breaks?! "Love?" I gulped.
He sat there with that annoying smirk staring me straight in
the eye (where else after that line?). Softly and
wholeheartedly he said "Yes."
"Just like that you say you love me? We spent a half hour
together, I know nothing about you. Not even your name, I
didn't find that out until the doctor said something to you!
How can you be in love with someone you hardly even know?"
"Have you ever heard of love at first sight?"
I fought the urge to bury my face in my hands. This guy was
way out there. "You don't honestly believe in that do you?"
"Yes." He sat completely under control and as serious as a
brick. "Yes, I do."
No, this wasn't happening. How could someone like him, ever
fall head over heels upon first sight of someone that looks like
me? This was all too much for me. As appealing as my dinner
and looking at him was, I could sit there no longer, so I stood
to leave.
"Toni, don't go." he was already on his feet and seemed ready
to block my exit, though he made no move. "We don't have to
talk about this, there are many more subjects. Please just give
me the chance to have a pleasant conversation. Perhaps then we
CAN get to know each other better."
Somewhat happy at the change of subjects I was almost willing,
but I was still a little perturbed at his admission. "And what
would you have us talk about?"
He seemed to be thinking fast and furious and his eyes darted
around the room and landed on the game tables. "Chess?"
I followed his gaze to the open table with the chess board
carved into it. I shrugged. "I'm no good. I've only managed
to beat the computer at the novice level. And only played
against a real opponent twice and that didn't go well."
His smile returned. "I'll go easy on you. Give you a few
pointers that sort of thing."
His offer was appealing. What was I risking by accepting his
offer? Falling in love with a man who would no doubt dump me at
the first sight of a better looking woman? As if I've never
expected that of any man. Making a friend in a place that I had
no intention of remaining? Been there Done that. So what was I
afraid of? Why was I so hesitant? He was mysterious, perhaps
that was it. I never liked getting into something without
knowing ahead of time what it was I was getting into. Of course
I was already knee deep so what was a little more? "Sure. Why
not?"
We sat there for a couple hours talking about everything except
his love, just as he promised. I still lost each game we
played, but with each game I learned something new, about chess
and about him. He was an intellectual, but very down to earth
and not very egotistical. Though it was obvious he was
infinitely smarter than I, he didn't at all make me feel
inferior. Even his compliments didn't jade me as they would
coming from someone else. To put it succinctly, he was
everything I ever wanted in a man. So why was I still hesitant?
That's simple, I'm a realist and I knew that he was way too
good to be true.
What was it that he was hiding then? He didn't seem to be
hiding anything, at least not until I began questioning him
about his role in this place. "You've obviously been here for a
while, and know most of the people, can you tell me what's going
on? Why are we here? Who brought us here?"
He moved one of his pieces contemplating my questions, at least
I thought he was, but I didn't pay attention to which one he
moved as I was watching his expressions change from one to
another as if he was indecisive. Finally he came out with an
answer not looking at me. "I can't tell you."
"But you do know." I could see it in his face and he was very
disturbed by it.
His eyes never left the board as he said. "It's your move."
"You're avoiding the question. What's going on here?" He was
silent and it was obvious he wasn't going to answer right away
so I examined the board silently and saw I had very few moves to
make. Seeing I was close to loosing the game as it was I made
the bold move of taking his queen with my knight.
It was a move he hadn't expected, as it was completely
illogical and one of desperation. But it was still a suicide
mission as he moved his rook in for the kill and took the
knight. "Check." Was all he had to say.
After I made a slight curse I searched the board for the best
move to relieve me of my eventual downfall, meanwhile I decided
I had best rephrase the question. "What can you tell me?"
He seemed more interested in my hand motions above the pieces
than my question but he answered in time. "I can't tell you much
yet. Except this, if you do what you're told you should be all
right."
I finally decided on the move that would hide my king behind my
queen while I asked. "And if I don't?"
"Then all bets are off." He took my queen and said,
"Checkmate."
