As I stepped through the circle, the tingling sensation spread though my whole body, then there was a split second of nothing, like all my senses had gone dead. That made me more nervous than anything else. Then the sensation passed and I was walking into something that was definitely not a forest.
It was a room made of a strange metal I couldn’t identify. The floor was solid and smooth, but the walls were covered in regularly spaced circular holes, no more than two inches across. Other than the interesting wall design, there was nothing notable about the room. There was no shelving, desks or equipment or anything. Not even the man was there.
I whirled around to find the circle behind me, only it wasn’t floating in the air. It was surrounded by a ring of transparent material, which held several large blue and yellow wires running through it. The wires were glowing faintly.
I noticed several wires trailing away from the ring, and followed them to a large cube. The cube was almost as blank as the room, except for several large buttons sticking up out of the top of it. It sat directly below the only light in the room, which was shining so bright it was almost blinding. The humming sound was much louder now, and seemed to be coming from both the cube and the ring.
I almost missed the two men standing behind the cube, but I felt their presence. I instantly took a step back, readying myself to fight while focusing more to make sure I wasn’t about to be ambushed.
One of the men said something, and the other reached out and tapped the cube. Instantly, the humming stopped, the wires stopped glowing, and the circle vanished. I remained wary.
One man was taller than the other, and had much darker hair. He was the one who had spoken, and now he stepped around the cube and approached me.
“I’m sure you have many questions. Or maybe you don’t. Tell me, does the name Gaea mean anything to you?”
“What?”
“I’ll take that as no.” The man stopped a couple feet from me and raised his right hand, the back of the wrist facing me. I stared at it, then him.
“You need to tell me what’s going on. I followed that other guy here because he seemed desperate, and told me it had something to do with my parents. But now you appear not to be in any rush, and you just closed whatever that circle was and trapped me wherever this is! You had better stop asking questions and start answering them!”
The man pulled his hand back, reaching up to scratch the back of his head. His face seemed to be all sharp lines, with a pointed nose and chin. “Very well. We did bring you here to ask questions.”
He walked around the strange machine, which the other guy was still fiddling with, and over to a door I hadn’t noticed, the circle having blocked it. I followed. He slid several bolts aside, then pushed the door open and walked through.
I warily followed him into a hallway that appeared to be designed identically to the room we had just left, except the lights were at a reasonable brightness. It stretched on in both direction, and doors appeared along its walls at irregular intervals. The man started walking, and I followed.
“Introductions first, then answers. My name is Xavier. We are currently under the city of Atlanta, according to the old signs.”
“And you already know my name.” That seemed obvious.
“Indeed. We were seeking you specifically.”
“Who’s we?”
Xavier glanced at me. “Not that answer yet.”
I frowned. That sentence seemed off to me, and it reminded me that Xavier’s tone and accent were similar to that of the man who’d found me, offbeat and stilted.
“You don’t sound like you come from the South. What exactly are you doing here?”
“I wasn’t born in this city, yes. I definitely wasn’t born south, though. Somewhere in to the west of here, I believe.”
We were coming upon the end of the hallway, with another bolted door before us. The man slid them aside, then pushed upon the door, which opened onto a stairwell. It appeared to crisscross back and forth in, with landings on each step. The stairs were made of that same strange metal that seemed to make up everything here.
“You’re not making much sense. Atlanta is in the South. And what is everything made of here?”
“For you, perhaps, but not for us. And most buildings here are made of dendrite, but this happens to be metasteel, the strongest material made.” Even as he spoke, Xavier was climbing the stairs, which seemed to stretch up and up.
Metasteel. That wasn’t anything I’d ever heard of before. My mind started to whir, connecting the dots in ways I hadn’t thought of before.
“That circle I came through, what exactly was it? What does it do?”
Xavier smiled. “Now you ask the right question. I was beginning to wonder if it would occur to you. The most convincing answer is at the top.”
I scowled but continued up. “Is there anything you will answer right now. You even avoided my question about what it is you’re doing in in Atlanta.”
“I know. And I will answer that. What I hope I’m doing is saving my people. What I might be doing is dooming us all.”
I didn’t have a reply to that. We came to the top of the stairs, and Xavier unbolted and opened yet another door. I stepped through and instantly noticed the change. Were previously all the metal had somewhat reflected the light, the new material was a dark grey, resulting in a more somber tone. There were signs on the wall now, which were solid and not pockmarked with holes.
I read the only sign in the room. “Elevator. What-
“Soon you will have answers. Come.”
Xavier shut the door, and I noticed it blended into the wall, like a door had never existed. He turned to a long series of more visible doors and pressed the button next to them. The doors hissed open, and he beckoned me inside.
I stepped in next to him, looking at the rows and rows of buttons on the panel. “We have to go all the way to the top before you’ll answer me?”
“Yes.” Xavier pushed the button marked roof, then counted. “One, two three . . .
At ten, the doors opened, revealing a small room with door. Xavier preceded me out, and I followed cautiously. This was an insanely complex way to set up a trap, but maybe these people were insane.
Xavier threw open the door and stepped out, with me right behind him. Then I stopped dead. The sight before me was too much. There were no words. I had been to Atlanta before. I remembered each detail perfectly. The city spread out before me was not Atlanta.
It was evening, and there were some clouds blocking the sunset. The red and orange light cast an unearthly glow on the scene, which perfectly matched what I thought of it. It didn’t seem like something possible. The city still looked like a city, somewhat. But it didn’t, at the same time.
The skyline was the city. Everywhere I looked, identical towers greeted me. They were all lower than the one I was on by several stories, but were the same grey color. Twisting around them in a confusing tangle were many roads, some almost reaching the heights of the buildings themselves. A few vehicles drove on them, but they were so oddly shaped I didn’t want to call them cars. I strained for a glimpse of something else, but that appeared to be the entirety of it. Towers and roads in all directions, just many of them.
I expanded my gaze, trying to see what lay beyond this ‘city’. I thought I caught a faint glimpse of more winding roads in the sky beyond the cities’ edge. But the light was fading fast, and I couldn’t make anything more out. I walked to the edge of the roof and peered down, trying to see the ground. But there was nothing else. Just the same grey material that the buildings and roads seemed to be made of, except it was the ground as well.
Dendrite. I thought. Xavier said it made up most everything here. But why. And then, why was that hallway made of metasteel, and appeared to be both secret and secure.
I took a deep breath of shock, then frowned and took another. In addition to the strange city, there was something wrong with the air as well. It didn’t smell of pollutants, but it wasn’t laden with the scent of nature either. It was just empty.
“Not what you were expecting?” Xavier asked, stepping up to me.
“No. It’s not.” I was legitimately shaken. Yes, my mind had jumped to some conclusions
but . . .
“What was that circle?”
“I have a feeling you have already guessed the answer, Joshua Sparks. Yes, you traveled through time, and this,” Xavier spread his hands, as if to encompass the city, “is the world more than three hundred years after your time.”
“But how? I’ve seen Atlanta, it was beautiful. Full of color and light and difference.
What happened to make it like this? Is the rest of the world this way?”
“Yes, much of the world is like you see before you. The cities are all identical, many skyscrapers with the one in the epicenter to guide people. A little way off are gigantic factories where we are put to work making everything from clothing to machines. Our people build everything except that which is important. And between them, all around every city, is a wasteland, where nothing has thrived or even lived for centuries. And as for the reason it is like this, why billions live in this repetitive hell?”
Xavier turned to me, and I saw a deep hatred burning in his eyes, an ancient fire that had never died. “The reason is you, Joshua Sparks.”
The intensity in his eyes made me stumble back. “What do you mean, I’m the reason for all of this. What could I have possibly done to make things this horrible for people centuries later?”
The dark light in Xavier’s eyes softened very slightly. He sighed.
“Come with me and I will tell you the story.”
He turned and went back down the stairs to the elevator. I followed, but not before taking one last glance out at the city.
The last burning rays of the sun stabbed though the clouds on the horizon, creating a patchwork backdrop that silhouetted the skyscrapers and winding roads, making them simply dark masses spread out below. In front of me, the colors were shifting to a firestorm of reds and oranges, creating the impression that Atlanta was now a city made of fire.
There is some beauty in this. I thought, ducking my head to follow Xavier. As for what that means, I don’t yet know.
Xavier didn’t push the button that would bring us down to the first floor, but the one that would bring us to the fiftieth level.
“Why don’t you bring us all the way down?” I asked.
“We don’t have any place for you to sleep down there. But all of the floors on the top of each building are for one person only, so they’re mostly empty.” The doors had already slid open, and Xavier began walking down the hall, talking as he did so. I noticed all the doors were made of metasteel, and none were numbered. There were no windows, and the pale white light came from a single bar that stretched down the hallway.
“More than three hundred years ago, there was an organization that called themselves Gaea. They believed that everything should be run by an elite group of individuals, who would govern for the good of the world. We don’t know when they were formed or who created them, but eventually they came under the leadership of a man who called himself Alpha. He spread Gaea throughout the world, placing them in many places of power in governments, business, research centers, militaries, universities, anywhere their influence could be beneficial. After many decades of preparation, Gaea was ready, poised to strike. But they lacked backup plan, a guarantee that they would triumph no matter what obstacle could be thrown at them. And that is where you come in.”
Xavier paused at a four-way intersection, then turned left.
“Your parents, as I’m sure you know, created a chemical that could enhance human capabilities to an extraordinary extent. They were unfruitful in getting it themselves, but succeeded in passing it on to you. You grew up, and eventually revealed yourself to the world, becoming its hero.” Xavier’s voice took on a mocking tone. “You became quite the celebrity. Saved several cities, a few countries, stopped several wars, rooted out corruption in your own government, and also secretly allied yourself with Gaea.”
I had been expecting this twist, but it still came as a little bit of a shock. Xavier glanced over his shoulder at me as he pushed open one of the hallway’s many doors.
The door opened on a room only about half as large as the one with the time machine, but ‘this room had a bit more stuff in it. There was a rug on the floor, a bed pushed up against the left wall with a dresser next to it. There was a large closet on the opposite wall, and a door on the wall directly across from me. Nothing looked to be made out of wood, and everything was gray, except for the white sheets and pillow. All of this was lit by a half sphere on the ceiling emitting exactly the same light as the bar outside
“What is this place?” I asked, though I had a pretty good idea.
Xavier confirmed it. “This is where you’ll sleep. The other door leads to a bathroom, and you should find everything you need. There are clothes in the closet, and soap and such in the bathroom. It might not be luxurious compared to what you had before, but it’s comfortable and as good as any Secondaries’. Better, even, since you’ll be alone.”
I frowned. “Okay. I’ve been pretty accommodating to you guys so far. I followed your lackey through the time circle because he seemed desperate. I listened to you because I was curious, and I kept listening because I needed some explanations. But I haven’t yet decided that I want to stay with you, especially since you haven’t exactly been the most inspiring about wanting me here. You already seem to consider me an enemy.”
“Just listen while I explain. At some point during your adult life, you came into contact with Gaea, and partnered with them. They researched your power, and figured out the secret. In the meantime, you introduced Gaea, revealing some of their organization and promoting their philosophy. People began to even believe in them. After your death, Gaea showed what they truly were. Those in positions of power seized control, and declared there was now only one government under the leadership of Alpha.”
Shutting the door behind us, Xavier crossed the room and sat down in the desk chair, facing me. I remained standing.
“But didn’t people resist? Not everyone influential could have been a member of Gaea. Didn’t they try to do something?”
Xavier laughed. It was a harsh, bitter sound with no humor. “Of course, people tried to fight back. But Gaea was ready. They now had their failsafe. They had created an army of enhanced warriors even more powerful than you, and used them to terrorize any who tried to stand against them. They tore down the world’s cities, razed the once-beautiful land, and divided the people. Those few deemed ‘exceptional’ were taken in by Gaea. They were given the chemical, and made much more than an ordinary human. They became the Primaries. Gaea took them away, swept them off with visions of a grand future. And there was one, for them.
“They built immense cities, filled with skyscrapers even taller than ours, and bursting with variety. They were given with the latest advanced technology, surrounded by vibrant nature, and were, of course, able to live a life of ease, putting their minds to making the world even more luxurious for their children. As for the rest of us, the billions deemed ordinary, unfit for paradise? We were cast aside, forgotten. Gaea built us some basic cities, gave us busywork, and left us Secondaries to our own devices. They did not fear us, and why should they? We could not harm even their children. Even if we could overpower a citizen, Gaea has built weapons of war most terrible. They have giant mechanized machines that could bring down our cities, vehicles able to swoop down on high and deliver ruin from the air, and even the Primaries have armor we cannot pierce, and weapons that tear us apart. We have no hope of ever defeating them.”
I sat down on the bed, stunned. Such a terrible scenario could hardly be envisioned.
“And you’re saying all of this is my fault?”
“Not quite all. Gaea was working on this plan for probably many years before even your birth. But you were the turning point. You gave them exactly what they needed to turn their dream into a living nightmare. And for centuries, our people have paid the price.”
I put my head in my hands. “What was the point of all this? Did you want to torture me?
Enact some terrible revenge on the one person you could get even with?”
“Definitely not.” The intensity in Xavier’s voice made me look up again. He was looking at me with an expression I couldn’t place. Defiance, hope, rage, all or none of them?
“I would not go to all the trouble of stealing the pieces of a time machine, transporting them across a wasteland and almost losing people in the attempt, building it over the course of years and figuring out how to work it, then sending another Secondary into an unknown world with no aide whatsoever to find a man he had no clue how to look for, just for some small act of petty vengeance.”
“Then why did you go to all that trouble?” I near-shouted. My hands were starting to clench into fists as anger started over taking me. That was another downside to the enhancement. Everything about me was increased, including emotions.
“To help my people!” Xavier thundered. He stood up and gripped shoulders, shaking me as he stared into my eyes. “I did this to show you the truth, so that you could see the agony Gaea has brought to the world. I needed you to see the folly of your actions, so that you could make a different choice, one which would set our world on a better path, with the blight of
Gaea overshadowing it. I brought you here to save our world, Joshua Sparks!”
I pushed him back, then took several deep breaths, forcing myself to calm down. “Well, then, what exactly do you want me to do?”
“I want you to renounce Gaea and swear to never support them, to never give them what they want. I don’t know exactly how that will work, whether the world will suddenly change, or shift, or what. But I do know that if you never give them you, then things will not be the same.”
I shook my head. “This doesn’t make sense.”
“It’s not that complicated.”
“No, it’s not your explanation. Actually, it kind of is. I don’t know exactly what Gaea stands for, whether its fascism or communism or some new government religion I haven’t heard of, but I never have supported anything like that. My father showed me a ton of evidence on why those systems never worked, and proof of their failures. I can’t see myself changing my mind on any of that.”
“Then how do you suppose Gaea gained your powers then, if not by you?”
“I don’t know that either.” I snapped. “Maybe they discovered it on their own. Maybe someone stole the secret from my parent’s lab. Maybe you’re lying to me. It could be any or none of those reasons.”
“What are you saying?” Xavier’s voice was very low and hard.
“I’m saying the story doesn’t add up, so I don’t think I’m going to change anything, especially since it hasn’t happened yet.”
“But it already has happened!” Xavier said. “Gaea has already reaped the rewards of your partnership, and we are living with the consequences.”
“Urgh.” I flopped back onto the bed. “This is why time travel makes no sense. It hasn’t happened for me; it has for you. Either way, it isn’t happening now. And other thing that isn’t happening now is me making a decision on so little information, not that it matters. I’ve heard nobody’s viewpoint besides your own, so I’m a little skeptical.”
I sat back up and looked Xavier in the eye. “You made a lot of good points, and built a strong case. But there are flaws in your story, and it is so far nothing but a story. In addition, I’ve seen almost nothing of this world, and heard absolutely nothing from its other inhabitants. For all I know, this is a prison and Gaea is in the right. Gaea might not even exist, or it could be thousands of years in the future, or anything.”
“So you don’t trust me, is that it?”
“No, I don’t.”
Xavier sighed. “Very well, I suppose that’s fair. It’s dark, and time to sleep. Tomorrow, I will send someone to you in the morning to show you around the city, and you will see that I am telling the truth. Is that satisfactory?”
“Almost. If I so desire, will I be able to go back to my own time?” I couldn’t say ‘home’. Nowhere felt like home to me anymore.
“Unfortunately, not. Traveling through time is a difficult and immensely complicated process, and we need a few days to figure out the correct place to open the portal.”
“Correct place?”
“We would be sitting here for far too long if I explained all the factors involved in time travel. Suffice to say that we need time, not just for figure out where to open the portal, but also to gather the energy required to do so. You see, the portal uses energy from both the outside and itself to open and sustain the portal. Opening one for even a very small amount of time takes tremendous energy. That will likely be days, or weeks.”
I almost shouted at him, but restrained myself. Xavier had already shown that he didn’t necessarily like me, and would certainly not care about inconveniencing me. Getting angry wouldn’t accomplish anything. He could also be lying, trying to keep me here longer. I clenched my jaw to force all the words back.
“Fine then. I guess I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“You probably will, but might not. We shall see.” Xavier walked to the door and opened it before I remembered something.
“Wait. That other guy said this concerned my parents, and I mentioned them almost the second I came here. But you only gave one vague reference to them. What else do you know about them?”
Xavier paused and glanced back at me. “I have the information you desire. But I won’t tell you yet. Besides, you said you cannot trust us, so why should I tell you now when I won’t be believed? And one more thing. Watch out for yourself. You might be our hope, but you are not liked here. Most will not be so accommodating as me.”
The door slammed shut behind him, and I was left alone.
“Well. That was disappointing.” I said allowed. “But I guess it was fair, assuming all of this is true.”
I was starting to feel tired, and I wanted to just lie back and go to sleep. But I knew that all I would do in actually was lie there and let questions swirl about my head. So, I got up off the bed and explored the room first. I might not have a chance tomorrow.
The first thing I did was sweep for listening devices or cameras. I couldn’t find any, despite squinting at every crack for any signs of the nano-technology I was certain they had. That could mean they were now so small I stood no chance of finding them, so all I could do was hope that wasn’t the case.
The bed was perhaps the most unusual piece in the room. Every part of it seemed to be made of some strange substance, though by now that wasn’t surprising. What was surprising was how comfortable it was. I hadn’t been expecting anything great, but lying down felt like I was floating on air.
The dresser was a simple table with absolutely nothing on it. Since I had brought nothing with me except my clothes, I didn’t really have any need for it, except . . .
I knelt down and grasped the desk by two legs, trying to see if I could pick it up. There was tension in my arms, but I hoisted it and swung it around without any trouble. It would make a decent weapon in a pinch.
The closet was filled with the clothes Xavier had been wearing. They were all a strange cream color, with no designs, pictures, or even tags on them. Even the strings meant to tie the pants together were a bland as possible. Most of the garments had long pants and sleeves, but there were two a couple pairs of T-shirts and shorts.
I pinched the fabric and rubbed it between my hands. It was soft, like the bedsheets, and also loose. It probably kept the wearer from being hot or cold, all things considered. There were also several pairs of socks and underwear of the same material.
Picking up one of the shoes, I slipped my hand into it, squeezing the outside. It was made out of some sort of foam, or maybe to different types. It was soft and malleable on the inside, but firmer on the outside. I knocked my shoe-encased hand against the closet edge, and it didn’t hurt. I felt the impact, but the shoe was definitely superior to the ones in the past.
I shook my head. No, it’s the present. My time. But now, I wasn’t quite sure.
There was a hairline gap between the bathroom door and the floor, so I was able to tell it was dark in there. I swung the door open, and a light flashed on. I frowned.
That was odd. I wonder if . . . ohhh.
I swung the door closed, then checked the light. It was off. I opened the door again, and the light was on.
It must be connected to the door. That’s convenient. That thought stirred another, however. How do I turn of the lights in this room? There’s no light switch.
I looked all over the room again, just to make sure. I even scoured the floor and tilted to closet back to check behind it. Nothing. But there had to be some way.
I snapped my fingers. Nothing. I clapped my hands. Still nothing. I frowned.
Maybe they need an oral command. After all, such things exist in my time. “Dim the lights.”
Instantly the light dimmed by about ninety percent and turned a more burnt orange color, leaving the room in a murky half-darkness. I could still see well enough, but the furniture were now only dark shapes.
I smiled. “Turn off the lights.”
The light went out, plunging the room into pitch darkness. I waved my hand in front of my face, and could see nothing of it.
Using another voice command, I brought the light flooding back in full force. Having solved that mystery, I went to inspect the bathroom. After a moment of thought, I grabbed some of the clothes from the closet. I normally took a shower in the morning, but, like the room inspection, I might not have a chance later.
It was just as plain as the room, but with a few more accessories. There was a rack with several towels and rags piled on it, hanging over an empty basket. There was a large mirror behind a countertop with a sink, and sitting on the counter were three strange contraptions that I didn’t inspect just then, instead turning to the shower.
The shower floor was made of some abrasive material that felt just a little bit rough, to prevent slipping, I assumed. There were two bottles on the shelf, on labeled, hair, the other, body. I set the rag on the shelf as well. There was only a single rod below the showerhead, and I couldn’t get it to turn either way.
Finally, I just yanked it towards me. It gave about half an inch, and streams of warm water came flowing out. It was the perfect temperature. Not too hot, nor to cold. I stood under it for a second, allowing myself to enjoy the sensation, before grabbing hair bottle and pouring its contents into my hand.
I stepped out of the shower, grabbing a towel and rubbing my face vigorously. I dragged it over my hair, which was sopping, before tying the towel around my waist. I felt strange, but cleaner than before. During the shower, I had been able to feel the soap and shampoo flowing across my skin, picking up the dirt and grime much more effectively than anything in my time.
There’s no hair dryer. That’s odd. Unless it’s one of the things on the counter.
All three things were grey, but one was about five times as large as the other two. I picked up one of the smaller objects first. One part of it was curved in a half-oval shape but wider. The curves were half cylinders, fused at the bottom, like a mouthpiece for both top and bottom teeth. I held it closer and squinted at it, noticing the little nozzles on the inside. Hanging from the apex of the curve were two tubes about the same size. One was closed off with no seam, but the other did have a lid. I popped the lid open and looked inside. There were dozens of tiny holes, but nothing else.
I examined the object for another few seconds and noticed a tiny button nestled between the tubes. I then flipped opened the lid again, and held it under the faucet. Like the shower, there was only a single lever that I had to pull out.
I filled the tube up, then closed it and put it in my mouth. It fit, and I could feel the toothbrush-like device molding itself around my teeth and gums. I pressed the tiny button and waited.
There was a curious sensation as I felt something squirt out of the nozzles and coat my teeth, working its way into the cervices as well. It stayed there for only a few seconds, then what felt like water hosed over it, washing the toothpaste away. But the water kept coming, spilling over the sides of the device and quickly filling up my mouth. Then, just as quickly, both water and toothpaste were sucked back by what felt like a vacuum right against my teeth. Then there was nothing.
I took the device out of my mouth and opened the lid. The water was floating around, but it looked dirtier than before. I poured it out, then examined my teeth in the mirror. My mouth felt a little dry, but my teeth were cleaner than they’d ever been. I then placed the device back in its spot. I hadn’t noticed it before I picked the first one up, but each of the items had a specific hole they were nestled into.
The second small object I picked up was obviously an electric razor, but with a strange closed tube on it, like the toothbrush. I ran my hand over the blade, then pushed the button. Instantly the blade began to vibrate up and down quickly. I looked closer, and noticed a very fine liquid being secreted onto the blade by tiny holes on the sides. I held the razor against my face and dragged it over my skin, just like I ordinarily would shave.
When I finished, I pushed the button again. Instantly, the razor stopped, the liquid beginning to drip off of it, along with the hair. I ran a hand over my face. The razor had done an exceptional job. I put it back, turning my attention to the last and largest object.
The third device was obviously a helmet of some sort. I picked it up, noticing it had another button at the very front. Inside there were many tiny nozzles, like the ones in the advanced toothbrush. This didn’t seem very hard. I stuck it on my head, then pressed the button.
It felt like the vacuum again, only this time right against my skull. I writhed for a second at the uncomfortable feeling, then got used to it in time to feel the vacuum vanished instantly. The entire process had taken seconds.
I took the helmet off and ran my hands through my hair. It was completely dry. I held the hair dryer in front of me, examining it, then jumped and almost dropped the thing when steam came pouring out of it.
I set the hair dryer on the counter and watched it steam for another couple of seconds, then dried myself off the more mundane way.
After putting on my clothes I inspected the toilet, which seemed pretty much like the ones in my time, ones with sensors. It didn’t have a tank for storing water, though, which I found odd.
As I crawled into bed and gave the lights off command, I wondered about what Xavier had said. If he really was a Secondary, his people seemed to have it pretty nicely. Yes, things were bland, but if everybody lived like this, then their basic necessities were taken care of, and in a much better fashion than even the richest people back in the present. He hadn’t even bothered to explain how the room worked to me, which spoke volumes about how common this convenience was.
Maybe Secondary wasn’t really the bottom rung here, or these people were prisoners of something else. I just didn’t have enough information, and what info I did possess seemed to contradict.
With a sigh, I rolled over and tried to banish all of my whirling thoughts. I had been given the opportunity for a full night of sleep, and I wanted to capitalize on it. Tomorrow was probably going to be a very long day.