A World Not Ready

I tapped my fingers rhythmically on the table. Partially to annoy the two men in front of me, but mostly out of genuine boredom. The dull whiteness of the room was as mind-numbing as they questions they asked.

The boorish one, balding and fat, continued his questioning. "Where is the thinker?"

That question, again. Truthfully I don't know where it was. Not that I'd tell them.

"Where are my sisters?" I demanded.

"Those freaks of nature?" He replied with a sneer. My disdain must have shown on my face, for the man laughed.

The other man, more handsome and far more agreeable in temperament spoke up. "If you start being more cooperative I'm sure we can work something out." I bet he believed that.

"There's nothing to 'work out.' I don't know where the Thinker is. Now give me back my sisters."

Sighing, the young man motioned to the other and they both left the room. Obviously they had something to talk about that didn't concern me. I smiled to myself as the walls shimmered and faded away. A shame I'd hear it anyway.

"She's not answering the questions."

"She will, give her time."

"We both know she won't talk. Not without some encouragement."

"If we just-"

I closed my eyes and the walls became solid to me again. They had asked nicely, but they wouldn't ask nicely again. Next would come the threats, the pain, the methods always used when people get desperate. But they would soon find themselves sorely lacking someone to enact those methods upon.

The door opened again. "Ms. Lamb, we'll be taking you back to your cell."

Guards entered the room and took me by the arm. Wordlessly I let them lead me away. No use making this more complicated than it needs to be.

Patiently I counted and recounted the ceiling tiles in my sterile little cell. When I was sure that enough time had passed I sat up and reached out to touch the metal door. Good, it was thin enough. I wouldn't need anything drastic.

A small yellow polyp bubbled up from my palm. I crushed it in my hand and applied the pungent ichor on the door. Taking a step back I steadied myself and delivered a powerful kick to the door, sending it flying off the hinges and hitting the floor with a spongy wet slap.

Now, to find my sisters.