Our story continues…
Day 70: Anna nodded.
Anna nodded. She slipped out of the car and patted her bag. It was more a reassurance that it was still there than anything else. Christopher waved to Marcus and the car pulled away, leaving her to deal with Marcus.
“I’m told you have my keys,” Anna said.
“Yes,” Marcus replied. “And I can lift the governmental lock as well so it will be released to you.”
Anna nodded. She noticed he was carrying a bag. Marcus saw her looking. “I thought you’d be hungry so I brought a few of your favorite things.”
“Thank you,” Anna said. “That was kind. I doubt much remains in the apartment after so much time.”
“No I suppose not,” he said.
The two of them entered the building and Anna followed him to the elevator. Unlike Christopher who couldn’t let silence stand, Marcus was content with it. As she had nothing to say, they rode up to her floor in silence. The entire top floor was her apartment and while she loved the views it offered as the elevator came to a stop all Anna could think was that her choice of location probably made it easier to seal off the entire apartment.
‘It just meant the top floor didn’t exist.’
They reached the door and Anna could see the seal glowing in the hall lights. She knew that even had she kept her keys any attempt by her to open the door would have set off alarms. She waited while Marcus removed the seal and then as he slid the key into the lock, she scanned to make sure it was completely gone and not hidden. While her quick scan revealed that it was gone, Anna planned to do a complete cleanse once Marcus left.
‘Otherwise I’ll never be able to sleep tonight.’
The door opened and despite Christopher’s claim that the apartment was being aired out and made ready for her, the air was stale. There was no scent of decay as the seal prevented it, locking the entire space down as it was when she left. It was however clear that the air had been still for a while.
It was also clear that she was not the last one who was in the apartment. Anna left her apartment tidy. There might have been a few flyers that came in the mail or maybe a spare newspaper lying around, but now, drawers were opened their contents spilling out, Furniture was shifted about and books were knocked from shelves and on to the floor.
It was clear that once she was gone, her place was searched.
“They were looking for clues as to where you might have gone and how to track you,” Marcus said. There was no recrimination or apology in the words. They were simple fact.
Anna nodded. “And now there is a reason you want me back. A reason I was pardoned?”
“Yes,” Marcus said. “But it can be discussed later. I will give you a few days to settle back into your life. On Thursday morning I will pick you up and show you why it was so important that you return.”
Anna pressed her lips together. Part of her wanted answers now. She wanted them more than she wanted to put things back in drawers and open windows to let in fresh air. However she also knew that she could use the few days Marcus was giving her to go through a few of the books she had with her and possibly find out details. ‘Details that might help when he does show me what’s going on.’
Ten til Midnight 