As the intercom blared its greeting, Meekins awoke with a start. Only minutes ago, it seemed, he had been in the pantry with none other than his very own former superior, ex-Police Chief Gant. Who neither was a ghost nor tried to murder him. And who led a mission to procure more edible food items than that gross pink substance that the soldiers served for dinner last night. Which Meekins was grateful for because, as he dimly recalled, he wouldn't get to eat breakfast (or "brunch," according to the loudspeaker) today due to his punishment for "insolence." Of course, if Meekins were to classify this enforced fasting from a meal of more of that pink goo as a punishment or a blessing, it would have to be the latter.
At any rate, he would have to track down Mr. Gant to receive his next assignment for today. He sat up in his bed, noting that Mr. Williams was still asleep, and turned to look at the sold-- nurse! Dressed in a nurse's uniform instead of the stiff soldier's outfit from yesterday. However, unlike the sweet young nurse at Meekins' doctor's office who always gave him a lollipop for taking his shots like a "brave man," the woman standing before him had a grim, distant look on her face.
"Mr. Bibbitt! Get up already! You are still under notice for your behavior. Remember, until dinner shift, you are to remain standing. Now get on with it!" Nope, no lollipop from this one, Meekins realized in letdown.
"Yes, Sir!" He carefully got out of bed and stood up straight, saluting the nurse. It was then that he noticed that he was no longer wearing the military uniform from yesterday, but a set of drab gray sweats brightened by a large yellow happy face on the front of the shirt. What a nice contrast it was to the gloominess of everything else here! It filled Meekins with such hope that he suddenly blurted out, "If I might ask, Sir... can you take me to see Mr. Gant, Sir? I need to check in with him after last ni--"
"Silence!" the nurse barked, interrupting him. How rude! Not even Nurse Miney stopped him while he was relating his stories to her. "Whoever you met last night was all a dream. It's all part of your illness. You will speak no more of it. Now come along or risk further punishment!"
Ack. Best to do what she said, or else she would give him a shot and be mean enough not to give him a lollipop afterwards. "Y-Yes, Sir!"
He followed the nurse down the hallway to the giant room he remembered from last night that had scary things happening there. 0r maybe he just dreamed it, like she said. Because today, it looked rather nice. Light was coming in from the high glass ceiling, and there were tables and comfy chairs and couches scattered around (although Meekins wasn't allowed to take advantage of them today). There was even a bulletin board, which already sported a number of strange notes. Maybe he could get a hold of the Police Chief this way! After all, the nurse said not to speak of it; she'd said nothing about writing about it!
After tacking up his note, he turned away from the board and started pacing the room to pass the time. He was concentrating so hard on remaining upright that he didn't notice the two faces familiar to him in this room.
no subject
As the intercom blared its greeting, Meekins awoke with a start. Only minutes ago, it seemed, he had been in the pantry with none other than his very own former superior, ex-Police Chief Gant. Who neither was a ghost nor tried to murder him. And who led a mission to procure more edible food items than that gross pink substance that the soldiers served for dinner last night. Which Meekins was grateful for because, as he dimly recalled, he wouldn't get to eat breakfast (or "brunch," according to the loudspeaker) today due to his punishment for "insolence." Of course, if Meekins were to classify this enforced fasting from a meal of more of that pink goo as a punishment or a blessing, it would have to be the latter.
At any rate, he would have to track down Mr. Gant to receive his next assignment for today. He sat up in his bed, noting that Mr. Williams was still asleep, and turned to look at the sold-- nurse! Dressed in a nurse's uniform instead of the stiff soldier's outfit from yesterday. However, unlike the sweet young nurse at Meekins' doctor's office who always gave him a lollipop for taking his shots like a "brave man," the woman standing before him had a grim, distant look on her face.
"Mr. Bibbitt! Get up already! You are still under notice for your behavior. Remember, until dinner shift, you are to remain standing. Now get on with it!" Nope, no lollipop from this one, Meekins realized in letdown.
"Yes, Sir!" He carefully got out of bed and stood up straight, saluting the nurse. It was then that he noticed that he was no longer wearing the military uniform from yesterday, but a set of drab gray sweats brightened by a large yellow happy face on the front of the shirt. What a nice contrast it was to the gloominess of everything else here! It filled Meekins with such hope that he suddenly blurted out, "If I might ask, Sir... can you take me to see Mr. Gant, Sir? I need to check in with him after last ni--"
"Silence!" the nurse barked, interrupting him. How rude! Not even Nurse Miney stopped him while he was relating his stories to her. "Whoever you met last night was all a dream. It's all part of your illness. You will speak no more of it. Now come along or risk further punishment!"
Ack. Best to do what she said, or else she would give him a shot and be mean enough not to give him a lollipop afterwards. "Y-Yes, Sir!"
He followed the nurse down the hallway to the giant room he remembered from last night that had scary things happening there. 0r maybe he just dreamed it, like she said. Because today, it looked rather nice. Light was coming in from the high glass ceiling, and there were tables and comfy chairs and couches scattered around (although Meekins wasn't allowed to take advantage of them today). There was even a bulletin board, which already sported a number of strange notes. Maybe he could get a hold of the Police Chief this way! After all, the nurse said not to speak of it; she'd said nothing about writing about it!
After tacking up his note, he turned away from the board and started pacing the room to pass the time. He was concentrating so hard on remaining upright that he didn't notice the two faces familiar to him in this room.