The Six Foot Room - Part 3
The door slid open; retreating into the wall's crevasse like a fleeing animal.
Jaym's stood still, staring at the door. He was hunched over; feeling the strain in his shoulders. His head wanted to bow before the person on the other side of the door, but he did not. Not answering the door was his small act of defiance and it felt great.
"Mr. Headridge, I believe you didn't take your prescribed medication," a booming, yet compassionate voice could be heard.
Jaym's could make out the figure of the speaker clearly. Tall, with a slender build. Male. He wore a plain, mostly white uniform, with streaks of red throughout.
The man stepped into the room, having not received any verbal response from Jaym's. Could a glare be considered a response? He wondered while continuing to eyeball the young man. There was no chance of winning in a physical altercation with the man, however, he did dream of charging at him. Tackling him to the ground. Punching. Kicking. Biting even. After winning the fight he tried to imagine what he'd do next. Where would I go? Where could he go? He realised there would surely be no point in fighting.
The man had dirty blonde hair, it was parted to the side roughly. There was an air of professionalism by the way he looked, but also a slight rough edge.
"I don't want to take medication." Jaym's grumbled, his voice crackling slightly as he spoke.
"Sometimes we don't have a choice in that matter, Mr. Headridge."
"I was trying to eat some more nutri-paste because I was bored, so I don't need suppressants." He folded his arms. "I don't want to be here."
"Your wear-tech headset battery died, but it'll be charged soon, and your room will be back to the way you like it." The man said, as his eyes glanced around the mostly empty space.
"Headsets so I can have my room the way I want it?" Jaym's asked, and the idea seemed absurd as he spoke. "I'd like my room to be the way I like it, without some stupid headset." He continued. This time, he mustered much more fire.
The man nodded as if he understood but by his facial expression said he didn't. Fool.
"I think it'll be a few hours before it's charged up again. Maybe we can go outside for a walk while it's dead, beats sitting in an empty room." The man said as he stepped aside. He extended an arm to usher Jaym's toward the open door. "Would you like that?"
Both of them were walking down the brightly lit, and immaculately cleaned and maintained corridor. Jaym's was being led, but his pace determined their speed. Judging by the length of the young man's legs, there was no reason for him to move slowly. They passed by door, after door, in silence. The place was quiet, other than the sound of their echoing footsteps.
They turned a corner, and in the distance, a young woman was dressed in the same uniform Jaym's escort was wearing. The woman was in the company of an old woman. In the same vain, the younger woman maintained the pace of the old one, and they hobbled in silence.
The two groups passed each other and not a word was said; not even a passing glance, or smile. Jaym's tried to get a look at the older woman's eyes, but they were glossed over, and almost entirely non-human. He wanted to wave a hand to grab her attention, but he knew there was no use.
Jaym's continued to be led down the empty space until he felt that he needed a break. He did his best to walk, even though he was slowing down compared to his original pace.
"We're almost there, there is a seat in the elevator." The man said.
They reached it, and the doors opened before them. After stepping inside, Jaym's took a seat, and while he may not have been panting. He felt like he could have been.
Maybe I should just go back to the room, and sleep. He thought, but there was a small unheard voice inside which pushed him to keep going.
"Are you sure you want to do this?" The man asked, finger hovering over a control panel.
Jaym's nodded, without looking at him.