"human2" - читать интересную книгу автора (Filippone Christopher)

Chapter Two: Examination

"Come along now," said Rachel, tugging gently on Una's hand. The other woman nodded and reluctantly turned away from the window. Rachel looked at Una and laughed at her decidedly melancholy expression. "Oh dear, don't worry. You'll be back here soon enough."
Una heard Rachel's words, but wasn't much soothed by them. The room was a warm blanket for her soul. She didn't want to leave it behind. But, to please her assistant, Una perked herself up and smiled.
Rachel smiled back at her. "Come along now. We must be going." Rachel led Una around the bed and to the thick wooden door. "Una, listen to me. You may see some things outside that are confusing to you. Don't worry. As long as I'm with you, you'll be safe."
"Yes, Rachel," said Una. Her heart jumped once again. She began to wonder what was out there and what she might see. She felt fearful but somewhat excited too.
Rachel turned the knob and opened the heavy door. She smiled at Una, giving her a tug on the arm. Una moved up closer to Rachel, gripping her hand tightly as Rachel led her through the door.
The doorway led to out to a long white hallway. Along either side of the hall were doors of different shapes and styles, all closed. The stark white walls of the hall gave Una a sick feeling in the pit of her stomach. It reminded her of that room. The room she felt so much pain in. She tried not to think about it. Instead she decided to listen to Rachel. She was speaking.
"See that door way down there? That's where we're going. It's always the second step for all new arrivals."
While on their way down the hall, Rachel noticed that a door they were approaching was opening. She stopped walking, signaling Una to do the same. Floating out the door and into the hall came a glowing ball of light. It startled Una, but didn't frighten her. The glowing ball didn't seem to be made up of anything solid. It appeared to be only pure light. Not bright blinding light. It appeared soft, warm, and pink. The glowing pink ball of light hovered about four feet above the ground for a few moments in the center of the hall. It first seemed to study Una, then it moved to Rachel. Rachel gave the bright orb a warm loving smile and nodded. The ball then turned away from the two pedestrians, moving in front of the opened door where something else was emerging from inside the room.
On three spindly legs, a creature about four feet high stepped timidly into the hall. Its skin was orange and shiny. It didn’t appear to have a head. Two arms, thin and bent at striking angles, jutted from the very top of its body. No fingers were present at the end of each arm. Only a single red bulbous outgrowth dangled from each end. Una nearly shrieked out loud with fright when she sighted the thing. She covered her mouth and kept staring at it with wide eyes. A bolt of fear ran down her back. On instinct, she jumped behind Rachel, trying to hide herself from it.
The creature reacted in a similar manner when it saw Una. It jumped around in a circle while making a high pitched wail. Its bizarre reaction made Una even more afraid. She knelt down near Rachel's feet, wrapping her arms tightly around her ankles.
Rachel reached down and grabbed Una's wrist, pulling her back up. "Settle down now, she won't hurt you. She as frightened of you as you are of her."
The ball of light moved closer to the small, terrified creature, turning shades of blue and green. In response to the color shits, the creature began to settle down. Once the creature seemed calm, the light ball started down the hall, going in the direction opposite to Una.
Una turned around, watching the ball of light and its strange companion make their way down the hall. She turned back to Rachel, with a stunned expression. She wondered if this was one of those confusing sights Rachel warned her about. Rachel patted Una's hand in the way she had before. "Calm down. She's a new arrival, like you. She is just as confused as you are. Understand?"
"I think so," said Una, looking back one last time at the strange thing. She didn't really understand what Rachel was saying. Una didn't feel as if she had anything in common with the strange little creature.
The two women finished the rest of the walk to the end of the hall in quiet. The sound of Una's bare feet slapping the floor was the only noise piercing their silence. Una closely studied each door they passed. She wondered what was behind each one. She wondered if there were any other new arrivals and if any were more like her. Together, they walked passed door after door until there were no more.
"Here we are," said Rachel. She pressed a hidden contact on the wall signaling the high flat doors to slide open. "Come with me."
Rachel lead Una passed the immense doors and into a great stark white room. Una began to tremble at the site of it. It was the same room - the room of her torture. "No! Please no!" Una cried. She turned to run away, but Rachel grabbed her upper arm.
Rachel turned Una around to face her. She tilted her head to one side to get a better glimpse of Una damp eyes. "Come on now. You must have your examination. How with the Masters know if you are in good health."
"I'm afraid," squeaked Una, face wet from tears.
"Don't be. This is not nearly as unpleasant as your purification, my child. In fact, you may find it relaxing."
Una heard what Rachel said - 'not nearly as unpleasant'. Although the phrase confused her a bit, it did make her feel as though some unpleasantness was likely. "Please, Rachel. I don't want to," she said between sobs.
Rachel rubbed Una's shoulders in a comforting manner. "I'm sorry, but you must. I promise it won't be that bad. Now come along."
She led Una over to a glowing blue circle on the floor. "Stand here, in the middle of the circle." Una stepped away from Rachel and walked into the center of the circle. The circle was not that large. It took Una only two steps to make it to its center.
"Very good," said Rachel. "Now take off your dress."

Una shrieked with fright. She believed that her worst fears were coming true. She wrapped her arms around her waist and stomped her foot. "No! I don't want to!"
Rachel's expression changed. She now wore a facial cast of disappointment. For some unknown reason, Una expected Rachel to be angry with her. She wasn't. She seemed more emotionally hurt. "Now Una," said Rachel, "haven't I been truthful to you for this long? Why do you distrust me so? I would not lie to you."
Una nodded. She relaxed a little and let her arms fall to her sides. "Okay Rachel. Okay."
"Now let me have the dress, please," said Rachel holding out her open hand.
Una reached down with both hands and grabbed the hem. With her hands, she crumpled the dress as she pulled it up to her chest and over her head. Standing naked, Una handed the dress to Rachel. Rachel, still looked a bit sad, took the dress and folded it over her arm.
From inside her sleeve, Rachel pulled out a small control. "Okay, Una. Stand still." She then pressed a button on the control. At that moment, a large clear cylinder rose up around Una. It seemed to come directly from the edge of the blue circle where Una stood. It rose up high. So high, after a few moments, Una could no longer see the top.
Una felt a little uncomfortable inside the cylinder. It felt a little tight. She reached out to touch its surface. Her hand met the side before her arm was fully extended. The surface felt cool and smooth. Una knelt down to touch the blue circle. It felt the same way. Confused, Una turned her face up to Rachel, but she was gone.
"Rachel!" Una yelled, banging on the inside of the cylinder. "Rachel, where are you? Please Come back!"
As Una patted the glass and wept, a cool silky feeling crept up her feet. She looked down to see a soft blue liquid rising from the bottom of her tubular prison. She reached down to touch the blue circle, below the liquid's surface. The liquid accepted her hand, wrapping around it and soothing her skin. Una left it there, enjoying the sensation, then raised it up out of the liquid. For a moment, she had some difficulty pulling her hand away. The blue liquid seemed to hold it there a moment before allowing her hand to rise.
She stood up again. By now the liquid was nearly up to her knees. She tried to raise her foot off the ground. She couldn't. The watery fluid hugged her, keeping her foot still. She pulled again. Unlike with her hand, the blue fluid didn't gently release its hold on her this time. It didn't let go. She tried again, pulling with all her might, but it was no use. The fluid was holding her down.
With the fluid now high on her thigh, hysteria set in. Una wailed with dread, patting the inside of the cylinder and shaking frantically. Panic told her she needed to escape. She pushed her arms against the sides of her jail, trying to lift herself up out of the liquid. It was impossible. Even if she could lift herself out from the watery grip, she could never escape the cylinder.
Within a few minutes, her panic and fear magically washed away. The cool soothing liquid creeping up her body saw to that. It calmed her, wiping the agitation from her mind and body. As she let herself drift into a new state of relaxation, the cool liquid continued to creep up her body. It rolled up passed her stomach and completely surrounded her hands and forearms, which now dangled aimlessly at her sides. It rushed over her chest, sending chills through her. She sighed deeply, sending the chill away. The liquid continued to roll up farther, on its way over her shoulders.
As it trickled up the base of her neck, fear gripped Una once again. She began to wonder if the liquid would stop before it reached her mouth. It didn't. The fluid continued on its journey up her neck to her chin. She raised her head in an effort to keep her mouth above the fluid. It was no use. The fluid found her lips. Una blew air out, trying to keep the blue liquid out of her mouth. It made no difference. The liquid made its way pasted her red lips and inside her mouth. It brushed the back of her throat, forcing a reflex cough. Then the watery substance sank down her throat, sending a cool sensation down the inside of her chest. She gasped for a breath of air, but was only successful in allowing more of the strange fluid deeper inside. Without the life giving air Una body's needed, her heart began to pound furiously, fighting both fear and starvation.
Still inexplicably conscious, Una watch in horror as the liquid entered her nose. She felt the cool fluid travel up her nostrils and inside the hidden cavities behind her face. It sank into her ears, locking out the outside world. Her ears pounded rhythmically with the sound of her heart still beating in angry frustration.
Una feverishly blinked as the fluid touched the surface of her eyes. It flowed in, surrounding each eye completely. Under the liquid, the world looked different. The crisp white room that surrounded her was replace by a blue shimmering place of varying dimensions. She looked up in time to see the blue liquid pass her brow. A second later, she felt it roll up her scalp and cover the top of her head.
Knowing her life was nearing its end, blinding terror hit her. She tried to scream, but she couldn't. She tried to move, but she couldn't. Fear and panic replaced everything. Finally, her body gave up the fight. Her eyes rolled up. Her muscles relaxed. The world went dark.
A moment later, Rachel stepped in front of the blue cylinder and stared at its still occupant. She looked up. Above her head appeared a great sphere of glowing light. It drifted down, brilliantly lighting up the cool blue fluid filled chamber. Hums and whispers filled the area around the brilliant ball of light. Rachel looked up at the immense glowing presence. She was not startled by it. She welcomed it, giving it a warm glowing smile. "Masters," she said, "Una is ready for examination."
Responding to Rachel's words, the glowing sphere of light hovered upward again. It floated to the top of the cylinder, positioning itself above the opening. It hung there for a moment, drifting down only a little. After moment of stillness had passed, the bright shining ball shot a streak of light down into the cylinder like a beckon opening a whole in the dark. The light permeated the blue fluid, causing it to glow like a brilliant blue sun. The shimmering blue column illuminated the inside of the cylinder as well, blanketing the still body of Una in a blue aura of shimmering brilliance.

[Chapter 1: Purfication] [Chapter 2: Examination] [Chapter 3: First Meeting] [Chapter 4: Second Test] [Chapter 5: Second Meeting] [Chapter 6: The Begining]

Chapter Two: Examination

"Come along now," said Rachel, tugging gently on Una's hand. The other woman nodded and reluctantly turned away from the window. Rachel looked at Una and laughed at her decidedly melancholy expression. "Oh dear, don't worry. You'll be back here soon enough."
Una heard Rachel's words, but wasn't much soothed by them. The room was a warm blanket for her soul. She didn't want to leave it behind. But, to please her assistant, Una perked herself up and smiled.
Rachel smiled back at her. "Come along now. We must be going." Rachel led Una around the bed and to the thick wooden door. "Una, listen to me. You may see some things outside that are confusing to you. Don't worry. As long as I'm with you, you'll be safe."
"Yes, Rachel," said Una. Her heart jumped once again. She began to wonder what was out there and what she might see. She felt fearful but somewhat excited too.
Rachel turned the knob and opened the heavy door. She smiled at Una, giving her a tug on the arm. Una moved up closer to Rachel, gripping her hand tightly as Rachel led her through the door.
The doorway led to out to a long white hallway. Along either side of the hall were doors of different shapes and styles, all closed. The stark white walls of the hall gave Una a sick feeling in the pit of her stomach. It reminded her of that room. The room she felt so much pain in. She tried not to think about it. Instead she decided to listen to Rachel. She was speaking.
"See that door way down there? That's where we're going. It's always the second step for all new arrivals."
While on their way down the hall, Rachel noticed that a door they were approaching was opening. She stopped walking, signaling Una to do the same. Floating out the door and into the hall came a glowing ball of light. It startled Una, but didn't frighten her. The glowing ball didn't seem to be made up of anything solid. It appeared to be only pure light. Not bright blinding light. It appeared soft, warm, and pink. The glowing pink ball of light hovered about four feet above the ground for a few moments in the center of the hall. It first seemed to study Una, then it moved to Rachel. Rachel gave the bright orb a warm loving smile and nodded. The ball then turned away from the two pedestrians, moving in front of the opened door where something else was emerging from inside the room.
On three spindly legs, a creature about four feet high stepped timidly into the hall. Its skin was orange and shiny. It didn’t appear to have a head. Two arms, thin and bent at striking angles, jutted from the very top of its body. No fingers were present at the end of each arm. Only a single red bulbous outgrowth dangled from each end. Una nearly shrieked out loud with fright when she sighted the thing. She covered her mouth and kept staring at it with wide eyes. A bolt of fear ran down her back. On instinct, she jumped behind Rachel, trying to hide herself from it.
The creature reacted in a similar manner when it saw Una. It jumped around in a circle while making a high pitched wail. Its bizarre reaction made Una even more afraid. She knelt down near Rachel's feet, wrapping her arms tightly around her ankles.
Rachel reached down and grabbed Una's wrist, pulling her back up. "Settle down now, she won't hurt you. She as frightened of you as you are of her."
The ball of light moved closer to the small, terrified creature, turning shades of blue and green. In response to the color shits, the creature began to settle down. Once the creature seemed calm, the light ball started down the hall, going in the direction opposite to Una.
Una turned around, watching the ball of light and its strange companion make their way down the hall. She turned back to Rachel, with a stunned expression. She wondered if this was one of those confusing sights Rachel warned her about. Rachel patted Una's hand in the way she had before. "Calm down. She's a new arrival, like you. She is just as confused as you are. Understand?"
"I think so," said Una, looking back one last time at the strange thing. She didn't really understand what Rachel was saying. Una didn't feel as if she had anything in common with the strange little creature.
The two women finished the rest of the walk to the end of the hall in quiet. The sound of Una's bare feet slapping the floor was the only noise piercing their silence. Una closely studied each door they passed. She wondered what was behind each one. She wondered if there were any other new arrivals and if any were more like her. Together, they walked passed door after door until there were no more.
"Here we are," said Rachel. She pressed a hidden contact on the wall signaling the high flat doors to slide open. "Come with me."
Rachel lead Una passed the immense doors and into a great stark white room. Una began to tremble at the site of it. It was the same room - the room of her torture. "No! Please no!" Una cried. She turned to run away, but Rachel grabbed her upper arm.
Rachel turned Una around to face her. She tilted her head to one side to get a better glimpse of Una damp eyes. "Come on now. You must have your examination. How with the Masters know if you are in good health."
"I'm afraid," squeaked Una, face wet from tears.
"Don't be. This is not nearly as unpleasant as your purification, my child. In fact, you may find it relaxing."
Una heard what Rachel said - 'not nearly as unpleasant'. Although the phrase confused her a bit, it did make her feel as though some unpleasantness was likely. "Please, Rachel. I don't want to," she said between sobs.
Rachel rubbed Una's shoulders in a comforting manner. "I'm sorry, but you must. I promise it won't be that bad. Now come along."
She led Una over to a glowing blue circle on the floor. "Stand here, in the middle of the circle." Una stepped away from Rachel and walked into the center of the circle. The circle was not that large. It took Una only two steps to make it to its center.
"Very good," said Rachel. "Now take off your dress."
Una shrieked with fright. She believed that her worst fears were coming true. She wrapped her arms around her waist and stomped her foot. "No! I don't want to!"
Rachel's expression changed. She now wore a facial cast of disappointment. For some unknown reason, Una expected Rachel to be angry with her. She wasn't. She seemed more emotionally hurt. "Now Una," said Rachel, "haven't I been truthful to you for this long? Why do you distrust me so? I would not lie to you."
Una nodded. She relaxed a little and let her arms fall to her sides. "Okay Rachel. Okay."
"Now let me have the dress, please," said Rachel holding out her open hand.
Una reached down with both hands and grabbed the hem. With her hands, she crumpled the dress as she pulled it up to her chest and over her head. Standing naked, Una handed the dress to Rachel. Rachel, still looked a bit sad, took the dress and folded it over her arm.
From inside her sleeve, Rachel pulled out a small control. "Okay, Una. Stand still." She then pressed a button on the control. At that moment, a large clear cylinder rose up around Una. It seemed to come directly from the edge of the blue circle where Una stood. It rose up high. So high, after a few moments, Una could no longer see the top.
Una felt a little uncomfortable inside the cylinder. It felt a little tight. She reached out to touch its surface. Her hand met the side before her arm was fully extended. The surface felt cool and smooth. Una knelt down to touch the blue circle. It felt the same way. Confused, Una turned her face up to Rachel, but she was gone.
"Rachel!" Una yelled, banging on the inside of the cylinder. "Rachel, where are you? Please Come back!"
As Una patted the glass and wept, a cool silky feeling crept up her feet. She looked down to see a soft blue liquid rising from the bottom of her tubular prison. She reached down to touch the blue circle, below the liquid's surface. The liquid accepted her hand, wrapping around it and soothing her skin. Una left it there, enjoying the sensation, then raised it up out of the liquid. For a moment, she had some difficulty pulling her hand away. The blue liquid seemed to hold it there a moment before allowing her hand to rise.
She stood up again. By now the liquid was nearly up to her knees. She tried to raise her foot off the ground. She couldn't. The watery fluid hugged her, keeping her foot still. She pulled again. Unlike with her hand, the blue fluid didn't gently release its hold on her this time. It didn't let go. She tried again, pulling with all her might, but it was no use. The fluid was holding her down.
With the fluid now high on her thigh, hysteria set in. Una wailed with dread, patting the inside of the cylinder and shaking frantically. Panic told her she needed to escape. She pushed her arms against the sides of her jail, trying to lift herself up out of the liquid. It was impossible. Even if she could lift herself out from the watery grip, she could never escape the cylinder.
Within a few minutes, her panic and fear magically washed away. The cool soothing liquid creeping up her body saw to that. It calmed her, wiping the agitation from her mind and body. As she let herself drift into a new state of relaxation, the cool liquid continued to creep up her body. It rolled up passed her stomach and completely surrounded her hands and forearms, which now dangled aimlessly at her sides. It rushed over her chest, sending chills through her. She sighed deeply, sending the chill away. The liquid continued to roll up farther, on its way over her shoulders.
As it trickled up the base of her neck, fear gripped Una once again. She began to wonder if the liquid would stop before it reached her mouth. It didn't. The fluid continued on its journey up her neck to her chin. She raised her head in an effort to keep her mouth above the fluid. It was no use. The fluid found her lips. Una blew air out, trying to keep the blue liquid out of her mouth. It made no difference. The liquid made its way pasted her red lips and inside her mouth. It brushed the back of her throat, forcing a reflex cough. Then the watery substance sank down her throat, sending a cool sensation down the inside of her chest. She gasped for a breath of air, but was only successful in allowing more of the strange fluid deeper inside. Without the life giving air Una body's needed, her heart began to pound furiously, fighting both fear and starvation.
Still inexplicably conscious, Una watch in horror as the liquid entered her nose. She felt the cool fluid travel up her nostrils and inside the hidden cavities behind her face. It sank into her ears, locking out the outside world. Her ears pounded rhythmically with the sound of her heart still beating in angry frustration.
Una feverishly blinked as the fluid touched the surface of her eyes. It flowed in, surrounding each eye completely. Under the liquid, the world looked different. The crisp white room that surrounded her was replace by a blue shimmering place of varying dimensions. She looked up in time to see the blue liquid pass her brow. A second later, she felt it roll up her scalp and cover the top of her head.
Knowing her life was nearing its end, blinding terror hit her. She tried to scream, but she couldn't. She tried to move, but she couldn't. Fear and panic replaced everything. Finally, her body gave up the fight. Her eyes rolled up. Her muscles relaxed. The world went dark.
A moment later, Rachel stepped in front of the blue cylinder and stared at its still occupant. She looked up. Above her head appeared a great sphere of glowing light. It drifted down, brilliantly lighting up the cool blue fluid filled chamber. Hums and whispers filled the area around the brilliant ball of light. Rachel looked up at the immense glowing presence. She was not startled by it. She welcomed it, giving it a warm glowing smile. "Masters," she said, "Una is ready for examination."
Responding to Rachel's words, the glowing sphere of light hovered upward again. It floated to the top of the cylinder, positioning itself above the opening. It hung there for a moment, drifting down only a little. After moment of stillness had passed, the bright shining ball shot a streak of light down into the cylinder like a beckon opening a whole in the dark. The light permeated the blue fluid, causing it to glow like a brilliant blue sun. The shimmering blue column illuminated the inside of the cylinder as well, blanketing the still body of Una in a blue aura of shimmering brilliance.

[Chapter 1: Purfication] [Chapter 2: Examination] [Chapter 3: First Meeting] [Chapter 4: Second Test] [Chapter 5: Second Meeting] [Chapter 6: The Begining]