Memory awake or the girl that fell out of heaven (part 14)

I press the button for Jerry to come get me, but within seconds, Mrs. Mortimer and the head of security, a kind man named Adam Samuels, are entering the room.

"Where is he?"

"Louis? He left."

"How? The door was locked."

I make a show of looking around the room and under the table then shrug my shoulders. "Apparently not. It must not have been completely closed. Or maybe the locking mechanism shut off with the lights."

"The lights went out?"

I feign confusion. "Isn't that why you came instead of Jerry? Security lost the video feed, no?"

"Samuels, I need a moment, but don't go far."

"Yes, ma'am."

As he shuts the door behind him, his phone rings. It's Pete. "Mr. Samuels, I have a visual of Lily with Mrs. Mortimer, now."

"Did you see the brother leave?"

"No, sir. When the picture came back, Lily was alone in the room and then Mrs. Mortimer and you entered."

"Copy. I'll be up as soon as we're finished here."

As Samuels finishes the call, Jerry comes jogging down the hall. "What are you doing here? They just pressed the buzzer. Is Lily okay?"

"She's fine. You can return to your duties. Mrs. Mortimer and I will take it from here."

"Mrs. Mortimer? Roger that," Jerry says as he hurries back the way he came.

We sit down. I am silent as Mrs. Mortimer taps her manicured nail on the table. Finally, she reaches a hand across the table and says, "Lily, I am so sorry you had to experience that."

I keep my hands in my lap and say, "Experience what?" I have no idea what she knows.

"Some stranger claiming to be your brother...knowing you are an only child who is all but abandoned by her parents here at Elysian Fields."

"Abandoned."

"Well, as good as."

"If I were abandoned, you would no longer get paid and I am pretty sure you would not keep me here out of the goodness of your heart."

"Lily!"

The way she says my name I realize two things: I hit the nail on the head and she does not like to see herself as selfish or greedy. And, two, I really don't know anything so I had better not alienate the hands that feed me. Yet.

"I'm sorry, Mrs. Mortimer," I say as I reach across the table and take her hand. "I know everyone here at Elysian Fields has my best interest at heart.

"It was so weird seeing and speaking with this boy, this man, who looks like me and says he's my brother. I told him that was impossible. That I am only child."

"Good girl."

"I mean, I wish he were my brother," she grips my had a little tighter, perhaps unconsciously. "But wishing doesn't make it so." She relaxes a little.

"We will get to the bottom of this, Lily. It won't happen again."

My heart twists painfully as I fear losing myself again, but I just say, "Thank you, Mrs. Mortimer. May I return to my room now? I feel completely drained."

She releases my hand and stands. "Of course, my dear." She walks to the wall and presses the button. The director of security opens it immediately. "Samuels, would you take Lily back to her room, please?"

"Right away, Mrs. Mortimer."

"You okay, Lily bird?"

"Never better, Adam. Just need a little time to process it all. Thanks for asking," I say as we leave the spy-movie elevator and head back to my room.

Later that night, I take the pills from under my tongue and flush them.

For the first time in seven years, I dream.

Over the next seven days, I remember.