Aly’s POV

// “Sorry I’m late, I had to hunt down your file. It wasn’t on the 4th like usual.” \

I watch from the corner of the hall as I scope out the room R20|12 labeled “Records”. 

I wanted to find an exit but this  turned out to be a dead end.

I watch as the door opens and closes like clockwork as dudes in suits head in and out with files in their grasp.

Interestingly enough, these guys don’t knock on the door to open it. Instead it stays the same size. 

I thought that since the records are here, then maybe a portal would be too. Especially since the records would be for the freshly... um, "expired". 

While deep in consideration, a hand grabs my shoulder and my heart skips a beat. I quickly whip my head to see Jessica standing behind me. I was too focused on considering my options to get in to realize someone was close behind me. It also doesn’t help that walking around this place causes my heart to skip every 5 seconds. 

As I try not to look obviously out of place I play it, “Hey Jessica! What are you doing here?”

“I could ask you the same thing, hun.” She points, “I’m headed over to the records room to get another file for an interview. Why are you here, are you lost?” 

Thinking that she may just point to the portal I need to get out of here I say, “You could say that…”

“So you were recruited after all?”

I nod to hopefully lead the conversation away from any suspicion.

“Don’t tell me…”

“Tell you what…?” I could feel sweat beads forming on my back.

“Was Dave your recruit commander? He always does this to new recruits!”

Suddenly feeling a wave of relief I just go along with it, “Oh, yeah, it was Dave.”

“The stair challenge, right? I’m guessing that was you yelling in the well? Dave likes to do that as a kind of initiation. We’ve all grown used to it.”

Remembering my near death experience in the platform-stair-well, I affirm. “Yeah that was me… kind of embarrassing, I know. That's how we got separated. I seriously thought I was about to die— again. Why do you guys even have that?”

Jessica nods along with a slight smile, “Well, I’m sure he’s probably waiting for you on the Deep-6 floor.”

“The Deep-6 floor?”

“Yeah, didn’t he talk to you about the Grim’s worst day?” Her brown eyes narrow as a brow raises, "He usually tells all his new recruits about that before he takes you to recruitment on the 2nd floor.”

“Oh yeah, he was telling me about that before we got separated…” She still eyed me suspiciously so I added, “We gotta make sure it doesn’t happen again!” I really hope that would be something that ‘Dave’ happened to talk about. 

“…Yeah…” she says trailing off. 

Before she gets any more suspicious I walk around her and head back to the stairs-less stairwell, “Well, I better get to that Deep-6 floor! I wouldn’t want to make Dave wait any longer than I already have! Thanks for pointing me in the right direction!

 “Oh right,” Just before I go I stop in my tracks and pat my pocket having only just remembered. I reach in and give her back the handkerchief she gave me earlier during the interview, “This is yours. Thanks for that by the way.”

She grabs it and I start walking away but she shouts. “Wait,” she says in a serious tone.

I stop in my tracks, really hoping she didn’t see through me. “Yes… What is it?”

“What…? What did she say to you?”

I turn around, not sure who she is referring to, “What did who say?”

She looks at me with eyes full of pain, a look I recognize all too well, “What did the Director say to you— no, in fact, how do you already have her authority at your age and during this era?”

“I don’t get what you mean,” I ask without a facade. 

I can see the change in her as she went on asking, “Don’t you know how hard it is to get them to notice you? The Hosts hardly even make deals anymore because of what you’re about to see on the Deep-6 floor… Not only that but I checked your file— You’re a nobody.” She sees me step back a little hurt at the comment so she adds, “No offense.”  

When I don’t answer she continues, “How did someone like you already get in her good graces? Was it your parents? Did someone you know get you a deal? A deal with a Host, mind you, that only approaches a select few of the dead or dying!”

I have no clue what she’s talking about. 

“What do you mean, ‘did someone get me a deal’? I don’t recall anyone making a deal on my behalf.”

“You already have her authority. Even if it’s just a pseudo-authority, that's the only thing that could have brought you here otherwise you’d just go through the gates like everyone else. But no, you appeared in a waiting room to be greeted and evaluated!” 

Seeing her point so clearly even I begin to ask myself the question. Instead of having an answer for her I simply ask her, “Jessica, why do you care so much about this?” 

I was curious as to why she’d be so upset about it. Seeing as I have never really sought after the praises of the Hosts. However, instead of an answer, she just looks at me as if I’d stabbed her. 

She shakes her head to dismiss the question and turns to leave, “Nevermind, it doesn’t matter. Forget I said anything.”

I watch her turn away and head around the corner only to stop suddenly as my heart beat flutters.

What now?

“Director!?,” she says as she bows.

Ah, crap!

I watch as the Director turns the corner and spots me immediately. 

“THERE YOU ARE!”