J. Spelbring: Perfection

Before they’d left, she’d worried that he wouldn’t be able to blend into society, but after the briefing with Leland, as he explained procedures to them, Woody was raring to go. His relaxed demeanor amazed her, especially since the backpack hanging from his back carried four bundles of explosives.

The dangerous job of arming the homemade bombs in engineering, two levels beneath the main floor of The Center, fell on Woody. Boilers, propane tanks, and gas heaters were jammed together on the lower level. It made sense to place the explosives there, but the problem was getting out in time.

Ellyssa didn’t like the idea of Woody endangering his life, but what choice did she have? She had to find Rein, and she knew the layout of the building. She had a pretty good idea of where Rein would be held; it was the getting there that would prove difficult. One hour from the time she and Woody parted was all she would have.

Following the line of workers, she entered her old home through a set of double doors. Immediately, all the color of the outside world washed away in brilliant white. A disinfectant smell wafted through the air, giving rise to a hospital-like atmosphere. The ceiling rose high above her to where three red banners with black swastikas hung; their colors contrasted sharply against the blinding white surrounding her. Toward the back, the day-workers exited the building. Neat and orderly, one set in, the other set out.

To the left, two guards in drab grey uniforms manned the check-in station. One perched on a stool in front of a computer, the other scrutinized the workers with a smile. He greeted a few of the people as they passed.

Ellyssa approached the security guard at the computer. He was an older male, about fifty, with grey streaks at his temples. He smiled at her, just as he smiled at everyone else.

“How are you today?” she asked, swiping her card.

“Fine. Thank you.”

He paused while he matched her face with the picture on the monitor. “You’re new?”

“Yes. Today is my first day.”

“You’ll love working here. I’ve been here for twenty years.”

“Really?”

Funny. Ellyssa had lived within these very walls for almost as long as he’d worked here, yet she’d never met him. Of course, she’d never met anyone other than the doctor and his assistants. Aside from a few field exercises, she’d never left the few approved floors, which were connected to the entrance by private elevators that could only be accessed with a special card.

Security was tight at The Center.

The guard nodded. “You’ll need to report to the maintenance office first, one level below, to fill out your paperwork. Go to the first set of elevators, push L1, and the office will be to your left when you exit. Just walk down the hall,” he said, dismissing her.

“Thank you.”

Ellyssa went to the elevator as directed and pushed the down button. While she waited, she turned toward the throng of people, searching for Woody. He’d just passed the guard station with the bag nonchalantly slung over his shoulder. He fixed his eye on her and made his way to the elevator.

“You’re new, too?” he asked.

She couldn’t help but smile at his role-playing. “Yes.”

“I hope you don’t mind if I accompany you to the office, then?”

“Not at all.”

The elevator doors slid open, and Ellyssa stepped inside. Woody trailed behind her. Alone in the little compartment, she pushed the button marked L1 before anyone else could join them. When the doors slid shut, his demeanor melted. Panic emanated off Woody so thick she could almost taste it.

Ellyssa understood how he felt, her own heart pattered against her ribcage. Not from nerves, though, but from worrying that she wouldn’t find Rein in time.

She wished they didn’t have to go through the formalities of reporting, but if they didn’t, an alarm would sound. Any deviation from routine would end badly.

“Everything is fine,” Ellyssa mumbled from the side of her mouth to calm him.

Closing his eyelids, Woody inhaled deeply, and transformed right before her eyes. Calm Woody placed his hands behind his back and rocked on his heels. His ability to hide his emotions almost matched hers. She shook her head in amazement.

The doors opened to an empty hallway with bare walls. Ellyssa stepped out and turned left. Woody followed. The hallway was long and narrow, with a big red door at the end and an EXIT sign posted above it. They passed door after door with tempered glass windows, all marked with their departments: Accounting, Finance, Resources .

A few doors from the exit was Maintenance.

She knocked.

“Come in,” said a female, her tone pleasant.

Ellyssa opened the door to find a woman in her early thirties, standing behind a dented metal desk, her hand extended in greeting. The plaque on her desk said, “ Mary Hahn .”

“Miss Keller and,” she looked at a paper on her desk, “Mr. Mueller. I’ve been expecting you.”

Ellyssa shook her hand and stepped aside so Woody could do the same.

“Please, have a seat.” Mary indicated to the only two chairs. “There are only a couple of transfer papers to fill out, then I’ll send you to your shift managers to report for duty.”

Ellyssa smiled. “Thank you.” She took the seat next to Woody.

Mary eyed Woody’s backpack. “After you report to the crew leader, you can diposit your bag in the staff break room. He’ll show you where it is.”

Woody’s hand tightened on the strap, but he offered a genuine smile. “Thank you.”

“I’m afraid there won’t be time for introductions or a tour today. Inspections are being conducted in the morning, and it rests upon us evening workers to make sure everything is spic and span and running tightly.”

“That is fine. I prefer just to get started,” Ellyssa said.

“An eager beaver. I like that.”

Ellyssa and Woody wrote down the memorized information Leland had provided them without faltering. When they were done, Mary handed them their assignments. Ellyssa was to report to Mr. Baker on the second floor, Woody to Mr. Smith on L2, one level below them.

Leland was a genius.

“I do apologize that I’m unable to accompany you. But, as I stated, busy, busy, busy.”

“Maybe tomorrow, then,” said Woody, his tone suggestive.

The supervisor’s smile widened. “Of course. It would be my pleasure.”

Less than five minutes later, they walked back toward the elevators.

“Nice touch,” whispered Ellyssa. “You ready?”

“As ready as I’ll ever be.”

Ellyssa pushed the up arrow and the doors slid open. She moved to enter the compartment, but Woody grabbed her wrist. When she faced him, he moved his hand to cup her cheek, his thumb smoothing away the worry. She closed her eyes, enjoying his touch. Soothing.

“Please, be careful,” Woody said.

Lifting on her toes, Ellyssa placed a quick kiss on his cheek. “You be careful.”

“One hour.”

“One hour,” she promised, stepping into the elevator.

The doors snicked shut.

Ellyssa picked up a cleaning cart and strolled down the walkway, between partitions that separated six offices. It was an easy one-person task, but her assigned supervisor, Mr. Baker, kept following her, with his arms crossed over his chest.

“I understand your directions,” Ellyssa said, hoping her voice didn’t carry the irritated tension she felt. She pushed the cart over to a desk. “My previous employment was also cleaning.” She picked up a wastebasket and dumped the contents into the larger bin fastened to the end of her cart.

Mr. Baker smiled, flashing white teeth. “I have no doubt of your abilities,” he stated, but made no move to leave. His eyes followed her as she moved from desk to desk. He grinned, and his tongue kept darting out, wetting his lips.