Jason Luthor - Floor 21

Funny thing, though. I decided I really am going to take that bat. I named it Lil’ Slugger just because I’m a cheeseball like that.

Jokes aside… it’s pretty freaking serious business. I’m about to go into a two-week training course. They say they’re gonna build on everything I learned in the basic combat training we all get, so, who knows, I may turn out to be a real beast. Maybe even tougher than Janet Amato.

I don’t know. There’s a lot of things I don’t know.

I do know that in a little over two weeks, we’re expected to head down. I’ll be going with Abbott, who is still a major pain in my… well, I shouldn’t insult him since he’s gonna, you know, be my commander. But, that’s cool. I’ll put up with it. I’m heading into the Creep with a bunch of vets, plus a few rookies, if I understand it all. They say they’re not too worried about the psychological aspect with me.

Remember, I’m the girl that would go down into the lower levels for fun, not to mention batted the head almost clean off of Creepy Sally. I got some guts.

It’s weird, though. It was just a few weeks ago that I was recording these things to keep my sanity. Now… I dunno. What you leave behind is important. It reminds you what you are, or were. It helps you know who you are, or want to be. And you never know, maybe someone else comes along one day and learns from you.

Psh. That’s way too deep for me right now.

I’ve got more important things to think about at the moment. Like, I need to get my hair braided. It’s a bit too natural for my liking at this second, so it’s basically everywhere. That mess just isn’t going to work in the Deep Creep. Never know when something’s going to grab at you, right? So, I don’t need my hair making me an easy target. Anyway, after that, I feel like I should, I dunno, spend time with Allison. I know I can’t really tell her anything… but, dang. Maybe I really should just, you know, have one more dance party with her.

I mean, I don’t know if I’ll ever see her again once I go. And suddenly the experiences I take with me seem more important than ever.

Man. I kinda feel… I dunno… scared… depressed… something.

Change can be scary.

But this is it. I’ve been asking for it, one chance to see what’s out there. If we’re the only ones. Now it’s coming true, and I can’t stop thinking about my life here.

Life’s funny like that.

Anyway, I don’t know if I’ll be able to record much anymore. I mean, I’m going to be training, then there’s the whole situation of being dozens of stories down inside of living muscle tissue. Not exactly lots of time to record, I’m guessing.

Not that I know for sure.

You know, I remembered something today. I hadn’t thought of it in a while. I’m glad I did. It reminds me of why I’m here, at this point in my life, in the first place. Actually reminds me that it has a lot to do with my parents and how they turned out to be, well, the people I remembered.

I was with my dad and mom, and I must have been around eleven at the time. Guess it doesn’t make much of a difference. Anyway, we’re at the baseball field on Floor 9. The big lights are glaring overhead. We’re there early, before anyone else, and Mom’s behind home plate. Dad’s on the pitching mound, and he winds up. Guy throws the quickest fastball I’ve ever seen.

Thing is, when I swing the baseball bat… I connect. Ball goes flying until it bangs off the back wall and goes bouncing into the outfield. Mom and Dad freak. I mean, they just completely lose their heads. Dad runs over to me, and him and Mom are just, you know, being parents. They’re hugging me and jumping. I’d never hit a home run before.

Mom drops down behind me and squeezes my shoulders. “That’s amazing! You’re going to be so great when you get older!”

Then Dad takes a knee and slides off his only “NY” baseball cap. He slaps it on my head and pulls it until it’s snug on my skull. Goofball’s just smiling like he’s nuts. “Knock ’em out of the park, Jackie.”

Yeah… I will, guys. I’m going to make you proud of me.

I’m a Scavenger now.

So, Mike? If you’re down there in the Tower? I’m coming. It’s my turn to save you.

And then?

Then we find out what’s down there.

Way past Floor 21.

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This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, organizations, places, events, and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

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Published by Kindle Press, Seattle, 2015

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