7 Ivy

Ivy felt uneasy as they waited for the arrival of the new kid, who - supposedly - was just like them. What could he be like? Was he just as confused as they were? Did he remember anything? The last memory, the one on the surgery table - did he have one just like that? Thoughts reeled through her mind. She didn't trust Lea at all, nor anyone else in this agency. The only person she trusted was Ben.

Lea had left a while ago to get whoever this guy was, and Clare had excused herself out of the room. Ben and Ivy sat side by side, unsure of what to do. Neither of them spoke, and Ivy couldn't shake the uncomfortable feeling of being watched. Minutes seemed to drag past until finally, Ivy could hear Lea's pounding footsteps and authoritative voice through the door. The mahogany wood was quickly flung open and Lea waltzed in, followed by a tall Asian boy with floppy black hair and a sarcastic smirk. He didn't seem like Ben or herself at all. He wasn't unsure, or confused. He looked like he belonged here.

"Ivy, Ben, this is Ezra. Ezra, these are the two kids I was telling you about," Lea introduced. Ezra observed them but didn't say anything.

"Hi," Ben awkwardly answered. Ivy said nothing. She was currently locked in a staring competition between her and Ezra. His black, seemingly soul-less eyes were almost unbearable, but she refused to look away. He smirked and broke first, focusing instead on Ben.

"So... you don't remember anything?" He finally spoke. His voice was strangely smooth and silky, and sounded extremely smug. Ivy hated him in an instant. Ben shook his head bewildered. Ivy stayed silent. "You remember your names though, right? That's the only thing I remembered when I woke up," Ezra pressed on.

"How long has it been since you woke up from there? Have you remembered anything at all?" Ben demanded in a sudden rush of words. Ezra smirked, making the hate in Ivy's stomach tighten.

"It's been about a week. And no, not really. I remember bits and pieces, but nothing significant. No faces or names or places at all," he answered. "How much do you remember?"

"Nothing," Ivy quickly answered before Ben could. "All we know is our names." Ben remained quiet at her lie. Lea sighed.

"This is just awkward. You guys don't remember anything, blah blah blah, let's get them to their rooms and prepare for the mission," Lea announced. For once, Ivy was grateful for her words.

The two were then led down a few other hallways. Their rooms were right next to each other, but Ivy still wished they could share. She didn't like the idea of being apart from Ben, her only friend in this screwed up reality.

The inside of the room was fancy - too fancy. The walls were a creamy white that set Ivy on edge, the waterbed was huge, mounted with an unimaginable amount of pillows. The ensuite bathroom's floor was heated, and the shower could fit at least ten people. The bathtub seemed more like a jacuzzi, and the fancy designed lights from the ceiling sent a warm glow over the carpeted floor. Even the dresser and the desk were made of some fancy wood with fairytale scenes carved into it, and the windows overlooking the city had automatic blinds. It seemed incredibly expensive, and it made Ivy feel like she wasn't allowed to touch anything.

"Is this real silk?" She asked Lea as her stubby fingers fondled a pillow. Lea nodded, then rolled her eyes.

"Yes. It's disgustingly rich isn't it?" She commented, looking around the room. "I can't stand these rooms. I have a pullout couch in my office that I sleep in just because I hate it so much," she said while looking around the room with a wrinkled nose. Ivy felt the respect for this girl grow. Maybe she wasn't awful after all.

"You live in the agency then?" Ivy wanted to know. Lea nodded.

"My parents died when I was little, and my older sister doesn't have the funds to take care of me. Plus she's sick. The agency basically saved me from the streets, and it allows me to live somewhere as well as take care of the funds of my sisters medical bills," Lea informed her. Ivy felt her heart ache somehow. It wasn't sympathy - well, yes, she felt sympathetic as well - but it was almost familiar somehow, which turned her stomach in the most grotesque way possible.

"Does she know? Your sister. That you work here, I mean," Ivy inquired. Lea smiled sadly and shook her head.

"No. I never told her. It might be too much for her heart, so she thinks I work in an office building as a secretary. She would hate it if I was risking my life for her." Lea and Ivy looked at each other for a while, before Lea excused herself abruptly from the room. Ivy understood. She didn't know why or how, but she understood.

************

Once it was dark and Ivy had exhausted every source of entertainment, she opened the fancy wooden door out into the hallway. The fluorescent lights flickered above her. Again, she felt a pull of familiarity, but no memory was attached to it. It was the most frustrating feeling in the world, knowing she had experienced something familiar, but not knowing where or how or when or why, almost like deja vu but more intense and off-setting.

At first, her instincts told her to find Ben's room, but she then decided against it. As much as she wanted to see him, it would be pointless. There was nothing to discuss. Instead, she turned the other way and started walking, dragging her hand along the dull beige wall and counting her steps out of habit. She wondered why. For some reason, she turned her head slightly to the right and stopped almost in surprise when there was no-one to her right, copying her. She shook her head and continued on her way.

If only she could get into Clare's office...

She walked that way, observing the door. There was no light coming from underneath. Did that mean Clare wasn't there? Glancing over her shoulder once, Ivy knocked on the door. There was no answer. She tried the handle, which slid smoothly open. Inside, the office was dark, but she quickly found the light switch, illuminating the sad room slowly. Ivy wasn't really sure what she was doing here, but there was this weird feeling in her gut - almost like a pulling sensation, telling her to go this way.

The feeling got stronger at Clare's desk, and Ivy opened all the drawers. There was nothing particularly exciting in them. Folders, files, candy, books - the usual. There was one secret compartment with a gun, which Ivy quickly put back. What would Clare want with a gun? She wasn't so sure. She lifted things, put them back, opened stuff - nothing seemed to be giving her any information, and she started to feel stupid.

She got up, giving up her useless search, when something caught her eye. One of the folders - it was branded with a familiar name.

Ivy Fox.

Her heart beating quickly, she grabbed the folder and shoved it under shirt. She slammed the drawer shut, got off the chair, nearly tripping over herself as she raced to the door.

A weird sound penetrated her mind, but she couldn't tell what it was. It wasn't exactly a ringing, it was more like an alarm. But not quite like an alarm clock. It didn't have beats it just went on continuously. It had no source, and it made Ivy feel sick. It was almost like a dog whistle. She dropped to her knees as the sound intensified, nearly vomiting on the floor.

The file! She thought to herself desperately.

Her vision swam as she ripped out pages and shoved them into the only place she could think of - down the front of her pants. Would anyone check there? She wasn't sure. She felt weak and sweaty, and soon could no longer even lift the paper or herself. She collapsed on the floor, convulsing and rolling her eyes up in her head. Her vision was now tunnelled and she was drifting in and out of consciousness, everything was blurred and broken. Drool and foam made its way out of her mouth and tears and sweat dripped down her cheeks and forehead.

"She's here!" Someone yelled. Ivy didn't know who they were. She tried to speak, but it came up as a gurgle.

"What file is that?" Somebody else demanded.

"I don't know - turn The Sound off, you'll kill her!"

"She's fine. Let's get her out of here."

Two people lifted her legs and arms and took her out of the office. Ivy tried to fight them, but it was useless. She had completely lost control of her body and everything around her. The file had been taken out of her hands, and she quickly lost all consciousness as she was carried away.