The Report is Gone

I didn't remember all that happened in my dream, but I knew it had something to do with myself before I found myself in the airport with nothing. All I could recall was a basement that had a lot of bookshelves lining the walls. When I woke again the room was empty and I felt a little better. But I stayed in bed. Sapientiis had not come back during the night. Closing my eyes and resting my right arm above my head, I let my mind wander. I didn't hear Sapientiis come in. His fingers brushed my cheek and moved through my stiff, blood red hair.

"Patientia Quercus," he said softly. (Patience Oak)

I opened my eyes. Sapientiis knelt next to the bed, his sun glasses off so I could see his blue eyes.

"Quid sensus es?" he asked. (How are you feeling?)

"Lassus. Quid sensus es?" (Tired. How are you feeling?)

"Bene. Cur lassus es?" (Well. Why are you tired?)

"Mihi mente currens." (My mind is running)

"De quid?" (Concerning what?)

"Tota." (Everything)

"Quid?" (What?)

"Omnia me ducitur huic temporis momentum." (Everything that has led me to this moment)

"Cognosco," he said, kissing me. (I understand)

I touched his right cheek and he smiled.

"Esurisne?" (Are you hungry?)

"Non esurio." (I am not hungry)

"Cur non?" (Why not?)

"Nimis lassus." (Too tired)

"Bene sensus es?" (Are you feeling well?)

"Bene, sed lassus." (Well, but tired)

Sapientiis nodded once and ran his fingers through my stiff hair before leaving once more.

Though I felt tired, I got up and washed all the gel out of my hair. The warm water felt good, but left me even more tired. Dressed in a clean suit, I went to the desk to pick up my USB drive. My sunglasses were still there, but the USB drive was gone.

"Sapientiis?" I asked aloud.

He didn't respond.

Still, I looked around for it. I checked all the drawers and suit pockets, but never found it. Putting my glasses on, I left the room and took the elevator to the lobby. Glory was there.

"Gloria," I said. (Glory)

She turned to me. "Patientia Quercus, quid falsus?" (Patience Oak, what's wrong?)

"Vidistene Sapientiis?" (Have you seen Wisdom?)

"Non vidi," she replied. (I have not seen him)

The elevator dinged and Sapientiis stepped off the elevator. "Patientia, tuum commentarius habesne?" (Do you have your record?)

"Non habeo. Id habes?" (I don't have it. Do you have it?)

"Id non habeo." (I don't have it)

I nodded and Sapientiis shouted to the receptionist. "Sera deorsum!" (Lock down!)

Doors and windows locked and all persons were called to the cafeteria. Was my USB drive that important? If it was, I doubt whoever had taken it was still in the building. Gloria and many other agents entered the elevator as the call was repeated in several different languages. I had turned to the doors as they locked and only moved when Sapientiis grabbed my arm.

"Endimus," he said. (We need to go)

The moment we stepped off the elevator, several men and women surrounded us as we walked down the halls to the cafeteria. The room was full, nearly everyone was standing. The room was silent, save a single voice. They were speaking in German and I didn't understand what they were saying. Sapientiis wrapped his arm around me and repeated a few of the words in Latin. "Investiga... conclavem... omnes hominum...hic remane." (Investigation...room...all people...remain here)

"Dubito id reperent," I said softly. (I doubt they will find it)

"Cur ille vocasne?" Sapientiis asked. (Why do you say that?)

"Nimium tempus praeterivit." (Too much time has passed)

"Reperent, Patientia. Id scio." (They will find it. I know it)

I just nodded, not about to argue the point. The room remained silent as a thorough search was made of the building. Then slowly, the room was emptied as each individual was searched then escorted to their rooms. It was a hopeless cause. The search proved fruitless, but I still didn't understand why that tiny piece of plastic and metal was so important. Sapientiis and I were the last ones searched. The USB drive was not to be found. Though he had tried to hide it, I knew Sapientiis was worried. His grip on my hand tightened slightly as if he were afraid to lose me if he didn't.

Lock down was lifted, but the comings and goings of everyone was more closely monitored. Security footage was checked, but nothing out of the ordinary stood out. I was kept in our room with a guard outside when Sapientiis was gone. Tensions ran high for several days before a small package arrived. Security opened it and found my USB drive. I had been reviewing my journal when Sapientiis came in to tell me.

"Patientia, veni. Tuum commentarius hic est." (Patience, come. Your record is here)

"Ubi est?" I asked letting it close. (Where is it?)

"In imum tabulatum." (In the basement)

Sapientiis fidgeted a little while the elevator made its way down to the basement.

"Quid falsus, Sapientiis?" (What's wrong, Wisdom?)

"De tuum commentarius sum sollicito. Indicium deesset." (I'm worried about your record. Information might be missing)

"Cur malus est?" (Why is it bad?)

"Malus est. Me credi." (It's bad. Believe me)

"Aliqui mea fabulum legissisne?" (You've read some of my stories?)

"Nondum." (Not yet.)

As the doors opened, Sapientiis grabbed my hand and ran down the hall. We weaved through bunches of people, that conversed in the hall, until we stopped at a room. A few other agents were there and a laptop. My USB drive had been plugged in and waited for me to check it. A chair was pulled out for me and I sat before I checked it. My music was there. The inspirational articles I had saved were there, but my journal and my stories were both gone. There was one document on there that was new. I opened it.

Nice decoy. Well worn cover—as if from heavy use—yet only music and typical societal views left behind. You catch on quick, Patience.

"Quid est, Patientia?" Sapientiis asked. (What is it, Patience?) The message was in English, so he didn't know that it said.

'Decoy? I don't understand. All of my information should have been on it still. But that's not right. This is my USB drive! None of that information had been backed up.'

"Patientia?"

"Id illecebra est," I said. "Omnis gravis indicium deluisset." (It's a decoy. All important information has been erased)

"Quid?! Id habentne?" (What?! Do they have it?)

"Non habent. Ante deluit." (They do not have it. Erased before)

"Quid? Cur?" (How?)

"Nescio. Id exiaci." (I don't know. Throw it out)

I left and went to the elevator. I didn't know how to feel. My USB drive was useless to me now. I couldn't play the music. The documents were easy enough to find again if I really wanted them. But I still had my journal. What of my stories? Did Sapientiis still have them? Would he read them? Would he be able to figure out what they were after? When the doors to the elevator closed, I slid to the floor and wept. The doors opened again when the elevator reached the lobby. No one was there. Then it continued to the very top floor. I got off and climbed the stairs to the roof.

The day was cloudy and already the air was filled with the smell of rain. The distance to the ground was several stories, but I sat and kept my gaze on the rooftop. My cries were silent, but soon the clouds ripped open to cry with me. As I cried, "My Life" remained clear but didn't move to the center as I wept. I cried until I was shivering. Slowly, I made it to my feet and back to the door. I started to reach for it when it burst open.

Sapientiis pulled me into a tight embrace, one hand holding my head against his shoulder. Chills ran down my spine and he walked with me back inside and to our room. He let me go, so I could change into dry clothes. I changed into a pair of pajamas then lie down on the bed. My tears had stopped and I was only left with a headache. I lay facing the wall. Then the bed sunk a little behind me and Sapientiis wrapped his arm around my waist.

"Quid falsus, Patientia?" he asked, his chin resting on my shoulder. (What's wrong, Patience?)

"Omnia." (All things)

"Cur omnia? Tuum indicum tutus est." (Why all things? Your record is safe)

"Vero, sed... nihil habeo!" (True, but... I have nothing!)

More tears burned my eyes and I felt Sapientiis move himself between myself and the wall so he could hold me closer. "Me habes," he said softly. (You have me)

Taking a deeper breath, I got the tears to stop forming and fell asleep.