How Do You Fare?

“Unfortunately, I do not have the time to personally escort you. I must get food and supplies sent to Cadre 11 so I'm going to appoint you a Dove in the meantime. Let's see…” Boyra’s eyes darted over to the wall, “G30.” she called, and a Dove; a tall woman with a long white veil covering her head and dark skin, came forward. Robotically she turned and trekked over to Borya and Sophie.

“Sophie, this is G30. She will be escorting you around the Celect. I know you are not able to speak to anyone at the moment so we will do our best to meet your needs!” Her attention turned to the workers that were scribbling.

Without saying anything, a young boy opened a drawer and pulled out a key that read 302, and handed it to Borya, “This is the key to your room that you will be staying in. G30 will take your measurements and provide you with clothes so that you may rest after you get out of the bath. Or if you are hungry, we can feed you. The Fisherman's son should be here when you get out so please make your decision.” She grinned, giving the key to the Dove, “G30, I grant you permission to speak. To be an individual.”

“Thank you, madam.” G30 slightly bowed, “It is an honor to assist such a young girl. Please come along so that we may get your measurements.”

G30 proceeded through the doorless entrance and Sophie immediately followed her through the entry that lead to a long hallway with oak floors and grey walls.

The pair only traveled a couple of doors down into a room where the door was open.

In the room were beds, separated by white sheers with patients that coughed or snored as well as an elongated desk with papers, tools, and more.

(“This isn't the best infirmary I’ve seen but at least they have one.”) Sophie commented, glancing around and inhaling the peppermint-preened floors.

One of the tools was a measuring tape that G30 swiftly grabbed and began to instruct Sophie to lift her arms up.

As she did, G30 began to measure her.

Her arms, her legs, her torso. Each measurement burned within G30’s mind as if Sophie was her very own child.

When the Dove was finished, she gave a quick nod to Sophie before moving out of the room and into the hallway.

Down the hallway and to the right they turned where a long metal organizer sat on the left side of the wall labeled with numbers and titles such as “Male” “Female” and “Child”.

G30 held her hand out, telling Sophie to wait there while she goes pick out her clothes. It wasn't a long wait, however. G30 returned with a pair of tan clothes in her arms.

“Your room is located in the children's ward.” G30 began to explain, leaving the right hall and heading to the left where a flight of stairs waited for them.

“It's a friendly ward. I hope you enjoy it.” They ascended the stairs and into another hallway.

If Sophie wasn't so used to this by now, she would have gotten lost within the Celect.

It was massive and held approximately 5,000 people with a multitude of rooms for everyone's needs.

She remembers the first time she arrived at one of these places. She was surprised by how organized it was and how friendly the staff was. That was before they tried to keep her hostage and because of that, she set the Celect on fire.

(“Good times.”) she bobbed her head up and down, (“But I'm pretty sure I'm Wanted in the City of Tottait now.”)

After fifteen minutes of walking, they arrived at the children's ward where color splashed onto the walls and drawings were hung up.

Children ran around in the halls in groups, laughing and smiling. Sophie assumed they had just woken up.

Duskiness had officially arrived and nearly all of Iparia lives during the night. It was better that way.

The Monsters were still as if they were giant statues built 1,000 years ago by creative hands and hard-working minds.

G30 stopped before a door that had a “vacant” symbol on it, “This is where you’ll be bathing. Inside on the right hand is a basket. Please grab whichever suits your fancy. I will be here.” she held her hand out, signaling to give her the rucksack that clung onto her back.

Sophie slid her rucksack off and handed it to G30 at the same time, G30 handed her the neatly folded pair of clothes.

Sophie stepped into the bathroom and could hardly contain herself.

The bathroom was small with aquamarine-colored tiles that covered the walls, floors, and ceiling.

White lanterns that hung on chains illuminated the room.

On the right was a metal rack with pink and blue baskets filled with shampoos, soaps, conditioners, wash towels, and one to dry yourself off.

Sophie skipped over and grabbed a basket filled with fruity-scented soaps and shampoos and set it on the sink counter.

The bathroom was a rectangular shape with the head of a shower on the other end, straight ahead from the door was the vanity with several sinks and in the middle was a silver tub.

(“This is the best! I can't wait to get this dirt off of me.”) she began to snatch her clothes off of her, headed directly for the shower, and pressed the hot water button.

Immediately hot water gushed out of the nozzle head and she dove right in, allowing the water to run down her body.

(“Finally!”) she thought to herself, removing the back band that held her hair together and tossing it onto the floor.

At first, the water that slipped down the drain was dark in color but the more she showered, the light it became. Eventually, once she was clean, she trotted over to the bathtub and began to run the water. While the bath was running, she grabbed a soap from the basket and tossed it in the bath.

(“I think I’ll sleep after this. Its been a long day.”) she watched the water rise, (“I'm not even halfway there. What a pain in the ass. If only I hadn't gotten lost.”) Angrily she turned off the water and sat in the tub, leaning her head back against the rim, (“I will have many days to go huh?”)

She closed her eyes, (“I still have to cross The Grey Forest, Sufdwell Peaks, Votberg Heights, and The Deserted Volcano…all of which have annoying ass monsters and Demons. Oh, and dont forget about the piece of shit Forests too. I hate this world.”) she clucked her tongue, (“But it’ll all be okay once I hit the City of Books and be with my Aunt Doe. Then maybe, I can finally see him.”) A smile pressed on her face as she lifted her arm and held her hand out, (“And we will dance under the stars again.”)

A hard knock landed on the door, “Sophie, the Fisherman's son has arrived. Please finish up and get dressed.” G30 requested and Sophie’s face twisted.

(“NO. I just GOT IN. UGhhhhhhhhh…..”) she slipped out of the tub and unplugged the bath. Angrily she walked over to the counter and grabbed the white fluffy towel. Sadly she dried herself and got dressed in the tan lounge clothes that were a little big for her and the white grippy socks. She gathered up her clothes, and her hair tie, and opened the bathroom door.

“I will allow you to put your stuff in your room. Your room is this way.” G30 lead the way, a few doors down until they stopped at Room 302. The door was already half opened with a voice coming from inside. Sophie pushed the door open to see a bright red-headed child on one of the beds, jumping up and down, singing a song. The girl stopped, her hair stopping with the motion and she looked at Sophie with big green eyes and a broken smile.

“Hello! Are you my roommate!?” she jumped down and rushed over to Sophie, grabbing her hands, “It's so nice to meet you!! My name is Anastasia Benegaid!”

Sophie blinked, nodding her head before removing her hands from Anastasias and heading to the empty bed that was against the right-hand wall.

“Oh right! I forgot they told me that you’re not able to talk!! It's okay I got paper! We can communicate through that!!” Anastasia cheerily screamed. Sophie replied to her with a smile and a nod, (“I forgot I have to get paired up with someone. Yikes.”)

With a wave goodbye, Sophie left the room with G30 and headed back to the first floor. Around the corner, they turned and down the stairs, they went where Borya waited alongside a boy like no other.

Sophie had never seen someone shine more than the Fisherman's son and swore he was a Prince from one of those old fairytales they use to tell children.

He was a pale-faced boy that held the perfect smile with soft baby-blue eyes and short golden hair that swooped to the side. He wore a beige-colored shirt with an open brown vest and black pants with matching-colored shoes.

His entire embodiment screamed that had never stepped foot outside the walls. Had never seen the true horrors of the world. This world here, safe behind the bloody walls, was his kingdom.

And he liked it that way.

As soon as she took a step down, he held his hand out and gave a bow, “Hello m’lady. How do you fare?”