Waiting Room

Tick, tick, tick. Olivia sat under a giant, analog clock. The kind that grade schools use, but bigger. Much, much bigger. So big that it took up half the wall. It wasn't a bad room to be stuck in. There were comfortable chairs, the temperature was perfect, and it was well lit. There just wasn't anything to do in there . That's all. By the time Eagle Eyes opened the steal door, and threw me in Olivia was beyond happy. Not even because it was me, but that she would now have someone to distract her bored mind. "How was it?" She asks excitedly, wrapping her arms around me. "Weird." I answer simply. She breaks away from the hug. "That's all you have to say?" "Well, I don't think I'm on his good side anymore." "I gathered that from you being down here. What happened?" She asks. "Oh, he wanted me to shoot the sun." "He wanted you to shoot the sun?" She repeats. "Yeah, strange right?" "It is. But that's all he wanted you to do?" "As far as I know." "Ok. Did you shoot it at least?" I shake my head. "Why not?" "Because the sun looked like a smiley face." Olivia squints her eyes. "What?" "You know, It looked like one of those yellow smiley faces. They were really popular in the 70's." "I know what that is. It really looked like that though?" "It did." "That's a little disturbing. I can't say I blame you for not shooting it." Olivia takes a breath. "And then what?" "And then he wasn't happy. So, now I'm here. What is this place anyways?" " I was told it was the it is the waiting room." "What are we waiting for?" Olivia shrugs. "We're waiting. That's all I know."

Shoot the Sun

Eagle Eyes handed me his jacket gun. "Ready? On the count of three we blast the thing to hell." I shook my head hesitantly. "One.. " I raised the handgun. It was much heavier then I thought it would be. I had never held a gun, let alone fired one before. I was nervous and couldn't keep myself from shaking. "Two.." I took a deep breath to steady my aim, but then I saw the cartoon eyes staring back at me. How could I do it? "Three!" Eagle Eyes fired his rifle directly into the mouth of the smiley faced sun. It then broke off into a million little, yellow balls of light. The balls of light scattered in every direction. Some went in the abandoned buildings. Others landed in the streetlights. All of them did their part to illuminate the ghost town. In the end the city started to look alive again. I marveled at the sight and thought to myself perhaps Eagle Eyes did a good thing. "Pretty, isn't it?" He asks. "It sure is." I say in admiration, sticking my head out the window. "It's a shame you had nothing to do with it." He says, jabbing my side with his rifle. "What's this about?" "You showed your true colors today." "What are you talking about?" I ask. "You didn't help. Now, earlier you mentioned how you wanted to see your girlfriend. No problem. I'll take you to her."

Rising Sun

I stared out the room's only window and watched as dawn slowly broke. It reminded me of my time with Bernard, the lighthouse worker and how he would enjoy watching sunrises.The main difference between the two would be that Bernard looked on at sunrises with awe and admiration where as Eagle Eyes saw sunrises as something he had to eliminate. A light purple was streaming in. The sun was still no where to be seen, but curiosity was flowing through me. Eagle Eyes glanced at me. He saw me biting my lip. "The sun will be here soon. Don't worry." "Are we really going to shoot it?" I ask. "You bet." "But why?" "Don't ask why." "Then how?" "Do exactly as I do. That's how." Eagle Eyes turns back to the window. "It's cooler today." He says, changing the subject. A few moments pass by. More light purple fills the room. I squint my eyes and see a bit of yellow off in the horizon. "That's it!" I shout excitedly. "Yes, but we need to wait. We'll never hit it from this distance." I wait for few more minutes, trying not to look directly at the rising sun. It is soon so bright that all I can do is stare at my feet. Eagle Eyes yells at me several times to look up but I can't. Water flows down my eyes. I look away one more time. Eagle Eyes yells at me again. This time however, he screams in jubilation. "It's here. It's finally here." I look up to see a bright, yellow face staring back at me. It is reminiscent of the smiley faces from  the 70's except it has teeth. "Now shoot it!"

Eagle Eyes' Instructions

Zip escorted me to Eagle Eyes' office. He gave no indications  why Eagle Eyes summoned me as we climbed the many stares. Actually he didn't say anything at all. I didn't mind the silence though. It was  not as if we were friends. Besides what could he possibly tell me that I'd to hear other than why anyone would call him Zip. It seemed like such a stupid name, and a drastic departure from the formal last name basis of the other soldiers. I  hated everything about this man. I hated his blonde buzz cut, I hated his deafening silence, and I hated his stupid name. I brewed on this animosity as we climbed higher and higher. Eventually we made it to Eagle Eyes' office. Eagle Eyes, just like last time had his back to us as he looked out the window. "He's here , sir." Zip announced. "Thank you, Zip. You may leave now." Zip did as he was told, closing the door behind him. Eagle Eyes turned around. He had a bottle of brandy and  a glass. "Care for a drink?" "No, not now." "Then I won't either." There was a brief pause. "Don't you want to know why I've asked you here?" "I want to know why you have my girlfriend locked up." "I've done some research on you." He says changing the subject. "Oh you have, have you?" "Yes, I have." "And what have you learned?" I ask. "I know that you are a general, or at least somehow rose to that status at one point." "How did you find that out?" "Never mind. You are not in trouble." He assures. "Then why do you care if I was a general?" "There is a war going on. You can shake your head all you like, but it's real. You've heard this before from me, but I need to know are you with me or are you working behind my back?" "Who are we even fighting?"  "Not the answer I wanted to hear." Eagle Eyes reveals a hand gun that was hidden in his jacket." "Ok I'm with you. I'm with you. What do I do though?" "Stay here. Dawn will be in a few hours." "And then what?"  "Then we shoot the sun." "What?" "You heard me. We'll shoot the sun."

Confronted

"I've been thinking. This place isn't so bad." "Not so bad? We were just told we can not see our friend who they shot." Olivia reminds. "They're just a little strict." I say. "Forgive me. I didn't realize you drank the kool aid." "I didn't drink the kool aid I just don't know why we want to leave." "You can't think of one reason why we would leave?" "I can think of a few, but let's look at the facts. We got a place to stay and they're probably keeping us safe from the aliens." Olivia slaps me lightly. "Snap out of it." "All I'm saying is maybe it's not so bad. Maybe we're too quick to judge." Olivia shakes her head. "You've lost it." "I have not lost it." I insist. "You have. There is no other explanation." We hear someone clearing their throat and turn around to see Davies. "Sorry to interrupt. May I have a seat." Davies sits down besides us before either of us respond. "What exactly is your business?" He asks. "You mean right now? We're trying to eat." Olivia remarks. "No, not now. I mean with the man." "What man?" Olivia asks. "You know who I'm talking about. The other man. He's your employer." Olivia stares at him for a moment. "So what if he is?" "There shall be no knowledge kept secret. What is your business with this man?" He questions. "It's fine we just go out and seek the unknown for him." I say, trying to cool things off. Unfortunately my words did not help one bit. Davies grabbed Olivia by the arm. "What are you doing?" I shout. "It sounds like spy work to me." "Well, it isn't." Olivia says, as she is being picked up. I try to pry Olivia free, but Davies pushes me away. Davies attempts to walk away. There is a soldier blocking him. "Out of the way, Zip." "I have orders."  "Orders from who?" "Eagle Eyes." Davies takes a deep breath. "What does he want." "He wishes to see them." "He wants to see both of them?" Davies asks. "Yes, but mainly him." He says pointing to me. "Then escort him upstairs. I'm locking this one up."

Food Delivery

Davies watched Todd carefully as he handed Jones and Norm their meals. Norm sniffed the gruel.
"What is this." "It's food." Jones says while digging in his fork. He takes a bite and grimaces. "Well, it's sustenance at least." "It is. Be thankful." Davies says scornfully. "Oh, we are. You always hang around together?" Jones asks. Todd briefly looks back at Davies standing by the doorway. "He insisted." Norm clicks his tongue. "Gotcha." "Hey, where's the other two?" Jones asks. "They couldn't make it." Todd says. Jones knowingly nods. Norm sighs quietly. "Don't be disappointed. You're starting to sound like my employees." Todd says, jokingly. "Employees." Davies questions. "Oh, it was just a joke." Todd clarifies. "A joke? What did you mean by it?" "Well, the other two technically work for me." "They work for you?" Davies shouts. "Yes, technically." Davies leaves without saying a word. He slams the door behind him. Norm clears his throat. "No offense, but I think you made it worse."

Mess Hall

Olivia, Todd, and I soon found ourselves in the mess hall. It was filled with loud  soldiers and dead eyed lunch ladies who served a grey meal of some sort. The three of us sat at a table far away from the other soldiers and examined our food. "What do you think it is?" Todd asks. "I don't know. It's food of some sort." I  reply. "You gonna eat it?" Olivia asks. Before either Todd or myself could answer Davies sat down at our table. "Sure they will. They'll eat it." "What is it?" I ask. "Doesn't matter. Eat it." He says. I reluctantly take a bite of the grey gruel. It had a strange taste. It was meaty and tough, but cold and wet at the same time. "Not so bad is it?" I choose not to say anything. "You three are in trouble." He says sternly, changing the subject. "What did we do?" I ask. "You didn't wait for me to come back. You left without me." "We didn't know we were supposed to wait." Olivia says. "You should have. You don't do anything from now on without  my or Eagle Eye's permission. You got that?" We all slowly nod our heads. "I know that raccoon is your friend, but I can't have you visiting him anymore. At least not at the same time. You proved you can't handle that." "Can I at least visit him now?" Olivia asks. "Are you kidding me? You want to visit him now?" He questions. Olivia nods."Why do you want to visit him now?" "Someone has to give him his food." She says. "You're right. Someone has to give him his food, but it doesn't have to be any of you. I'll find a guy to do it." "It's just..." Olivia starts. "It's just what?" He snaps. "It's just it would be good for him to see a friendly face." "You're right." Davies turns to Todd. "You're coming with me to bring their food." "Why me?" Todd asks, befuddled. "Because you didn't ask. Come on up." Todd gets up out of his seat. Davies then addresses me and Olivia. "You two stay here. I'll know if you left."