Alone Again Or | Page 6

into a body: a softness and a verbal curse struck his back. He fell forward, catching his balance inside the room.
"Shit," he said.
He turned around, newly conscious of the sound his hard rubber soles made on the brushed metal floor.
A girl stood in the hallway looking at him with an eyebrow raised and rubbing her elbow. She wore a small plaid skirt and a plain white shirt.
"Shit," Syd said again, throwing his hands against his thighs in a symbol of exasperation, "I was checking the door number."
The girl had soft skin, red hair, and looked his age.
She smiled a small smile and continued to rub her arm.
This was a bad idea, Syd thought.
"Did I hurt you?" he said, stepping forward, "I'm Syd. Has anyone told you about me?"
She nodded.
"I'm Somnam. I was in the shower."
She held out her hand and they shook.?
"They woke me and told me I was getting leeched out," she said, and smiled again. "You normally up this late?"
Syd smiled but did not respond. He couldn't tell if she was disappointed or not.
Her eyes caught his attention. They were yellow, with streaks of blue and green running to the whites.
"I don't like my name," she said, "they name us from a directory here. It's all random."
Syd nodded. He didn't know what to say.
"Well," he said after deliberation, "are you ready to go? Do you have to pack or anything?"
Somnam laughed. "I don't own anything. This is a prison."
Syd nodded.?
She moved forward, rubbing her body against his and placing an arm around his lower back. She pulled him close but kept her face at a distance. Her eyes were bright and neon.?
"I'm ready to leave with you," she said.
This is weird, Syd thought.
His mouth tasted like hangover acid.
She's gorgeous, he thought.?
He felt guilty and displaced, like he was in an anxious dream.
The hallway was painted brown, with a dull blue high traffic carpet. Somnam slid her hand down his arm and took his hand. She pulled him down the hallway, away from the elevator he'd arrived on.
"Can you take me out to eat somewhere?" she said as they rounded a corner. Syd didn't see anyone else awake, but assumed it was because of the hour.
His eyes searched the halls; he wanted to know if all the teles had to wear uniforms like Somnam's, or just the ones who were married.?
"Sure," he said, "where do you want to go?"
Somnam laughed and Syd felt an urge to touch the back of her neck as she led him. It was an animal feeling; he felt aroused by her presence and saddened at the realization.?
"I haven't been outside these hallways in fourteen years," she said.?
"I want to say it when we get to the elevator" Somnam said as they came to another corner in the long string of metal doors.
You want to say what? Syd thought, but kept silent. He planned to do so until they were outside. Being in the building made him feel shaky and nervous.
Around the corner was a different elevator than Syd had used to reach the dorm. A man stood in front of it, armed with a revolver. Syd could see the man was strong, and he had a face like a bar fight junky.
"Well, well, a midnight requisition," the man said when they neared him. "I have to say, waking me up to let this one out is a double punishment. I won't be able to watch her walk to class anymore."
Syd watched the man's eyes run up and down Somnam. He began to feel more like a pervert, and felt his anger rise towards the man.
Why, he thought, did they make her wear that little uniform?
"The metro," Somnam said, her voice stronger and louder than the one she'd used on Syd.
The man nodded and punched a string of numbers into a keypad next to the elevator. The door opened. The man stood in the way, the gun still in his hand.
This is like meeting a prostitute, Syd thought. This is wrong. This was a bad idea.
He pictured Somnam sleeping next to him and smiled. He felt sick to his stomach in response.?
Fucking uppers, Syd thought. My mind is moving to fast.?
"Card?" the man said.
Somnam pulled a card out of the waistband of her skirt. She gave it to the man. She took of a small black band ring and handed it to the man. He gave her a shiny one in return and she put it on.?
Fucking nice wedding band, Syd thought.?
The guard stepped aside and they got into the elevator.?
"You sir," the man said as the door closed, "are a very lucky man."
Syd felt terrible. He wanted to tell the girl to go back to her dorm and wait for someone else. He looked at her and saw she was looking at him.?
He gathered