Road Trip

*Sandra*

I woke up curled up in this big bed, still naked. I decided I needed a shower, So I got up and headed to the bathroom. This bathroom didn't have a garden tub like the country house did. There was a walk-in type shower. It had more shower heads than any one person could ever need. I turned on one of them and got inside. I was shocked to see my shampoo on the shelf with a brand new loofa in its packaging that said sunshine on the top with Sharpie. Must have been Miss. Janet. She thinks of everything. I grabbed the loofa and some soap and started lathering myself up. I rinsed off in the hot water and leaned up against the wall. This has all been a whirlwind of emotion and revelations. I stood there and let a few tears escape before getting out of the shower and drying myself off. I threw on a pair of joggers and a hoodie, braided my hair and made a mental note about asking to go get my hair cut. When I walked out of the bathroom I picked up my phone. No messages.

To: Smoke

No one needs that many shower heads, it's a bit excessive. Hope your meeting is going well. Going to try to find my way back to the bottom.

-S

I walked out of the bedroom. Got a drink in the kitchen and sat down. Im sure there is a guard posted outside of the door. Probably Jay. I hope he isn't resentful of being stuck watching over me all the time. Now that I know he is number two, I assume he is used to doing more important tasks. It's like someone telling the secret service to watch the housekeeper instead of the president. A definite demotion. I walked to the door and opened it trying to remember how he said to get out. I put in the code and nothing happened. "TWO CAN YOU HEAR ME?" I tried yelling through the door, no answer there either. I looked for the small remote. He must have taken it out with him when he had gone. I picked up my phone and looked for his number. It rang maybe three times when he answered. "Yes?" was all he said. "You have locked me in your ivory tower, I cannot get out." He didn't say a word. I could hear someone yelling in the background. It sounded like someone was in pain. "Shut Up." That voice came out of him again, like it did in the comm when he was talking about Ryan at the police department. "Smoke, are you there?" I tried to sound unaffected by what I was hearing. "I'll take care of it." I'm sure he didn't mean to sound so harsh. I started to say something and he hung up on me. The bookcase started to move and I knew he had told someone to let me out. I walked through the room and out the double doors, Jay was right behind me. I looked back at him and almost spitefully asked if he would take me to get my hair cut. He shook his head no, but smiled at me. "Am I a prisoner here?" He shook his head no again. "Then why can I not leave here without permission?" He shrugged his shoulders and walked me to the bottom of the stairs.

I looked around the large room and asked where I could find Smoke. He wouldn't answer me. I pulled out my phone and had a message.

From: Smoke

I'm sorry the showerheads seemed like an inconvenience to you darling. I will see you in a bit. Taking care of some business.

-S (a bit excessive)

I smiled. I didn't respond. I took a deep breath and started to walk towards the front door. The two guards there stepped in front of me to keep me from passing. I looked back at Jay and he said something into his comm. The two guys moved and he followed me out onto the grounds. "I would like to get my hair cut." He said something into his comm before shaking his head no again. "I can walk or you can drive me." I started to walk towards the cars. He followed a little more frantically. He walked around me and opened the car door. I smiled at him and jumped up in the seat. He shook his head and got into the driver's seat. I could swear I saw him smirking. When we were pulling out of the driveway, I took a deep breath. I know Smoke will be worried. He will probably turn that all into anger. I am not even sure why I chose to leave, I think I just wanted to feel like I wasnt asking for permission again. This city house was a little much for me. I wanted to do something for myself. "Jay I apologize if this causes a problem for you." He looked into the rearview mirror. "Sunshine I was told to protect you. To stay with you. That is what I am doing." I was taken aback by his candor. "He speaks." I think I saw him almost blush as he chuckled under his breath. I asked him to take me to a small little beauty shop I use to go to when I was still in college. It still sat there. I got out of the car and walked inside. People looked at me funny, I would say because they saw my pictures on the news. "I was found safely." I giggled and walked up to the counter.

I got my hair cut, but not too short, just about to my shoulders. The woman told me she didn't think it was a good idea to bleach my hair where it was such a dark black. Told me to come back when it had faded some, or grown out more. When I walked back outside Jay was no longer standing by the SUV. I swallowed hard. An instant feeling of fear entered me. The back window rolled down some and I saw Henry's eyes. I was relieved to see his friendly face. I got in the vehicle with the help of a different guard. "Hey," I said when I got inside. "Oh Sunshine, We were so worried about you." He wrapped one arm around my shoulder. "I just wanted a haircut." I smiled at him. I felt guilty for worrying him. "Jay told us. Sunshine, no one told us you had left. Smoke looked everywhere for you. He even went out to the greenhouses. He was terrified, I have never seen him scared before. It was strange." He looked out the window. "Oh no, did I get Jay in trouble? He was protecting me. I didn't give him a choice." I saw him flinch slightly at the name. "Listen Sunshine, he was told, he didn't listen." I looked at Henry with tears forming in my eyes. "Is he okay?" He nodded at me, "He'll live." Henry seemed upset with Jay as well. "Is Smoke mad at me?" I asked quietly. He didn't answer right away so I asked again. "He is upset with the situation Sunshine, I don't think he is mad at you." I just stared out the window quietly the rest of the way.

When we walked inside the front door, Zeus walked up to me and hugged me tight. "I just wanted a haircut," I said into his shoulder. I looked around and couldn't see Jay anywhere. Zeus told me Joseph was waiting for me in his office. When I walked in Henry pulled the door shut behind me, and I jumped. Jay was sitting in a chair facing the big cherry wood desk. I noticed it matched the one in the country to a tee. I hadn't pulled my phone out which made me overly aware it was in my pocket. I didn't even think to look at it. Joseph wouldn't look up at me but asked me to sit down. I looked over to Jay noticing a cut above his eyebrow. "You hit him? He only did what I asked him to do. He was doing his job!" I was seeing red now. "I didn't hit him Sunshine, Henry did." That must be why he flinched when I said his name. I looked over at Jay and mouthed "Im sorry". He nodded. "You are dismissed two, Thank you for ensuring she was safe. Go get some ice for that." Jay nodded and walked out of the room. I took a deep breath realizing I was alone now. "Smoke, I, I just wanted to get a haircut. I realized you would be busy for a while and gave Two no choice but to take me."

He stood up and walked around to the front of his desk. Leaning down in front of me I could see the fear slowly dissipating from his eyes. He placed his hand on my cheek. His voice was rather small. "You didn't tell anyone you were leaving. I thought someone took you. I thought Ryan had you. I thought.." He trailed off.