I apologize for the not posting this sooner, life got the better of me and my spare time...
I was a bit in a hurry to publish this so no beta was done, I apologize in advance for all the mistakes
Ruth woke up in a dark room that didn't quite feel like her bedroom. She felt the wall behind her where the light switch should have been but couldn't find it. She felt herself starting to panic when someone knocked on the door.
"Suzan, wake up sleepy head, you're going to be late for work," A man called from the other side.
"Suzan?" Ruth mouthed quietly, while still looking for the light switch.
"That's you," Said a calm voice inside her head, "And the man outside is your brother, David, you share a flat together, don't you remember?"
"I'm Suzan" Ruth repeated the information to herself.
"That's right," answered the voice, which she now recognized as her own.
Ruth finally found the light switch and turned the lights on, she got out of bed and stood in front of the cupboard mirror, "Suzan," she repeated the name again
"Come on, I made breakfast and it's getting cold!" urged the voice from outside
"Right, silly me," Suzan smiled at her reflection and then raised her voice and said, "I'll be right down David!"
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Eleanor sighed as she watched Ruth and Steve, or as they were now called Suzan and David, on her monitor having breakfast. They both looked quite content as they chatted with each other.
"Looks like we're getting better at this," said the young man who set next to her, "Both of them assimilated their new identities in record time."
Eleanor smiled at him in response, Steve was the first subject they let him monitor on his own and he was doing a great job so far.
"Just don't let your guard down, Ron, even for a second," she cautioned him, "We don't want any more mishaps."
"I won't," he reassured her.
Eleanor turned her attention back to the monitors as Ruth and Steve were clearing the dishes. She kept telling herself that what they were doing was necessary and that this time they have taken all the possible precautions, but deep inside of her something still didn't feel right.
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Harry was reading the text message on his cell phone for the third time, "Still sick, nothing to worry about, will call later x Ruth" was all it said, and it was almost identical to the one he got the day before. The problem was that Ruth's last call was two days ago when she first got ill and he was starting to get very worried.
"What do you think I should do?" He asked Scarlet who was walking beside him.
Scarlet barked in response and wagged her tail.
"You're right," he laughed, "probably nothing to worry about, she'll be fine. Come on. Let's get the morning paper."
Harry just entered the store and greeted the man at the counter when he noticed the familiar woman on the other side of the store standing with her back to him.
"Ruth?" He asked cautiously as he approached her, the woman didn't respond.
Harry reached her and placed a hand on her shoulder, gently turning her towards him.
"Ruth, it is you," he smiled, "What are you doing so far from your home?"
"I'm sorry?" the woman looked a bit confused, "Do I know you?"
"Ruth? Is everything alright?" Harry now looked very concerned.
"My name is Suzan, not Ruth." She said firmly.
"Ruth! What's going on?" Harry said as his grip on her shoulder tightened.
"Run!" Said the voice in Ruth's head
"I'm sorry sir, I don't know you, could you please let me go," Ruth said while pushing his hand off her shoulder.
"Ruth!" Harry was now shouting when the woman pushed him aside and ran out of the store.
He tried to run after her but Scarlet's leash got tangled on itself with all the excitement and by the time he got out she was nowhere to be seen.
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"Oh shit", Eleanor mumbled as she saw Harry approach Ruth on the monitor, "This can't be good."
She picked up an earpiece that was connected to the terminal and shouted a single word into it "Run!"
"I have to get out there and sort this mess out, "She told Ron once she saw that Ruth was following her order, then she got up and out of the surveillance van and into the street.
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Harry stood outside the store panting and surveying his surroundings when he noticed someone standing on the other side of the road looking at him.
He quickly crossed the road and approached the woman, who motioning him to follow her. She led him into a small garden behind a building where she set on a bench, indicating that Harry should do the same.
"I'm sorry we have to meet like this, Mr. Pearce," She started with no introductions," but I just wanted to reassure you that Miss Evershed is perfectly alright and will be back to Section D in a week's time"
"Who are you? What the hell's going on?"
"My name is Eleanor, I'm from the Section of Psychiatric Research, Miss Evershed and a few other operatives were selected for an experiment we are conducting, I can assure you that it's perfectly safe and any effects this may have on her should be reversible"
"Should be?" Harry could hardly contain his anger, "I'm sorry, but I'm not really reassured by that. What kind of experiment is this and who the hell authorized the use of real live operatives?"
"I promise you that everything went through the proper channels and that we have authorizations for everything," Eleanor tried to sound calm, "I can't tell you more about the experiment at this stage, I can only apologize for not telling you anything in advance and ask you to please stay away from Ruth"
"I will not do such a thing!" Harry was now yelling, "I demand that you stop this experiment right now"
"I'm sorry sir, we can't do that," Eleanor stood up in an attempt to get away from his wrath, "you are requested to stay away, and that is a direct command from the DG, good day"
Before Harry could say another word Eleanor turned and practically ran away, leaving him alone with his anger and frustration.
Next chapter - a short journey into Ruth's subconscious
I really hope that things are a bit clearer now, I will try to post the next one sooner, but you already know what might help with that (points at the shiny review button) ;)
