Chapter 1

The clocked chimed as it did every hour and Rosalind Lutece cast a glance at it. It was only 10 in the morning yet she felt as if she'd been working for hours. She should not have been surprised as the hours always dragged when she was at work. She really needed to get used to the constant monotony of her job.

Her job was simple enough, she had to monitor a young girl. This young girl was named Elizabeth Comstock and she was the child of the man who had hired her. She was 15 years old and had spent her entire life in isolation. Rosalind had met the girl when she was 6. Although saying that they met was reaching. She had been handed a stack of files about the girl and told to read up on her.

There hadn't been much information besides a few statistics for growth and health. Her subject was boring and she really didn't understand the point of it. And yet... she stayed.

It was safe to say that she was attached to her. Despite the fact that they had never spoken-and Rosalind was not sure if she could speak at all- she felt a connection. Perhaps it was only because Elizabeth made her feel useful. There would be no one to watch over and care for her if Rosalind were to quit.

"She's stable." she murmured as she began to take notes, "At least, she shows no signs of discomfort." That was the only way Rosalind could ever know if she was sick or hurt. In the past 3 years, Elizabeth had only been sick once. They had put medicine in her food and the issue had resolved itself. That had been the most interesting thing that she had seen.

The scheduled recording came on and she rolled her eyes. Her supervisor, Zachary Comstock, had decided when she turned 10 that 3 recordings would be played every day. One before each meal. They were mostly biblical stories read by him and from what she could tell, Elizabeth enjoyed them. A few times a month, a new recording would play. Rosalind found it annoying. It was a tale of the dangers of the world outside of her room. She supposed Elizabeth would not question her imprisonment if she was made to believe that whatever lied outside of her room was terrible.

"You know..." her brother spoke up, "She always stable."

Rosalind turned and saw him leaning back in his chair and attempting to balance a pen on his nose.

"Thank you." she said sarcastically, "I forgot all 9 years of data." She was always annoyed when he came to visit in between projects. When he was so bored that he came to her to complain and goof off. "And sit up, before you fall."

Robert sat up and dropped the pen onto the floor. He crossed his arms and looked towards the large window. "I'm bored."

"Go home then." she said. He was not required to come into work every day like she was. He was mostly involved in small projects that were more suited to his degree. He found great joy in those projects and Rosalind hated to admit that she was jealous of him. She had a degree in physics and yet she had yet to apply it at all. Instead, she watched a 15 year old draw pictures of the same things every day.

Rosalind turned away from him and back to Elizabeth, she had gotten up to stretch now. She had realized early on that she could not stay seated in that one spot all day. Rosalind wondered if the girl was so small because she was trapped in the room. She wasn't sure how it affected her growth, perhaps she would start researching that. It would be interesting at least.

"I don't like this..." Robert said.

Rosalind reached out and dimmed the observation window. "She's known nothing but isolation, to take her out now would only cause problems that you and I can't solve." she said with a sigh. He always mentioned his dislike of Elizabeth's living situation. He was most likely thinking of how he would feel if he had to live in her shoes. Her brother was always more empathetic than she.

"I meant this," she looked at him and saw him smirking as he held up a crumpled paper, "Today's menu. It's garbage."

"What are they serving?" she asked. She never usually ate at work, the food wasn't good and she was too busy watching the girl. She was sure that Elizabeth would never do anything different but she had to record it anyway.

"Macaroni and cheese." Robert said, "But it's made with the fake cheese that they've begun serving. And oh? What's this?" he gasped, "Cherry jello."

They both wrinkled they're noses at the same time, "We could go out for lunch." she suggested.

"But what of the girl?" Robert asked, "If we leave, she might choose to use a blue crayon instead of red!" Rosalind glared and Robert chuckled, "I'm only joking, let's go out."

"No," she shook her head, "You're right, I shouldn't neglect my job for food."

"Oh, don't be like that."

"You'll have to bring me something back." she said.

"Come along?" he asked.

"No." she shook her head, "Hurry back."

"What are you in the mood for?" Robert stood up.

"Peaches." she answered without a thought. She hadn't tasted actual fruit in a while but she remembered that she loved peaches. Right now she was so used to eating crackers and drinking coffee. She was neglecting her health, she knew it, but she didn't really care. "Or just some tea." she added.

"Hmm." Robert hummed thoughtfully, "I think there's a small market nearby." Rosalind watched as Elizabeth set out her drawing pencils. She was missing 2 of them. Where had they gone? Perhaps they had broken and she had discarded them. A quick glance at the trash bin proved that theory wrong. Maybe she just didn't need them then. Although she usually set them all out anyway. Rosalind made a note of it. Whatever the case, she would have to give the girl a new set soon.

"How about I cook tonight?" Robert grabbed her attention again.

"It's still breakfast time." she reminded him, "Let's focus on lunch first." He was pacing the office now. Something he always did when he grew bored.

"Right." he agreed with a sigh. He came to sit next to her and rested his elbows on the desk.

Elizabeth was drawing now a picture of Comstock again. With so few models in the room, Elizabeth had long ago begun to replicate what she saw in the videos. Books, rabbits, flowers, and Zachary Comstock.

"She draws very well." Robert said.

"It's all she does." Rosalind said, "After 9 years, I would hope she'd be good at it." Rosalind watched as she drew Comstock sitting at his desk. Her movements were robotic, she was only doing it because it was all she knew.

"There's just no feeling in it." Robert added. He had always been the better artist out of the both of them but Rosalind agreed. She only drew him because he was all she knew. "How about I get lunch early? So it'll be here when you get hungry." Robert suggested.

"You just need an excuse to leave." A small smile graced her lips before disappearing just as quickly as it came, "You know, I'm not keeping you here. You're free to go whenever you want."

"But then I'll *feel* bad." he said, "Because if I go do something interesting, you'll still be here."

"It's fine." she said.

"I just don't understand why." Robert sighed.

"Yes, you do." Rosalind set her clipboard down. She didn't want to have this conversation with him again.

"9 years." he said, "You've spent 9 years watching her draw pictures of Comstock at his desk. There's no variation in her life. I'm certain you could leave for a week and nothing will have changed."

"Robert-"

"Has it been worth it?" he asked, "All that money you spent for your degree, wasted." he crossed his arms and looked at her.

"No..." she felt her ears heating. Robert had a habit of acting like their father. Even now, with his arms crossed and his stern glance, she felt as if she were a child being scolded. Of course she knew this job was not worth it. She was still just as poor and useless as when she'd stepped out of college. She was trapped in a contract that she's signed when she was 18. One she hadn't taken the time to read through fully until she thought of leaving. She would have to pay thousands of dollars and with the debt she owed from school, she would never be able to pay her way out.

"Hey, how about some chocolate?" she looked back up at him and saw his gaze had softened.

"I don't like chocolate." she sighed.

"Peppermints." he suggested, "Or butterscotch, I know you like those." he picked up his jacket and started for the door, "An entire bag of assorted candy would be better, right?" He was out the door before she could respond.

0.o.0.o.0

Robert always knew whenever she was even the slightest bit upset and his usual response was always candy. She didn't usually eat candy but he made sure that if she wanted to, she could have as much as she wanted.

Looking down at her desk, she opened the bottom drawer. It was full of candy still. She was sure that Robert didn't know that she didn't eat much of what he gave her. She usually let the bag sit on her desk for a week before dumping it all in the drawer. Perhaps she should take this bag home with her.

Rosalind picked up a piece of candy and looked towards Elizabeth. A memory of both she and Robert running through the neighborhood they grew up in flashed in her mind. They had kept the money they had been given for church and rushed to buy candy with it. She was always excited when they did that. Robert assumed it was because she liked candy, but it was actually the thrill of doing something she was not supposed to do that made her excited.

Rosalind considered, only for a moment, giving Elizabeth some candy. Had the girl ever had it? Not in the 9 years that she had been in charge of her, she had never once given her any. Perhaps it would be cruel to start now. She'd want more and more and that would lead to cavities. How would she explain that to Comstock?

The meal bell went off and Rosalind put the candy away. It was 11 am now. That meant she was to start heating Elizabeth's food.

Rosalind retrieved the meal from the fridge. It was the same as it usually was, some form of bread and a host of vitamins that Rosalind would crush into dust and mix with water until it was the consistency of a very chalky butter spread. The scientists who had originally come up with her food plan no longer worked there. Rosalind wondered if what they fed her was still acceptable. She was no longer a 6 year old, her needs had changed.

The smell of the pills made Rosalind wrinkle her nose. She hated it but Elizabeth needed them. The girl was not allowed to have anything else. Rosalind crushed the pills and began to mix in the water. It didn't matter if she poured the same amount in, the consistency was always different. At least today it was better.

Next, she took the bowl of soup over to the microwave and began to heat it up.4 minutes and no more. While waiting for it to warm up, she began to set up the tray for Elizabeth.

She thought of how Comstock had been so against her having hot food. It was only 5 years ago that she had managed to get a microwave. Why had he been so against it? Perhaps so that when she was finally released, he could introduce her to basic comforts like heated food and she would be amazed.

Rosalind had only managed to convince him because she told him it would be easier for her digestive system if she wasn't always eating cold food. And on the day she had first given her hot soup, Elizabeth had burnt her tongue.

Then, Elizabeth had reacted with confusion as she watched the steam rise from the bowl. She picked up her spoon and dipped it into the soup and seemed shocked that the soup hadn't completely changed. And without a thought, she put a spoonful in her mouth.

It was the first time she had heard anything other than humming from the girl. She had yelped and backed away from the bowl as if it was a creature that would attack at any moment. She had burned her tongue and Rosalind hadn't been able to give her anything to ease the pain. It had taken a week for her to eat the soup again.

Rosalind retrieved the soup and set it on the tray. She remembered to check the temperature on it. So long as it wasn't too hot, Elizabeth would eat it. The concept of waiting for it to cool down didn't seem to make sense to Elizabeth.

Below the window was a two-way slot. When one end opened, the other was locked shut so that there was never a chance that Elizabeth could interact with anyone. Rosalind would admit that it seemed cold. Children needed love and care and Elizabeth was purposely denied it. Elizabeth didn't seem affected by it, not yet. Perhaps she would notice if the ever let her out.

Rosalind set the food inside and Elizabeth stopped drawing to retrieve it. Rosalind sat and watched the girl spread the chalky mixture onto the bread and eat slowly. A loud screech cut through the halls and the lights flickered. Elizabeth glanced up at the lights but didn't stop eating. Rosalind knew Elizabeth's room was soundproof, she should not have been able to hear anything at all. Rosalind wondered if she could hear the screeching. She didn't seem to notice it.

As usual, Rosalind watched as Elizabeth ate. She made a note and sat back. Hopefully, Robert would return soon.