The System’s walls towered ahead as I waited in the trees, hidden from the outer cameras. I checked the virtual alter of my System device for a message from Tazina – still nothing. I had to wait longer for the right time to run in.
I brushed off some stray dirt from the black skirt I wore. My entire outfit had been hard to find: white blouse, black jacket, and flat black shoes which I had plastic wrap over to keep the forest debris off. All within the professional dress the System required. Former bytes wanted nothing to do with those types of clothes once they were among the Outcasts. At least I didn’t have to worry about the rest of my wardrobe once I was back inside. The System would provide everything needed.
A light on one wall blinked out. As soon as I looked down at the device, a message from Tazina appeared: Now!
I ran across the open space between the forest and the System walls. Device tucked under my arm, I unraveled the wall in front of me. I walked through, feeling as if I was swimming through the air. My grip on the string I held was so tight, I was starting to lose feeling in my fingers.
Once I reached the edge of the white tile floor of my target room, I quickly took the plastic off my shoes and stepped inside, not letting go of the string once. Slowly, I reraveled the wall. As the strings tightened and coiled, the view of the forest beyond became more opaque, the lush green blurring until the wall was fully reformed. Until I was left alone in a dark confinement room.
I let go of the string, the wall holding strong. Before anything else, I found the trash chute for the room and tossed down the muddy plastic I’d brought in. The plastic would be torn apart into microscopic pieces and burned to ashes. There would be no trace I was ever outside.
I settled into the bed, sitting up on it as if I’d always been there. With the virtual alter, I sent Tazina my message: Inside. Then, before the System lights could be restored, I switched out of the virtual alter onto the System approved operating system. It connected to the System network instantly.
The System lights turned on, the confinement room basked in a blue-white glow. The ventilation roared as cool air filtered through. It was like I’d never left. Our mission had officially begun.
End of Season Four.