Episode 33: Intentions & Outcomes (Emily)

She woke up with one intention (more of a hope) her mind – that despite not yet being engaged she would someday call herself Emily Hartmann.

She walked down the sidewalk toward the ocean. She wanted a few moments to just exists and drink her coffee before she had to face quitting her job. It was a delicate situation at best.

She could taste the sweet frosting swirled into her drip coffee mix with the bits of her strawberry donut that lingered in her mouth. She had a slight worry that she was pushing Rhyss to be someone else by suggesting het get a job at the donut shop (even though the pay was good, and she had just brought it up not insisted), they move to her dream house on the coast (it was her dream house, get married, move in together (that was his idea, actually), have a family (that she did not plan, but she also didn’t avoid and didn’t mind). The shared bank account was all him.

Still, it was a lot and it was fast and part of her worried she was funneling him down fantasy lane.

He didn’t seem to mind any of the ways his life had changed thus far, so she wasn’t going to spend too much time worrying about it. She had other things to worry about, like how her boss would handle her quitting her job.

When she got to work, she found the office empty. She wandered the halls in search of either her boss or someone that could direct her toward her boss. Unfortunately, no such person existed.

Finally, she came across another one of the program advisors, that controlled more militaristic things but still was high enough rank to be useful.

“Good morning, Cecil,” she beamed. “Have you seen Lithiana?”

“She’s not in today,” he replied in a tone that reminded her of someone carrying an entire fridge with only one other person helping. She hoped that wasn’t his relaxed voice.

“What about Keaton? I need to speak to one of my superiors.”

“I can pass a message,” he replied.

She could probably nail a message to him with how stiff his personality was. She wished she had another donut to offer him. Maybe something other than the white walls of the building would move him to have some form of emotion beyond bland.

“I want to begin transition out of my job,” she said, in a calm voice because she didn’t want to make it sound like as big of a deal as it was.

“Today,” she added, so maybe he would move at a pace that didn’t scream I am watching everyone in every hall and I will kill you if you misbehave.

Cecil was one of the most difficult aspects of the job. She had never behaved in a way that would alarm him, aside from asking to quit, but that didn’t make him act any more friendly. In fact, she had been one of the best employees and was allowed to travel between realms, as long as she had a spell that prevented her from talking about the facility.

“You don’t like your job?” he asked, with a hint of inflection as his pace slowed.

“I am going to take a few years off of work,” she said, phrasing it in a way that sounded like she may even come back to this place of torture and hell for most people.

The job had been a blessing, compared to what the cults had to offer her. It was safety. She had safety at home now, and she knew more magic than anyone she had met, though she tried not to advertise it. She wasn’t the smartest student in class ever, but she was the most dedicated and at the end of the day wiccan magic wasn’t about being the smartest it was about being the most dedicated and focused.

Cecil continued walking, at a faster pace now that he had decided how he wanted to handle the information.

Emily wasn’t excited about it, she had a feeling she should have rejected his offer to take a message and she should have just waited.

Cecil was the wrong person to talk to about this. His line of work was more till death.

“I may do some work part time, for the next few years, but closer to home would be ideal,” she added.

“Let’s talk in my office,” Cecil said. “I’m sure we can sort this out.”

She followed him, because she didn’t have any other choice, but she knew that this wasn’t going to end well. She could try and continue working but she had alarmed THE alarm. It was not a good place to be. She hoped she would at least be able to talk to Rhyss about this, maybe continue visiting home once she worked on her terms. She was pregnant. She could at least ask for maternity leave, that would have to be reasonable.

At worst, Ms. Anney was watching out for her and would figure something out.

She tried to calm her nerves, because reacting to the situation would only make things worse.

“I’ve appreciated the opportunities here, but other opportunities have come up. I’m well past the two year obligation,” she said as they walked down another hallway.

Cecil was silent, except for his feet on the floor, as they walked the rest of the way to his door. He opened it and inside she was greeted to a deep blue room with rich wood. The shelves were lined with books and a few decorations, including a miniature telescope.

He moved toward his side of the desk and moved the mouse for his computer, “Have a seat.”

He typed something, probably a warning about her, into the computer, then turned his attention toward her, “Remind me again what your name is?”

She wanted to laugh at her paranoia: ATTN: Lithiana and Keaton – blonde girl that smells like yeast and sugar has decided to quit.

Maybe he was just doing normal work stuff. He did have a job.

“Emily Gibson,” she replied as she smiled.

For now, soon Emily Royce Hartmann, or maybe Emily Gibson Hartmann. She could decide if she wanted to keep her dad’s name or if she wanted to move her last name as a new middle name.

It’s not like she was insane for planning this when Rhyss still hadn’t proposed. She definitely had time to consider the possibilities. Or relax and just enjoy Rhyss.

“And you work with a group of young children?” he asked, his hands folded on the table.

“”Yes. I’ve been with them my entire time here,” she replied.

Cecil leaned back in his chair, “Maybe the problem is that you don’t find the work fulfilling. Would you be happier with older students? More challenging material?”

She was pretty sure he was looking to ‘hire’ her, and was describing a selection of his students.

“I’m pursuing an opportunity with a younger group: twins,” She replied, a smile crept across her face and she resisted the urge to fixate on how excited she was.

Who had twins.

Her aunt did, so there was something to it.

“What about a pay raise?” he asked.

She knew she should take it. She could do so much with a pay raise. They already paid her more than enough to live. A pay raise would be amazing.

But it would include a new contract.

She didn’t want her kids near that place.

Emily wanted to be home with her kids, doing small jobs in the community as she was needed. She didn’t want to be here everyday without them.

“I want to stop working within six months,” she tried to negotiate. A six month contract wouldn’t bother her, then she could take some time off to be with Rhyss and their babies.

“I’m sorry,” Cecil said as he leaned forward and shook the mouse to wake the screen up. “You’ve become a flight risk. That’s disappointing.”

He didn’t sound disappointed. He sounded like her, when Rhyss had brought up moving in together.

“I’m not a flight risk,” she insisted. “I was told I could leave after two years.”

“Plans can change,” he replied.

He was smug. He was a jerk, because he had changed plans only to mess with her. Whatever he saw in her that he wanted he wasn’t acting within her own superior’s contract with her.

Though, in a place like this they would follow in line. Cecil had a lot of power.

“Do you offer maternity leave, at least?” she asked.

She could take a few months off, to be a mom. She would have waited to ask Lithiana or Keaton but she could tell, by the way he typed things into his computer and the presence of guards behind them, that she was no longer working under either of her previous bosses. She was Cecil’s now.

“We’ve prepared a new room for you,” he stated.

Things Emily cared about at the moment? Not new rooms where Cecil could install cameras and watch her every move.

His smile ebbed to the rest of his statement, in a sickening way that made Emily want to throw up, “In the secure area.”

She had heard girls, in the halls, talking about how hot he was over the years, but all she saw was someone that wanted to take advantage of anyone he was capable of controlling. His body was useless with such a dark heart.

“If you’re having twins,” he stated after brushing his hair out of his face, “they can be part of a twin study we’re planning.”

Her body coursed in alarm and she tried to keep her eyes open, looking at the window behind him, instead of closing her eyes to make plans for how to escape now. She would have to; she was a flight risk now.

“Okay,” she replied. “Thank you for handling this.”

Thank you for handling this. That was the kind of statement you made when you were plotting how to run away.

She was plotting. She didn’t want to be stuck there or let her kids be experiments. The value of children there…

Ms. Anney would help.

He smiled, in one of those shark ways that meant I will destroy you if you disobey me.

“I’ll have you start working with a group of teenage boys, on culture and customs and etiquette.”

She belted out a laugh, as though it had come from behind her and been forced through her body.

He asked about the father, of which she replied her fantasy-boyfriend-love was a no one.

If she could do anything for Rhyss, it would be to protect him even if it hurt.

“Would you like to get a note to him?” Cecil goaded.

He sounded almost genuine, but it was definitely goading since he was smug.

“Maybe my cousin, at his donut shop? I think he cares more that I’m not coming home.”

If she got a letter to Antoine, Rhyss would see it and Ms. Anney would see it. It was a smart move. She would get out of this. Somehow. Also, Rhyss was more safe. Also, safe zone meant no magic. That would be frustrating.

“Donuts by Antoine?” he asked as he tore a piece of paper from a notepad and passed it to her. “We’ll make sure he gets whatever you write.”

Whatever you write, another word game. Whatever was limited to, “What am I allowed to write?”

“That you’re moving here and not to expect you home,” he replied. So she wrote that, except she wrote it in a way that would get through to Ms. Anney, and maybe Rhyss.

“What about food?” she asked as she wrote a joke about the time she was trapped behind a sink, except she only mentioned the sink being broken and that he better take care of his equipment. Antoine was sometimes smart – Ms. Anney could compensate for everything he lacked.

“I’ve been allowed to cook and bring things from out of realm,” she continued, as she signed her name.

“We’ll provide everything you could need here,” he stated.

She doubted they would provide strawberry donuts and Rhyss.

“What about requests? There are things I would enjoy that would prevent me from becoming a flight risk.” she replied, hoping to make jail at least somewhat enjoyable.

“Security will prevent you from becoming a flight risk,” Cecil stated.

“Why?” Emily asked. “I’ve been good my entire time here. Why can’t this be worked out?”

Emily tried to hide the panic in her voice, but she knew that her emotions were betraying her attempts to be collected. “I just want maternity leave and to be able to move between realms as I have.” She held her shoulders back. She should have known  better than to request her leave.

Cecil straightened some papers, then look up at her, “Your children will be looked after here when the time comes. This is your home.”

Emily set her own piece of paper on top of the stack, at an angle, with the words facing up, “Of course it is.” Home sweet sterile death trap.

“It is what you make it, Ms. Gibson.”

“It is what you make it, Cecil.”

She looked him in the eyes, “Thank you for what I’m sure are very comfortable and spacious accomodations.”

He broke eye contact, as he folded the note. “Your escorts are outside, if you’d like to see your new accommodations.”

Emily stood, and deliberately left the chair slightly skewed instead of pushing it all the way in line with his desk. He seemed like the kind of person that would fix it before leaving his office. She hoped he was. She didn’t want to end up in a horrible situation, but a slanted chair was a small and fun way to tell him to f off.

“Please let Jane know I’d like to see her at her soonest opportunity,” she stated.

Jane, more than her bosses, irritated Cecil.

“Jane no longer works with you; you’ve been transferred to my department.”

He had hardly touched his keyboard. He must have just decided the moment she walked in that he wanted her and was going to transfer her, from a job she loved, no matter what. She didn’t want to see his little military projects and know that most of those faces wouldn’t live to see their next birthday.

“Why?” she asked, again.

“I have a group of students who have never been around a girl before, but it’s important that they learn certain things,” he said as he bumped the chair with his foot, to straighten it.

She shivered at the idea of being some learning tool, but she was able to calm the reaction by her pleasure in his response.

She focused on Ms. Anney and hoped that whatever powers she had would let her hear Emily’s plea for help.

“Such as?” she asked, wondering if he was man enough to admit what he was doing to her or if he was weak and unwilling to be honest.

She was a prisoner, after all.

“Culture and customs and etiquette,” he responded behind a small grin.

So, he had weaknesses. She catalogued the possibility into her mind and promised to find out all of them.

“Where am I expected next?” she asked.

Just as she had sensed, thanks to a spell that wasn’t ruined by the defenses of that place, there were three guards and two escorts outside the door.

“In your room,” he stated. “I’ll get you when I need you.”

Emily left with the guards, and glanced back as they turned a corner. Cecil had already retreated to the room.

She kept thinking about her twins, their safety, Ms. Anney, and how she was going to get out. She could play nice and wait – something would come up. She could figure out everything she could, all the schedules and weaknesses and try and find a way to get herself out too.

For now, acting calm would be her best way to regain some freedoms.

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