I stepped into a room very similar to the one that I'd just left. A reception desk was across from the elevator that I'd just stepped off of. A sharply dressed woman in black clothing was sitting at the desk. I noticed that she was staring at me as soon as the doors opened, and she didn't break her gaze while I stepped out of the elevator, quickly sized the room up, made note of the glass doors behind her that appeared to lead to two separate hallways, and returned my attention to her.

"Um," I started, unsure of what to say to her. "Hi."

Her neutral expression didn't change, but she adjusted her glasses slightly and briefly looked at something behind the facade of the desk. I assumed there was a monitor there of some sort. I didn't have time to ponder what information she might be receiving, because she spoke.

"Welcome back, sir. We've been expecting you."

That really threw me off.

"You're kidding, right?" I asked. "You do this to all of the trespassers on your property?"

She raised an eyebrow. I noticed her eye color, then: blue. It was a really good color for her.

She avoided answering the question, probably because it was a stupid one. She typed something into a keypad on the desk, and then she returned her full attention to me, clearing her throat.

"We know who you're looking for. We have the answers."

My heart leaped into my throat, and I felt dizzy and nervous. I could hear my pulse in my ears. Blood pressure rising, anticipation. Anxiety.

Still drifting...

Find me...