Inbetween Worlds

Hunter awoke in his room.  It was early morning, he guessed about 7am, however the room didn't have a clock to confirm his suspicion.  It didn't have much of anything really, it was all white save for a metal door.  The only furniture to speak of was a desk that was part of the architecture, a basic white chair, his bed with plain white sheets, and a wooden dresser.  The dresser stood out being brown amidst the white room.

As he got up, he strained to listen to the noises outside of his room to confirm his suspicions about the time.  He heard a few voices down the hall and decided it was time to get up.

After pushing the covers off, Hunter sat up in bed, flipping the lights on as he did so.  The fluorescent lights flickered to life while he tried to rub the sleep from his eyes.  They protested his efforts but eventually he got one eye, then the other to open.  He surveyed the room and, as usual, nothing was out of the ordinary.  He got out of his bed and stood on the cold tile floor.  Already missing the warmth of his bed he staggered over to his dresser and pulled out a pair of black jeans, a grey t-shirt and a pair of grey boxers.  Each article of clothing had its own drawer with a few identical garments in each of them.  It may seem bland but after seeing nothing but white for so long it was one hell of an improvement.

Hunter proceeded to reluctantly walk over to the grey metal door with his clothes in his grasp.  He slumped over into the wall, pressing a grey button with his forehead.  The door opened with a futuristic hissing sound as it slid open and disappeared into the wall.  After a good stretch he started out the door and down the hall, squinting his eyes at the harsh lights.

    The halls, much like his room, was white with grey metal doors lining each side.  More fluorescent lights lined the slightly curved hallway, reflecting off the white walls and floor.

“Damn.  the lights in the hall are way to bright this early in the morning.”  Hunter muttered to himself as he made his way down the hall a bit to the bathroom.

On his way over a few people said hello to him, which he replied with a nod and a drowsy smile.  Upon reaching the bathroom he pressed another button with the side of his face causing the door to hiss open much like the one to his room.  He plopped his clothes down onto the flat shelf beside the sink and turned to lock the door.  Once satisfied the door was locked he stripped out of his sleepwear.  His sleepwear consisted of a pair of white pajama pants and a button-up, short sleeved shirt.  They were fairly plain other than the Numbers across the back and the right front pocket like a nametag on the shirt. However instead of a name, it read, “0001”.

After discarding his sleepwear into the corner he started the water for his shower.  He let the water warm up as he grabbed a towel from under the sink and hung it near the shower.  Testing the water with his hand, and deeming it comfortable, he stepped into the warm water.

The water seemed to wash away fatigue as he sat and smiled, letting it wash thru his hair and down his back.  Grabbing the shampoo he washed himself.  After he felt satisfied and clean he toweled off, got dressed, brushed his teeth and combed his messy hair.  Smiling in the mirror and satisfied with his morning routine, he grabbed his sleepwear from the corner and headed out of the bathroom.

Now awake, he said hello to the people passing by.  Back at his room he tossed his sleepwear onto the bed and headed out to see his father.

As he approached the end of the hallway he found two heavy metal doors.  Feeling dramatic he pushed both doors open wide and jumped through the doorway.  the room was large and, like the rest of things here, white.  It had a steril look about it, much like a hospital but with science mixed in.

He saw his father furiously jotting down notes that were no doubt important.  His reasoning came from the fact that he was the only one not looking at Hunter after his dramatic entrance.

“Good morning everyone!”  Hunter greeted the room.  The reply being a good morning in return, almost in unison but not quite.  His father was looking at him now, smiling.

“Good morning Hunter, how are you today?”  His father asked while gesturing him to sit down on the examination bed.

“Pretty good, although would it be too much trouble to get a clock in my room?” Hunter complained while his father hooked up a few medical devices to his arm and chest.  “I never know what time it is in the morning.”

“ I know, I know.” His father said, bobbing his head sarcastically.  “First you wanted clothes, then a dresser, now a clock?  The band around Hunter’s arm tightened as his father spoke.

“Well when you say it like that it makes me seem greedy…” Hunter trailed off as the band got even tighter.  “But that was like a year ago!”

His father chuckled, “I don't know if you need a clock.  You seem to come here every morning at 7:30 on the dot.”  He said as the band loosened around Hunter’s arm and the machine it was hooked to made a long beeping sound.

“Well I have been doing this my entire life you know.”  Hunter said comically as he removed the band from his arm.

“This is true.” His father put his hand to his chin. “You know when I was your age, I didn’t get up till noon if I was let be.”  As he spoke another machine let out a long beep and he started removing the sensors on Hunter’s chest.

“Whatever.” Hunter said indifferently, wincing as his father took off each sensor. “It’s a surprise I have any fur left on my chest after doing this every morning.”  He rubbed the spot the sensors used to be.

“They weren’t designed for someone like you but they work fine.” His father said looking over the data on the two monitors.  “Speaking of fine, once again you are perfectly healthy!”

“Huzzah!”  Hunter said sarcastically moving one finger in a circle.

“You just wait,” his father warned, “one day you will get sick and be the most pitiful thing in the world.”

“Uh-huh.”  Hunter said indifferently.  “So...can we get breakfast now?”  He put on his best pleading face to try and convince his father.

“Well I have a bunch of important tests to do,” his father winced upon seeing Hunter’s pleading face, “But what the heck, today they have omelets!”

“Yey!” Hunter proclaimed while hugging his father.  “It’s been like two weeks since I’ve gotten to eat breakfast with you.”

They walked out of the room into the hall making idle chat about whatever came to mind.  As they arrived at the cafeteria, Hunter noticed the lights were off inside.

“So I told Margret abo-”  Hunter trailed off, “I thought the cafeteria would be open by now.”  He slowed down but his father did not change pace.  “Are we going in anyways?”  He asked as he caught up with his father.

“Why not?”  His father replied as he opened the door and let Hunter pass through.

The walked into the dark room, but before Hunter’s eyes could adjust the lights were flicked on.

“Surprise!” everyone yelled.

Surprised, Hunter jumped back, still straining his eyes from the bright light.  There were fifty or so people in the room and his eyes fell upon a banner hung above the group.  “Happy 19th” was written on the banner.

“How did I manage to forget that?” Hunter said bewildered.  “Today is my birthday!”