Chapter Two
The Deep Slumber
A week had passed. The last week passed in a haze. A lot of goodbyes, a lot of introductions, a lot of documents, a fair number of medical tests. Ava had consented the very next day. She was sure she wanted to go. She was excited, and scared, and worried, but she was looking forward to it.
Now, sitting in Mulwray's room, Ava waited in anticipation. She heard footsteps. Her mouth was dry. Suddenly the door creaked open and Janet Mulwray walked in.
"Good morning dear." She smiled at her and started rummaging through some papers. "How are you feeling?"
"Nervous."
"That's alright." She smiled.
She checked her blood pressure one last time. Convinced that everything was okay, she said to Ava, "Would you follow me, please?"
Mulwray led Ava out of the room into the hospital alley, with flighted footsteps, she followed her. She was led out of the Bovine department, and finally out of the hospital through the back gate, where she boarded a bus. Mulwray led Ava into the bus. There were two men and another woman. They were being led to the facility too. Mulwray loaded the coordinates into the bus.
"Well, good luck to all of you. I will visit you again tomorrow. Try not to be frightened." She smiled and signed off.
As the machine roared to life, Ava looked at her companions. Two athletic, well-built, rather attractive boys. Little patches of beard over their cheeks, sharp jawlines, blue, deep-set eyes, with a piercing look. The other woman was a lovely lady, slightly older than she was. She looked stunning with her green eyes looking out of the window as they were being led.
"I'm James." One of the boys extended his hand. Ava didn't accept the handshake, he retracted it after a while, a bit awkward. "And he is Chase" Ava looked at the other boy, he was too distracted to answer back. Ava forced a smile. The silence was eerie. All the noise came from the machine they were in. The entire trip was spent in awkward silences.