Parris jumped out of her slumber, only to find she was held in place by metal clamps. She tried to look around, but her head was held in place also, leaving her to stare at a plain, white wall. She knew where she was. The featureless white walls and the strong lemon-scented cleaner the janitors used were common throughout the sub-basements of Hexagon. And she was in the chair.
The door swung open and a blonde woman entered, followed by Hashimoto. She was much taller than Hashimoto, who only came up to her shoulder. The fact that she was the first to enter the room, gave Parris the impression that she was a major player in what was going on. Her complete disregard for even holding open the door for Hashimoto even hinted that she was an authoritative figure. The woman held a metal box similar to the one used earlier when Parris had experimented on both Dewan and Eva.
Hashimoto walked up to Parris. “I see you’ve rested well.”
“You had me zapped, what do you expect?”
“For that I must apologize. The guards tend to go overboard at times, I’m sure you understand. You might find this hard to believe, but we’re actually here to help you.”
“Help me?” Parris rolled her eyes. “Now that’s news.”
The blonde woman placed the metal box on the table and turned to Parris. “You could use the help.”
“Why’s that?” Parris looked at her. “And who are you supposed to be?”
“I’m Dr. Tabitha Marx, Dr. Parris. Assuming that’s your real name, of course.”
“It is, Dr. Marx. Assuming that you’ve actually earned your doctorate, of course.”
Marx crossed her arms and leaned against the edge of the table. “Drop the pleasantries. You’re probably thinking that somehow some form of outside help will arrive.”
“Outside help?” asked Parris. “Why would I be expecting help from the outside? I’m an employee of Hexagon Pharmaceuticals. There’s been a big misunderstanding.”
“Really? Because it so happens that our guards found two dead bodies. Two men were shot to death. Are you sure you wouldn’t happen to know why they tried to access Hexagon’s security? Not to mention why you were caught in a restricted area?” Marx leaned so close to Parris’s ear that she felt her breath tickle the surface of her skin.
“We know of the files you’ve accessed. So drop the act.”
Marx’s last words went through one ear and out the next. Dobbs and Levickis were dead and the thought of it caused tightness in the back of her throat. “What?”
Marx backed away from her. “Your accomplices, I presume.”
“You had them killed?”
“Actually, we didn’t,” said Hashimoto. “We both have a common enemy. And they were after the same thing you were.”
Marx crossed her arms again. “That’s why you’re here, because you’re going to help us stop them.”
“By turning me into one of your brainwashed slaves?” Parris snapped. “Go ahead. Just make sure you stand close enough so that I can do to you what Dewan did to me.”
Hashimoto raised an eyebrow and smiled. “My, my, what a temper.”
“Indeed.” Dr. Marx walked to the table. “We still don’t know why Dewan reacted the way he did. We were hoping you’d be able to shed some light on that, since you were the last person in contact with him.”
Parris glanced at Marx. “If you believe that, then what’s your guarantee that once you begin the procedure on me that I won’t do it to myself to escape?”
“Please. You’re completely strapped in. Even if, by some miracle, you were to break free, you wouldn’t be able to do it quick enough before the guards came in and subdued you.” Marx slid the metal box closer to her and opened it. She took out a syringe with its hypodermic needle and cap.
Parris wasn’t planning on being injected by anyone today. She kept forcing the clamps in the hope that they might loosen, but it was pointless.
Marx paused and chuckled, as she stared at Parris. “Go ahead. You’ll only tire yourself out and be easier to control.”
Parris continued to force her bindings, but Dr. Marx got closer with the syringe. Hashimoto watched from a few feet back.
Marx pinched an area at the side of her upper arm, quickly jabbed in the needle and pushed down the plunger. “That’s it, keep at it. It doesn’t bother me one bit.”
Parris breathed hard and stared at Marx with narrow eyes. “Why don’t you remove the bindings? You’ve done what you came to do.”
“No, I think we’ll leave you just the way you are.” Marx pulled out the needle and lowered the visor over Parris’s eyes and ears.
“Dr. Hashimoto,” said Marx. “Please go check on my team in the other lab. Get them anything they ask.” There was silence for a few moments.
“As you wish,” came Hashimoto’s reply.
Parris couldn’t help notice the ambiance in the room between both Marx and Hashimoto. All along she had thought that Hashimoto was in charge, and now this woman comes along, as the obvious leader. It almost appeared that she was controlling him. Could Hashimoto be on Clarity? If he was, it would be poetic justice, considering that he created the drug.
She heard footsteps, then the swinging of a door as it opened and closed. Next came the dragging of the metal-backed chair beside her, just before Marx sat down. “It’s just you and me now, Nita. We’re going to go to a very comfortable place we can both enjoy.”
Parris saw the first few images flash in front of her eyes.