Katie's Hellion

Katie crossed her arms, self-conscious with the looks the others gave her. Her arrival silenced conversations and made most everyone do a double take. Even if not for Rhyn's name scrawled across her neck, she'd draw attention. None of the other immortal Amazonian warriors were below six feet. They came in all colors and complexions, some slender and graceful like dancers while others were muscular. She heard several different languages spoken before those she passed fell silent.

"This room's empty. Go ahead and make yourself at home. I'll come get you in a minute," Megan said, pushing a door open near the end of the hall.

The room was more welcoming than she expected, the stone walls covered and smoothed with Sheetrock painted a light green and edged with pumpkin orange. The room contained two full-sized beds and two large wardrobes along with military-style trunks at the foot of each bed. She had yet to see a window. She sat on the bed, placing her small satchel of belongings on the nightstand. The room smelled of vanilla mixed with some other exotic scent, the beds covered in soft white duvets with pumpkin- colored pillows.

She looked at her belongings and then at the room around her. It was nice, but eternity?

She felt a deep sense of loneliness and longing. For the first time in years, she wanted her sister around. Tired and conflicted, she lay back on the bed, taking great satisfaction out of a real bed after the few days on the flimsy bed at the Sanctuary.

"You need to rest, or do you want to see more of this place?" Megan asked, chuckling as she leaned against the doorway. "I'll show you where to go for logistics."

"Logistics?"

"Clothing, bathroom stuff, anything. They have all kinds of good stuff. You can order things out of magazines or from your favorite stores or pick from what they've got."

Megan led her again through hallways that fell silent when she passed. They crossed more intersections, descended to the level below, and stopped outside of double doors.

"Clothes, rations, gear," Megan said with a toss of her hand down the hall toward several other open double doors. "Cafeteria's on this level, too, all the way down at the dead end. This is the women's clothing department."

Katie braced herself for a storage room full of military uniforms and was surprised to see what looked much like a women's department section.

"Cold weather, transitional, summer weather. In the back they have more exotic clothing, like Indian saris and the like. Pajamas, underwear, socks, bras in that corner. You know what hemisphere you'll be in when you leave?"