THE ALGORITHM

13.

A rhythmic sound of rain droplets hit the roof of the mansion. Penny settled on a padded table, gaining solace from the noise. Her eyes combed the room. The walls were off-white, giving the space a warm, relaxed feel. A few charts and certificates decorated the wall. There was a sink, followed by a soap-and-towel dispenser. Several pieces of medical equipment sat in the room, indicating to Penny that she was inside an exam room.

There was a window in the small room through which she was able to look out. She pushed herself forward, sliding off the table, and the sound of the crinkling paper beneath her agitated her. Penny neared the window and leaned forward with her eyes widened. The clouds were swollen and grey as they sprinkled rain across the borough of Manhattan. She noticed how elated the trees were. They swayed back and forth, enjoying the consumption of rain. Everything looked saturated–from what she could see.

Oh, to be a tree, free and happy.

Penny missed it so much. It had been a while since she was outside. If only she could stand out in the rain and make the most of it. She would never complain again about her hair and clothes getting wet. She closed her eyes briefly, remembering the earthy scent the rain left behind and savoring it.

Slowly, her eyes opened, and she felt a lump in her throat. Penny's eyes blinked a few times as she pressed her hand against the glass. She looked down at the window pane, noticing the sash lock attached to it. It was shifted to the left, indicating it was locked. Her mind raced viciously, and she contemplated silently on what choice to make. Escaping was always part of her plan, but she never took any action. There were always guards around watching her, so she decided to push her plans back.

This, however, could be the perfect way for her to escape. No one was inside the exam room; it was just Penny. Guards weren't allowed in due to privacy reasons. However, they were permitted to wait outside. Scoop brought her in earlier for a checkup, and she reluctantly went through with it. She complained about her menstrual cramps, and Bilal forced her to see the doctor, assuming something was wrong with her. Dr. Sterling stepped out to run a few tests, which gave Penny an ample amount of time to get out of the mansion.

Quickly, she shifted the lock, causing it to turn in the opposite direction, indicating it was unlocked. Penny's heart drummed as she ran her sweaty hands over her gown and tried to push the sash up. When that didn't work, she pulled away and tried to shift the lock back to its original position. Penny pushed the sash again, but it failed to open. She sighed in defeat while inspecting the window, trying to figure out why it was unable to open. A thick, white line covered the edges. She realized someone had caulked the inside and possibly the outside, which is why it wouldn't open. Feeling frustrated, she leaned her head against the cold glass and closed her eyes again, trying to calm herself down. Her heart drummed with nervousness, and a lump formed in her throat.

The door opened, but that didn't make Penny move. Dr. Sterling held a clipboard as she pinpointed the young girl, who was leaning against the window, wearing nothing but a white gown and socks. The doctor stood there in silence for a moment. Her green eyes narrowed in suspense.

"The weather is pretty nasty out there." Dr. Sterling began, deciding to say something. Her eyes chose to look through the window quickly. She stepped further into the room, nearing her desk.

Penny didn't bother to move or respond to the doctor. Tears burned at the rim of her eyes, but she kept them shut to prevent them from spilling. Her life wasn't supposed to go this way. She'd been shut off from the world for a month, and now she was starting to reminisce about the days she didn't take advantage of her freedom.

"I'll more than likely be stuck in traffic when I leave here." The doctor continued.

Stuck? Stuck? STUCK! Penny screamed in her head. She scoffed while pulling her head away from the window.