Puppet Without Strings

Chapter 3: Home?

Just know you're not alone,
We're gonna make this place your home.
Settle down it'll all be clear.
~ Phillip Phillips Home

After I had changed into "normal" clothes, I was taken to the lobby of the Rehab Center. I sat in a chair, waiting for transportation to arrive. Meanwhile, I looked around. I saw an old man with a cane, a girl who was missing an arm, and a doctor helping a young child with a deformed face. I was completely taken.

Had I caused any of this? They said that I was also a very dangerous rebel. Could I have hurt anyone beyond repair? As of right now, I wasn't sure if I could even kill. The thought of me taking someone's life made me sick to my stomach. If I previously caused harm to the world in any way, this was my chance to redo it. I obviously wasn't the same girl who I was in the video. I have a lover, and I murdered someone. But now I have a chance to redo it all. To remake myself. To undo the harm I've done.

"Your ride is here," Mr. Carter motioned toward the door.

"Thank you," I said as I headed into the limousine.

When I got inside, I saw that it had velvet cushions and plated gold. As I marveled, the chauffeur started to drive me away. I was scared, and nervous beyond belief.

The limousine finally slowed down in front of the largest home I've ever laid eyes on (since my memory was swiped). Towers rose up, and it looked to be many storied high. There was a magnificent fountain surrounded by flourishing gardens. The front stoop had many steps, and soldiers stood ready on either side. At the door there were a pair of butlers wearing tuxedos. I gasped in awe. This was where I was to stay?

The chauffeur opened the door wide for me.

"Thank you," I said.

He nodded, then quickly hopped back into his vehicle and drove away. I pondered making a break for it, now that there was no one right beside me, but soon realized that the soldiers would catch me. As I got to the steps, a butler came down to meet me. He looked to be about sixteen years old, just as tall as me. He had sea green eyes and a mop of brown hair.

"You are Miss Clark, I presume?" he asked.

It took a minute for my name to register. I spoke when I realized that I was Miss Clark.

"Yes I am," I said.

"Great, we've been expecting you," he smiled a movie star grin. "My name is Joseph, and I'll escort you to your room."

"Well then, lead on, Joseph!" I say.

I followed him into the huge golden doors. Once we were inside, there was a massive sparkling chandelier. We walked on velvet carpet. There were more servants standing at attention. Joseph led me to an elevator which was, surprise surprise, golden.

He pressed a button with the number three on it. The elevator chimed, and I felt an odd weightless sensation as we rose up. The elevator chimed again, and opened.

Joseph led me down a hallway, made a left, and stopped at a door. He opened it sweepingly.

"This, Miss Clark, is your room," he said with a charming smile.

"Wow," I marveled. I spun around, and stopped in front of him. A grin was slowly spreading across my face.

"This is perfect!" I said.

"One more thing," he said. Joseph held up a small remote. "Press this button to call if you need anything. Me or one of the other butlers will attend to your needs immediately."

"Thank you," I said in awe.

He nodded, and walked out of the room. I looked down at the small remote in my hand. I pressed down the button. Joseph appeared very quickly, as he had just walked out of the room.

"Yes Miss Clark?" he said, his brow furrowed.

"Goodbye Joseph. It was great to meet you," I said.

"And you the same,"he said, giving me one final smile.

He left, and I didn't summon him again. Instead, I wandered around my room. I was standing in a lavish room with a thick carpet on the floor. Two cushioned couches and four cushioned chair were circled around a glass coffee table. There was a fire in the fire place, and the walls were all painted a light tan cream color. I smiled, and as I walked on I could see that there was more to see.

I entered a large luxurious bathroom. There was a hot tub, a bathtub, AND a shower. I saw the world's fluffiest towels. There was a cabinet full more soaps and bath salts than I thought existed.

I ran into the next room, excited. My jaw almost dropped to the floor when I looked up. There was a huge fluffy bed. It had to be bigger than a king size. There was a walk-in closet twice the size of my hospital room. It had tons of clothes for every occasion, which all seemed to fit me. In every single room there was a TV.

I was marveling over the enormous collection of books when I heard a muffled giggle from behind me. I spun around. There, was a girl maybe a year or two older than me. Her golden hair was up in a loose bun. She was wearing some simple light yellow leggings. Her matching light yellow shirt cut off at her navel. She was wearing light makeup. This girl was leaning against the wall.

"Who are you?" I had no idea how long she'd been watching me.

"I'm Trinity, your personal beautician," she answered giddily.

"Ok..." I kind of trailed off.

"In other words, I'm here to make you pretty," she said.

I raised my eyebrows. "Why do I need to look 'pretty'." I did quotation marks in the air.

Trinity giggled again. "You're having dinner with the Governor's family and other important government figures."

"Oh," I bit my lip.

There was an awkward silence as we assessed each other.

"Well what are we waiting for? I need to make you pretty!" Trinity chirped.

I let her drag me into the bathroom. We chatted as she applied lip liner, lip stick, mascara, and eye shadow. I stopped her.

"Why do I need so much eye make up?" I complained.

"Because it helps bring out the blue in your eyes," Trinity replied, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. I sigh. In the past half hour, I've learned that Trinity is stubborn, lovable, and probably the closest thing I have to a friend as of right now.

She made me up, pulling my black hair into a dutch braid. She disappeared into my bedroom for a few minutes, and came out with a beautiful gown. There was a sparkly pantyhose. On top of that I wore a dark blue strapless dress. It was the color of midnight. It undid itself at the waist, tumbling into terraces of thin sparkly dark blue. I gasped. I quickly pulled it on. When I was done, Trinity helped me adjust it. She forced me into white high heels. She tosses on a diamond ring, silver bangles, and a silver pendant with the Unified Sectors of America emblem on it. When she was finally done, she took a step back to admire her work.

"How do I look?" I asked, self consciously.

"Oh wonderful!" She said, leading me by the arm to a full-length mirror. I could barely recognize myself. I really did look hot.

Suddenly, there was a sharp knocking at the door.