The Memories

Chapter 2

"The chair? Like electric?" I asked.

"No no no. It's not an electric chair it's much worse." I wondered what could be worse.

"Well what is it?"

"It's called Project BTBBC. Aka, the bring the beat back chair. They only use it on questioners because it's an easy way to get information out of people. I had to go in it once. You will never lie again after being in the chair."

"What does it do?" Now I was scared.

"It basically kills you, but as the name suggests, it brings your heartbeat back and in a couple of seconds your awake again. Imagine this, going to sleep and seeing all the bad you have ever done. Put a push pin on a teacher's chair or driving drunk, it will show you. It makes you feel guilty that you couldn't realize that that stuff was bad and now you can't change it."

I didn't have words for this. What he just told me is that he, and probably tons of others, have been killed by the government, and then brought back just for some information. It seemed that whatever they wanted, they needed it and they would go to any lengths, even killing people, to retrieve it. This was scarier than I thought.

"Ana is the person who runs the machine. Was a psycho like some of the convicts over there. Even the government couldn't control her because she just wanted to kill people. So they chained her up in that room and made her kill people. Of course she is monitored by scientists and detectives because if she was in there alone, she would never bring the beat back." Jarred said. Wow how long has he been here, learning all the history of this cruddy place.

I ate the rest of my breakfast taco in silence. I couldn't even think of processing more information. My head already hurt with questions and possible death by a psycho chick.

$

I got showered and put on the cleanest clothes they gave me, a faded Minnesota Vikings shirt and a pair of boot cut jeans, since we had to wear boots. The guard, who since morning I had found the name of, Brennan took me to a small room not much bigger than a cell. He stood outside the door and when I went in, locked it.

There was that feeling if dread rushing through my veins, but I kept my cool and thought about a saying I had heard in Middle school,"It all works out." My secretary had said that to me on a bad day I was having, and sure enough, the kid apologized to me and gave me an iTunes gift card. The room had only four objects in it: a table, two chairs, and a lamp that could change from bright to dim. It was set on the lowest setting when I walked in.

"Hello Ian." Said a voice coming from one of those chairs. It was a menacing voice and I would imagine it would be one of those teachers who had long fingernails just for the sake of scratching them on the chalkboard.

"How do you know my name?" I knew the answer but I wanted to confirm that this wasn't a dream.

"Just come and sit and I will tell you everything you need to know before we get started."

Great. This was real life and I was in the middle of it. I sat down, expecting to see a big guy sitting there but I couldn't make out anything in the dark. All I saw was a hand paddling the metal table and making an echo that broke the silence like a knife through cheese.

"I will only tell you once I see your face." I said firmly. I wanted to know what I was dealing with.

"How do you know what I'm going to do to you?"

"Because the guard told me. And I also hear my m..." Whew. I almost let it spill. Just don't end up in the chair.

"Your what? Oh never mind we haven't even started yet. Ok, my name is Olivia and I will be questioning you today. There are a few rules. First rule: I have the authority to do anything I need to get the information out of you. Second rule: No talking while I am talking, only speak when directed. Since you didn't know what the rules were I will let your mistake pass. Third rule: You will NEVER lie to me. You understand?"

"Yes."

"Questions for me or for the greater good of this prison?"

"How do I get out?"