Dana slept fitfully, dreaming about her childhood. How her father had punished her...her
mother dying...she hadn't had the best life until now. She studied hard to get to college,
and even now, she was barely keeping her head above water.
Finally, she was able to open her eyes, and banish the nightmares.
She was in her bedroom, the covers were toasty and warm. Sitting up slightly, she
realized how little space she was taking in the bed. No...wasn't it just a dream?!
She threw back the covers, revealing her ten-year-old form. She was wearing a frilly
nightgown that she didn't recognize.
Hugging her knees to her chest, she wept. Her life might as well be over. Everything she'd
worked so hard for, was gone, leaving her small, weak, and afraid. Helpless.
"No, fuck that." She took a deep breath, and let it out. "There's no way I'm going down
without a fight."
She slid out of bed, and headed out into her tiny excuse for a living room. Her clothes had
been neatly folded and placed on the couch, along with a letter.
It had her name on it, in a neat, old-fashioned style.
"Miss Jackson. By the time you read this, I will be long gone. I have much more work to
do, and I'm afraid that if I remained, you would be tempted to interfere with my
experiments. I couldn't, in all conscience, however, keep you as a pet or laboratory
animal, you're a human, after all. This may seem odd, considering that I treated you as a
test subject, but I see no point in debating my code of conduct.
Suffice it to say, I realize the burden placed upon your small shoulders, and enclosed you
will find a debit card and some money. The card accesses an account I placed in your
name, with a not-insignificant amount of money. It cannot be traced to me, nor do I
advise you showing up at the bank to investigate. I also took the liberty of having your
rent and utilities paid for three months in advance. I wish you all the best of luck with
your new life.
P.S.: the pin number is 7544. There is no significance to this number."
It was unsigned.
Dana spent a few minutes swearing profusely. In the middle of her tirade, however, she
realized how strange she sounded, her young voice saying such things. She giggled, and
then she laughed, almost hysterically.
"Oh God..I must be going crazy, but this is just too funny!"
A strange rumbling noise from her tummy made her realize she was starving. But the
thought of ramen or mac & cheese made her ill. She had cash now...she wanted real food!
Hm, but what to do about clothes...nothing she had would fit her, other than the
nightgown. She needed to go shopping, bad!
Not having spent any money on herself in a long time, the wad of cash in the envelope,
along with the mysterious debit card, made her destination clear.