Hold: Hold & Hide Book 1 Read Free Page B

beeped and lit up. “Please sit down,” a woman’s voice said as her face suddenly stretched across the screen. “It’s time for your orientation.”
    I sat down, nearly tripping onto my bed. “Can you hear me?” I said. “Is this a recording or....”
    “Welcome to your new residence. I do hope you will find yourself at home here. We have a wonderful year of adventure and discovery planned for you. Let’s start with the basic rules. One, your door can be opened only from the outside. When you hear the door beep once you are permitted to leave your room for meals or some other event, but not required. If you hear three beeps you are required to leave the room and follow the directions given. Each time the door beeps the speaker next to your bed will provide directions. Meal times are not always consistent, so please do not expect a pattern. Listen to all directions closely.
    “Second rule, you have probably noticed that everything in your room is white. You are required to keep everything as white as possible. Cleaning products will not be provided. If your room is found to have the slightest bit of dirt you will not be permitted to leave your room for one to three days depending on the severity.
    “Third, bathroom breaks are permitted when your door beeps once. You are only allowed to use the bathroom situated on the fourth floor at the end of the hall. Please keep it clean. This is also where you will take a shower when needed. 
    “Fourth rule, listen closely now. There is a box in the corner of your room just above the chair. Every morning at six o’clock an alarm will sound from this box and allow you ten minutes to provide a blood sample. Missed blood samples will require one day of skipped meals. It’s a very simple process. Await the alarm and the box will open a small compartment where you will place your finger. It’s only a short prick and very easy. Please be sure to keep your room clean. No drops of blood are permitted.
    “These are the main rules. If you have further questions you may ask me at any time and I will do my best to answer. The television is always on and ready to be used. Further instructions will be provided via this screen or the speaker near your bed. Please relax until meal time. Tomorrow the fun will begin. Do you have any questions?”
    I hesitated, then whispered, “Um, are you real or automated?”
    “My name is Josephine and I am an automated but fully aware program of streaming consciousness. You can talk to me at any time as though I am your friend.”
    I nodded. Can she see me? I waved.
    “No, I cannot see you, but I can hear you. Please get some rest as you will need it. The bell for meal time will chime soon.”
    “Oh, um, okay. Thank you.”
    The television turned off automatically. I looked around the room, afraid to move, afraid to think, afraid to get dirt on something. I leaned back on my bed and let my feet dangle off the side so they wouldn’t mess up the blanket. Staring at the smooth ceiling, I tried to force myself to think positive thoughts, but tension squeezed its way around my chest whether I allowed it or not. Holding my breath, I counted down from ten, but it didn’t help. A tear formed in my right eye. I shut my eyes, hard, willing the anxiousness away and within a second it was gone. 
    I calmed down and my chest slowly loosened back to its normal state. It would be okay. Everything would be fine. I just needed to see Blake and Audrey and as soon as that bell rang I would. Hopefully. 
    I drifted off into a light sleep and woke to one ding of the doorbell. Good timing because I needed to go to the bathroom like you wouldn’t believe. I stood and smoothed the blanket on the bed, making sure everything looked white, including the floor where I had walked. Good to go, I turned the knob and entered the hall as Emily entered from the door across the hall.
    I could’ve hugged her and squeezed the life out of her. I was so relieved to see a familiar