Emerald Assessed Part 2

Catherine followed the Directrix down the drab green hall. A blue tendril emanated from the elderly hand of the short woman to open the double doors in front of them. This opened to a large lobby. It looked like any other bustling office building lobby with receptionists, assistants and couriers hurrying about their duties.

Directrix Laufen walked up to the reception desk and asked the receptionist to call a driver. She then turned towards Catherine and said,"We will be departing to the Manor as soon as the driver arrives. I will explain your situation on the way there."

"My situation is clear to me. Some shadow organization has kidnapped me, given e hallucinogenic drugs and wants me to believe in auras. Look I don't have any family and even less money so...."

"Yes, we are quite aware of your lack of familial connections but that is to your advantage. Makes coming up with a believable explanation for your absence not necessary. Now, we have contacted all your freelance assignments and notified them that you will not be completing your projects. Your apartment has been cleared and your meager assets are stored here at the Junction. A bag has been packed with your clothes and toiletries. Any other needs you have will be supplied by the Manor."

Catherine listened to this woman describe how her life was disassembled and packed away with such ease. It made her feel small. She didn't live an extravagant life but it was hers. She had a few close friends but she knew that they wouldn't miss her enough to report it. Besides if this Junction had connections with the FBI then there was no telling what other organizations they were linked with. Making somebody disappear didn't seem to be unusual for this institution.

Catherine suddenly felt trapped and that never went well. Her anxiety ratcheted up and she began to sweat. She couldn't breathe. Her vision began to dim around the edges. She had to get out. To get outside. The walls were closing in. She was going to be crushed. Leave. She needed to leave. She needed to leave!

Her skin glowed a bright green like the cheesy effects for radioactive material in bad sci-fi movies. But this wasn't an effect, this was Catherine's system becoming overloaded.

"My dear what's wrong?" Directrix Laufen asked as the green light grew brighter.

"Out. I need to get out!" Catherine screamed as she backed away from the reception desk. Her arms flailing as she panicked. She bumped into somebody behind her. Her wrist was grasped to stop her from striking anyone and she was enveloped in a soft bear hug.

"NO!" she screamed in her mind.

"Out, I need to get out! I can't breathe," she yelled at the man holding her.

"Look up. We are outside," the deep, soothing voice said in her ear.

Catherine looked up and saw the clouds in the blue sky. They were on top of an office building. She was outside. Gone was the noisy lobby full of people. No walls surrounded her. She was free. And, and, she was safe. She was protected. Nothing would hurt her.  He wouldn't let it.

Her breathing calmed as Catherine turned to look at the man holding her. It was Agent Taylor. He was holding onto her wrist as she fully turned to look at him. She could feel their connection, mentally, physically. She watched with calm fascination as a green swirl wrapped around Agent Taylor's wrist and then a red swirl wrapped around her wrist. This was where she needed to be. This was home. She didn't need her tiny, dingy apartment. Or her work. Or anything. She just needed....

"How did we get outside so quickly?" Catherine asked as she pulled back from Ethan's touch and his aura.

"One of the perks of finding your Half," Ethan stated in a non-explanation and not showing his disappointment at her pulling away from him.

"I don't..."

Just then Agent Dawson burst out onto the roof. His concern was obvious on his face.

"Ms. Cooper. Are you alright?"

"I, I think so. Yes, I'm fine. I just needed to get some air."

"And you had to go nuclear to do that?" Agent Dawson asked with humor in his voice.

"I don't know what happened beyond an anxiety attack. I just, this is all so strange. I don't want to go to the Manor. I want to go home but according to your Director it's all been easily swept away and stored somewhere. My life was small but it was my life and I liked it."

"Just liked?" Agent Dawson asked.

Catherine tensed and Agent Taylor spoke up, "Agent Dawson, please don't antagonize my Half. Please tell Directrix Laufen we will be leaving for the Manor immediately."

Knowing a dismissal when he heard one, Agent Dawson left the roof. Catherine turned towards Agent Taylor to protest but he immediately stepped into her personal space. Before she could step back he grabbed her wrist and said,"We are going to the Manor. Our blending will be completed and I will return to work."

Calmed by his touch but irked by his words Catherine responded,"So I don't get a say in any of this."

"No," was Agent Taylor's one word answer as he pulled Catherine downstairs and out to the waiting car.

The trip to the Manor was quiet. Catherine was too tired for conversation after her anxiety attack and Agent Taylor wasn't one for small talk. When the bustling streets of the city faded away and turned into a green, old forest Catherine's anxiety started to rise again. As they pulled through a large gate and stopped in front of a large stone building that looked like an old English estate, Catherine was fairly vibrating with stress. She jumped out of the car but knew running would do no good. Not with ten foot high walls and security cameras at every corner.

Agent Taylor seemed to ignore her and greeted the woman who came out of the large house. She was dressed like an old librarian. Pencil skirt, buttoned up blouse, gold brooch at her neck. Catherine's stress was forgotten when she overheard Agent Taylor introduce her simply as "his Half" in a contemptuous tone.

That was it. She had had enough. Her name was Catherine Cooper. And this pompous jerk could stuff it. Seeing that Agent Taylor and the woman had turned towards her, Catherine calmly walked up the stairs, slapped Agent Taylor across the face and offered the same hand in greeting to the woman.

"Hello, my name is Catherine Cooper," she then walked into the house ignoring a stunned agent and laughing woman.

TBC

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