Part 6: Jim and Tanya

As elsewhere, I am posting smaller chunks, to keep this easier to read. Also it is still somewhat disjointed having been written closer to stream of consciousness, and not yet really edited.

“The company must have had a program running parallel to ours, and feeding it our progress. That is the only way I can think of for them to have done this to us.”

The light from the skylights had long since dimmed by the time we stopped exploring the programs that evening. We had concluded that whoever had done this had access to our work. I also found it increasingly hard to concentrate on anything but Tanya, the longer we sat there. We noticed that the locker room lights had shut off on a timer. When we finally got up, I left the chair there and pushed Tanya on the rolling stool over to the table. She got up and took herself into the restroom, and I got a drink of water. Until the lights from the restroom triggered, the warehouse was nearly dark, yet I could see clearly.

Using the stool for a brace I went back across the room to the rubber pad and picked a spot to lie down. I then did my best to relax. I listened to Tanya wash her hands and leave the restroom, then settle on the mattress. I listened to her breathing from across the room, as my mind cataloged all that I had learned this day. Heightened senses, changed physiology, wings and tail, a male and a female. I shortly crossed to the restroom and back myself, and then succumbed to sleep, at least partially from exhaustion. My stomach grumbling was the last thing I remember.

The scent of female perspiration woke me up; it was coupled with the sound of effort. I opened my eyes, and turned my head to see Tanya sitting at the far end of the frame, using a part of it she had not explained, doing leg exercises. She had a considerable part of the stack going up and down in rhythm, extending her legs at her knees, pushing the padded bar up and lowering it down again.

I watched her for a moment, before realizing I needed to get up quickly. Without thinking about it, I was half way across the room before loosing my balance and catching himself, then crawled the rest of the way to the toilet. After that, as I washed my hands, I noticed that we had had visitors during the night. A tooth brush and toothpaste were on the counter, with an unopened second brush next to it, which I opened and used. As I brushed my teeth, the door behind me was a presence looming over my shoulder.

Finished with my teeth, I staggered across to the locked door, and noticed some fresh scratch marks on it and in the frame around it, spaced for Tanya’s hands. This was a larger than normal single door, like would be on a corridor. It did not have a doorknob or push plate, just a deadbolt lock. After considering this, I went out the domestic side and found some food was on the table.

Tanya came shuffling along the wall.

“Was I that scary? I never had anyone run out on me before.”