Nullified Chapter 1
Ray was no stranger to trouble, but this time things were different. Usually with his run-ins with the law he’d exude confidence; leaning back casually trying to hide his delight. As a minor in the foster care system he was used to being given second chances. But he wasn’t sitting in front of regular officers this time. He was far from confident. Instead of wearing a smug smile, his face was frozen in a blank stare. He had never been nervous a day in his life, but his hands trembled. Ray curled his fingers into a ball, forming two fists pressed firmly against his thighs. That wasn’t enough. Despite his best efforts every few seconds his entire body shook slightly, almost in reflex to the horrors replaying in his mind; the horrors he tried desperately to suppress.
After a few deep breaths he looked up at the two binomes sitting on the other side of the grey table. The lighting was low, yet harsh, causing dark shadows to outline every feature before him. The man, who had introduced himself as Fax Modem focussed his eye on the teen. His wispy brown hair moved slightly with the airflow in the room. Wrinkles crinkled on either side of his eye, showing his age. The suit he wore should have been neat and pristine, but instead was just as wrinkled as his skin. There was what looked like a coffee stain on his tie, and his skin glistened with what Ray assumed was sweat. He took a deep breath, but said nothing. Fax didn’t look intimidating at all.
Ray looked over at his partner, Data Nully. She was much more put together, but her expression gave no hints as to why they were there. By all reasonable accounts Ray should have been in handcuffs or behind bars by now. Instead he was sitting in front of them. Data ran a hand through her auburn hair, catching briefly on a knot before gliding through. Her makeup was precise and made her look refined; quite the contrast to Fax Modem. The purple she wore stood out against the drab grey background of concrete walls. To their left was a large mirror and behind the pair a single door. Aside from the table between them and chairs they sat on there was nothing else in the room, except for them.
Finally, someone broke the silence. Data spoke in a calm, monotone voice.
“Ray, why don’t you tell us what happened?”
Ray flinched before letting out a small chuckle.
“And why would I do that?”
“Because we are here to help.”
“Are you, now?”
“Yes we are,” Fax piped in. His speech was slow and gravely, like he had just woken from a nap.
“You’d never believe me.” Ray fixed his posture and sighed, trying to make sense of what was going on, “No one’s going to believe me.”
“Here’s the thing Ray,” Data stood and leaned in close over the table, “If no one believed you, we wouldn’t be here.”
“...Who are you?”
“We’re the guys that deal with things that don’t make sense.” Fax said, “So just try us. We can handle it.”
“Well…” Ray looked down, slouching once again. “It was today- only it wasn’t… This morning I guess. My first day at a new school, and also- Halloween.”
To be continued...
ReBootober Day 15/25: Binome - Fax Modem, Data Nully