[Center][h2][color=D2691E][b]Elijah Edwards[/b][/color][/h2] [/center]

“You’re in a government detainment facility,”[color=gray] a voice answered, crackling through a small white speaker on the ceiling. He frowned in response, moving his hands to cup his ears from the offensive noise. The voice's shrill tone sent little shocks of electricity through his brain that only egged on the thrumming headache that pulsed beneath the surface.[/color]

“You’ll find a change of clothes and a packet explaining everything you need to know on the little stand in the room. Please change and leave your old clothes on the bed before you leave.”

[Color=gray]The speaker cut off with a small hiss of static, leaving Elijah behind with the rush of his heartbeat in his ears. [I][color=chocolate]Change of clothes?[/color][/i] He looked down at his dark dress shirt, dried sauces painted and smeared across its shiny buttons. He let out a pensive sigh, nothing made sense—not that the thundering going on between his ears allowed for much deep thinking. He let his burning eyes travel around the room, the whiteness offending his sore eyes. True to the voice’s words there was a small stack of neatly folded cloth beside a small paper envelop. 

[Color=chocolate][I]I guess I don’t have much of a choice. . .[/i][/color] He slid off the side of the bed with a shallow grunt, slowly flexing his muscles to help shake off the remaining dredges that still clung to him. With clumsy fingers he unbuttoned his shirt and peeled the soiled fabric from his torso. Out of habit Elijah's fingers wrapped around the little circle of metal that bumped against his bare chest. It gave him a calm feeling, like an anchor back to reality. He slipped into the scrubs with haste, dumping his former clothes onto the bed before tearing into the paper envelope. 

The paper folded inside was short—just a small list of rules that he let himself skim over. Elijah didn’t plan on learning them, for he didn’t plan to stay long. There was clearly some sort of mix up and the sooner he got out of here to talk to someone, the sooner he could go free. He moved towards the door and pressed on it with his palm. But the door didn’t budge. Again, this time he pressed with both palms but still the door didn’t budge. 

[Color=chocolate]”Uh, can I leave?”[/color]
[/color]
“Please discard your jewelry and set them on the bed as per the rules in the paperwork provided,”[color=gray] the intercom hissed again. 

[Color=chocolate]”You've got to be kidding me,”[/color] he whined back, grabbing the paper again and looking over the print. Sure enough—no jewelry was one of the restrictions listed. [Color=chocolate]”Listen, I’m not taking off my necklace.”[/color] He flicked his eyes up at the speaker and awaited their response. 

The intercom hissed to life before a new voice drifted through the air.[/color] “Mister Edwards, either you can cooperate with us. Or we can do this the long and hard way. The choice is yours, but you will not be permitted to leave this room until you relinquish your jewelry.”[color=gray] The make voice clicked off with a sharpness, leaving him back alone with his thoughts. 

Elijah ran his hands around the door, its surface cold and smooth. Not a button nor lever to be found hidden on the frame. And the room around him too sparse to contain any secrets. He bit down on his lower lip, eyes narrowing on annoyance. [Color=chocolate]”What about I just give up my earrings,”[/color] he asked, attempting to make a deal. But he was met with only more weighed silence, one that set his teeth on edge. 

Elijah paced around the room, contemplating his next move. [Color=chocolate][I]There has to be something. . .[/i][/color] He wracked his brain for some solution or thread of logic to follow. He leaned over the rumpled pile of clothes, they still hadn't said anything in return to his bargain. [Color=chocolate][I]It’s not like I won’t get it back. Yeah, of course I will. Once I explain the mix up they’ll returned everything, they’ll have too.[/i][/color] His brain wagered while his fingers fumbled with the tiny metal clasps on the back of his ear. 

His ear felt weird without the extra weight, he wouldn’t have known that the two little hoops would have made such an impact. But he strangely felt like he was missing something as he dropped them into the pile. His necklace was next, plucking at the knot on the back of the leather strap around his neck. This made his stomach clench as the metal ring fell from his body. It felt like he was naked. 

[Color=chocolate]”There. Happy,”[/color] he asked into the silence. Without another word he stomped over to the smooth door and pushed on it. This time the door hissed in response, as of the pressure of the air inside was desperate to escape. As it slid away from its frame Elijah stepped out into the clearing. The halls were as blindingly white as the room behind him. He turned on his heel, one direction then the other. He half expected someone to be out here to greet him, but it seemed like he was have to find his own way. 

He made his way down the halls, listening to the echo of his own footsteps until the gentle murmur of a voice broke through the silence. [Color=blue]”Hello?”[/color] 

[Color=chocolate]”Hello?”[/color] he answered back, slightly annoyed at the waver in his voice. He pushed himself further down the hall, looking for the owner of the voice. As he rounded the corner he ran into another man in similar looking scrubs, his dark hair tousled messily in front of his dark eyes. He looked about as confused and wary as Elijah felt. [Color=chocolate][I]Another prisoner?[/i][/color] He frowned at the word but couldn’t find a better term to take its place as he moved towards the stranger.[/color]



[@SheriffLlama]