“You already look better than you did,” the woman who was herding me said as she keyed open a door in front of us. “Must be the lighting.”
I gave her a placid smile and walked into the next room. Cool-toned lights washed over a wall of meticulously organized products: serums, glosses, shadows, and there was a row of Hollow women there waiting for me, wearing matching pink smocks.
“There’s a shower in the back. Get out of your clothes, clean yourself, and wash your hair,” the woman commanded, giving me a wave.
I followed her instructions and some of the Hollows followed me, picking up unguents on the way.
I wasn’t really sure how to act in the moment, once the doors were closed, so I sought out Nex again. By now he was eating, and internally contemplating the nature of food, what was in it, how many times he had to chew it, and how inefficient it was as a fueling mechanism—and I yelped in surprise when one of the Hollow women touched me.
Are you all right?Nex thought immediately.
One of the Hollows turned the water on, and it started spraying us both, me, naked, her, smock and all.
Could Nex see me?
Of course he could. Having a pervy camera in all the bathrooms on his super yacht was one billion percent on brand for Voss.
Let them clean you and wash your hair,Nex went on between bites.
One of the Hollows knelt down to start scrubbing at my feet, while the other one started loading up my hair with shampoo.
I felt like a dog being groomed at a pet store.
Be boring,Nex went on.I know it’s hard.
But it wasn’t him, in here, was it? Being the car at an automatic car wash?
You’re safe to relax. I’m reporting adequate data, and the cameras are on loop now.
Which was good...because the unfortunate Hollow who was cleaning me was working at the dried cum between my thighs.
“Give me that,” I whispered, taking the sponge from her to clean myself.
As much as I hated the current situation, anything I did face later would be faced better being clean.
I would like to take a shower with you,Nex thought, loud and clear.
I stood straight and glared up at the ceiling.
Sorry. Mission only. I apologize,he thought, and I laughed, rinsing the shampoo out of my hair.
I researched the rest of the Hollows last night as well,he continued, as I poured half a bottle of conditioner into my hair.They’re not just mindless people. They’re transmitters, if you have the right codes. So spies. And also bombs. Not all of them, just some.
My fingers slowed as they stroked through my hair. I hadn’t wanted to try to read them in front of others; it would’ve given away my noncompliance, but now—I took the hand of the woman, who was running a sponge across my belly ineffectually, and opened my mind.
I never knew what engendered the types of portals people had into their minds, but it was definitely their decision, not mine, because I found myself in front of a large white door, like the kind that might lead into a church.
There was nothing for it but to open it up—and possibly go in.
“Hello?” I asked, after swinging the door wide.
There was a vertiginous darkness on the other side, like the one I’d found inside Sophia. It was odd, but...it didn’t feel unsafe.
“Hello?” I tried again, with my mind, pulsing out as I stepped into utter darkness.
I got nothing in return. Not even an echo.
I made sure not to let go of the door’s handle—I didn’t think I could “fall” here, but I also didn’t want to try.
