His villa looks much different from mine. The space is filled with high-tech modern amenities, a curved TV, track lighting, chrome finish across the appliances and the furniture is leather and chic. Theo’s villa is luxurious. It’s the best way to describe the place.
He closes the door, and guides me over to his white, leather couch, accessorized with royal-blue throw pillows. “What’s going on?” he asks, taking a seat beside me.
“Here’s what I know,” I begin. “I’ve stepped inside of some social study that you’re all a part of. Supposedly, I’m not part of this ‘project,’ yet it seems as though I’m the center of it all—without sounding vain—and I after just re-read my lease, I only have more questions.”
Theo is looking into my eyes but ever-so-slightly shaking his head, telling menowith as little movement as possible. “I can’t,” he whispers.
“Why, Theo? Are we being watched?”
“It’s a social study,” he repeats. “I can’t give you any other information.”
“So, let me get this straight,” I tell him, running my fingers through my hair. “We’re living inside of Facebook and the government is watching us?”
Theo lets out a soft laugh. “I can’t,” he tells me again.
“I’m being held here against my free will, Theo. This has to be illegal.”
“It’s not illegal,” he says.
“Are you cooking something?” A burning smell stings my nose and I glance around the tidy area in search of a source. I stand up and head for the kitchen, but I’m startled when the smoke alarm begins to blare.
“Shit,” Theo says. “Come on. Let’s get out of the house.”
“Wait? Shouldn’t we see what’s smoking first? Your house could burn down,” I shout, running closer to the kitchen.
Theo grabs my arm and pulls me away, and leads us toward the front door. “No, there could be a fire. We’ll call the fire department, Ashley. Let’s get out of here.”
I pull my hand out of his grip. “Hold up,” I tell him. My nose isn’t stinging anymore. “I don’t smell the smoke now.”
“We should still get you outside,” he says. Theo wraps his arm around me and pulls me in. “Just do what I’m saying, please. I’ll explain more later. There is no fire.”
“What the hell?” I grunt. “Tell me what’s going on?”
“Ashley, I can’t.”
While being distracted by Theo and the fact that we’re being forced out of this house due to a fake fire, I’m spun around so many times I’m now standing on his front lawn.
Theo still has his arm around me as I come to see several other men staring at us from their driveways. They all look angry. A few of them are gathering in the street to converse, and I’m feeling deflated from the drama.
Another door slams, and I spin around, finding Kricket barreling toward me. “Ashley,” she calls out. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine,” I respond. Why does she care? “It’s not a real fire.”
“Well, what the hell is that?” she asks, pointing to the side of the house where smoke is billowing.
Theo just said there wasn’t a fire.
Kricket takes my arm and pulls me away from Theo’s side. “Come on, let’s get you away from the fire.”
As Kricket is pulling me away, the feeling of dread and loneliness are causing me to feel impulsive. I could leave. If I just walk away tomorrow, I can get away.
“Do you know what it’s like to be held hostage within a secret that no one will let you in on?” I ask her, as we’re approaching the beach behind the villas.
“Yes, but you’re blowing this out of proportion.”
“I’m blowing this out of proportion?” I question. “No one will tell me what the hell is going on here, and I can’t make contact with anyone outside of this development.”
“Ashley, you agreed to this. You’ve been told what you need to know, and no one is stopping you from making phone calls. A lot of this is actually in your head,” Kricket says, looking at me like Im delusional.
