Seven Days by G. Michael Hopf

Author:G. Michael Hopf [Hopf, G. Michael]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Doomsday Press

ONE MILE SOUTH OF SANTA ROSA, NEW MEXICO

Reid opened his eyes. Above him was the poster of a kitten dangling from a tree branch with the words HANG IN THERE at the bottom. He went to sit up but found his arms and legs were bound and secured to the table he was on. He looked left and right; around him were stainless steel tables and carts. On the walls more posters were hung. These were not adorned with cuddly kittens; instead one was about the importance of vaccinations, and another covered the food pyramid and eating healthy. A stainless steel cart was parked next to him, and on it was a syringe, empty vials, rubber tubing and cotton balls. By the looks of it, he was in a doctor’s office.

The only light in the room was a small lamp, which told him wherever he was, they had power.

“Hey!” he called out. “Where’s my daughter?”

The only door quickly opened behind him. He swung his head, but he couldn’t see who was there. All he could do was hear the heavy breathing. “Untie me and take me to my daughter.”

Footfalls approached Reid.

“Just untie me and take me to my daughter, that’s all I ask,” he said.

Marvin appeared. His face and mouth were smeared with a dark red substance.

Reid instantly thought it was blood. “If you hurt my daughter, I’ll kill you.”

Marvin brought a piece of bread to his mouth and took a bite. He chomped loudly, smacking his lips as he chewed. Whatever was on his face was smeared on the bread.

Reid looked closer and saw it was jelly. “Who are you?”

“Ma, this one is awake,” Marvin called out.

“Tell your mother to untie me and take me to my daughter,” Reid snapped as he struggled with the bindings on his arms.

Marvin took another bite of the bread. A clump of jelly fell onto the table next to Reid. Marvin used his finger to scoop it up, then licked his finger clean. “Ma, the man’s awake!” Marvin hollered, his mouth full of half-chewed food.

“Let me go,” Reid said, staring into Marvin’s brown eyes.

Marvin was short, standing around five feet six inches, and he suffered from a rare form of Down syndrome called mosaic Down syndrome, or mosaicism, which left him with fewer symptoms than other forms. He still had many of the physical characteristics—a flat face, small ears, slanted eyes and slurred speech—but his mental acuity was far improved over others with his disorder. “Ma!”

“I heard you. Now stop shouting. The little girl is resting,” Hillary said, appearing in the doorway.

“He’s awake, Ma,” Marvin said, his stubby finger pointed at Reid.

“I want to see my daughter!” Reid barked.

Hillary stepped around and stood opposite Marvin. “Mr. Flynn, Hannah is resting right now. I can assure you that she’s safe.”

“What are you doing with us?”

“I know this must seem quite odd, but we’re here to help,” she said calmly.

“Taking me and my daughter prisoner doesn’t feel safe to me,” he snapped. He lifted his head and gave her a look up and down.

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