Chapter 3: Roommates

Tom awoke in a room entirely different from the one he had last been in. He turned his head to look around. This room was larger, complete with a dresser, mirror, and all the usual furnishings of a bedroom. He sat up, and tentatively bent his legs to his chest. It didn't hurt, and he realized that nothing hurt at all. He felt wonderful.

He found a bathroom and saw it too was just like any other bathroom. Unsure of what else really to do, he took a shower. While he washing, he heard the bathroom door open. Sticking his head out from behind the curtain, all he could see was an arm placing clothes on the sink counter. Before he could thank the arm the door was swiftly closed. He finished and got dressed.

His clothes were the first abnormality. They were pure white, a tunic and comfortable pajama style pants, with white sandals. He looked in the mirror and grimaced. I look like a marshmallow. He sighed and went to figure out where in the world he was. Outside of his bedroom there was a regular looking living room, with a couch and a plasma screen TV. He heard a knock at the door across the room. He walked over to it and opened it. He ogled at the very large man on the other side.

He stood at what must have been seven feet tall, and was the strongest looking person he had ever seen. He had brown hair and was wearing normal clothes. Tom was glad that the stranger was smiling or he might have shut the door as quickly as he could. The man said, "Hey there, roomie! I'm Jeff. Who are you?"

"Uh, Tom. Where are we?"
Jeff ducked under the doorframe and entered the room. He walked over to the couch while he talked. "What, they haven't even given you the intro yet? Wow, no wonder you look confused." Tom shut the door and followed Jeff to the couch in the living room. Jeff's massive frame took up almost the entirety of the couch. Tom was about to ask another question when he heard another knock at the door. Jeff picked up a nearby remote and turned on the TV. He turned to Tom saying, "You gonna get that?"

Tom went over to the door and thought, What am I, the butler? On the other side of the doorway stood another man, in a business suit. He did not smile, but he offered a hand out to Tom. Tom shook his hand, and the man said, "Hello Mr. Gilroy, may I come in?"

But Tom had had enough. "What is going on?! Who are you people, and where am I?" Jeff snickered on the couch.

The man walked into the room, taking the outburst in stride. I understand your confusion, Mr. Gilroy, so please try to calm down while I explain things. The man saw Jeff on the couch. "Mr. Freed. Will you excuse yourself please? I need to go over a few things with Mr. Gilroy."

"Aw come on Doc! The game just started and--"
"Mr. Freed. Have you received some sort of accolade that I have not been informed of allowing you to not take orders from me? No? Then leave the room please." Jeff threw up his hands and got off the couch. He walked over to the TV, picked it up, and took it into the bedroom. He slammed the door. The man sighed. "You will have to excuse his manners. My name is Doctor Johnson. I would like for you to watch a little movie that will answer a few of your questions." He handed Tom a pair of sunglasses and gestured towards the couch. "Have a seat, please." Tom walked to the couch and sat down.

He looked at the sunglasses. "Are you serious?"
"I rarely joke, Mr. Gilroy. Now if you would put them on, please."
Tom put the glasses on. The lenses suddenly turned on, and an image of a woman in a lab coat appeared. She was blond and thin, and quite pretty. Tom thought he recognized her, but dismissed the thought. The woman smiled, and began to speak.

"Hello. My name is Dr. Appleby, and if you are seeing this, then you have completed your mental surgeries. Your healing process has been completed, and you have been sent out to your specific worksite. You have signed a contract agreeing that you will offer your services to whichever program has been chosen for you," Tom thought that the sunglasses squeezed against his head, but he ignored it and kept watching, "...and will operate by the guidelines established by the program. Your advisor will go over the specifics of your new life. Thank you, and welcome to the MentalWorks family." The lenses went black and Tom removed the sunglasses, handing them to Dr Johnson. "I had a mental surgery? I've never heard of that before." Dr. Johnson pocketed the sunglasses and replied, "Yes, it is a relatively new procedure, but completely safe, I assure you. Now Mr. Gilroy, you do remember signing the contract concerning working with us, correct?

"Yes, I...," an image flashed in his mind of him in an office signing papers, "I signed them before I had the surgery."

Dr. Johnson smiled. "Good. Now as you saw in the film, an advisor will go over the specifics of your new life with us. You will meet him later today. For right now, I have a few safety guidelines to go over with you. We would like if you would refrain from leaving your apartment until you have met up with your advisor. Also, do not be alarmed if you feel any tingling or odd sensations during your first few weeks here, it is just some after effects from the surgeries. Lastly, if you feel you are in serious pain, tell your roommate and he will take care of you." He stuck out his hand again to Tom and said, "Welcome to the company." Tom shook his hand and said, "Thank you." The doctor left soon after. Tom just sat there on the couch in silence. He recounted what had just happened in his mind. The warning about serious pain made him nervous, but he hoped that it was just business-fineprint-mumbo jumbo. A bellow from the bedroom roused Tom from his thoughts.

"Nooo! You should have had that. WUSS!"

Tom put his head in his hands and sighed. He had so many questions. I hope my "advisor" will be able to clear this up... I feel like I'm in college again. This is so bizarre.

Jeff poked his head out from behind the bedroom door. "Is he gone? Awesome. Help me hook this back up." He sat the TV next to the wall and walked back to the bedroom. Tom got up off the couch and fiddled with the wires, eventually getting it back in working order. He spent the rest of the day with Jeff, watching football or just talking about nothing. It was freakishly normal considering what had just occurred, and Tom knew he should be worried by the severe juxtaposition in events, but he didn't. Someone from the company brought their meals to them, and all in all, the day passed quickly. Jeff was still watching TV when Tom went to bed. He dreamed about something horrible and woke up in a sweat, unable to remember what the dream was about. Something about a voice. He looked across the bedroom and saw the impossible.

Jeff was asleep, snoring in a stretched out position. And he was levitating three feet off the ground.