The Forgotten Zodiac

Laurie nodded silent at the guard as he unlocked her, then slipped out of the van while Rynyn was being cuffed again Rynyn grunted again but didn't say anything. He reluctantly submitted this time, stepping out of the van with Laurie. 

Lady Red smiled and turned, walking down the long hallway. "Welcome to the Castle Hall, all of you. This is the top floor of Tolos, my personal floor. If you are good enough to live here, you can and will obtain absolutely anything your heart so desires." She continued smiling, not looking back at her guests. Subject was following silently, a fearful look still set about his face. "To this day, only three have lived up here aside from me and my servants. Two of which are dead. The third is my son, naturally." Lady Red continued talking until they reached a small door, seemingly off to the side. Inside was a room with a small, four-seater table, plates with large lids waiting in the hands of servants nearby.

Rynyn and Laurie listened to Lady Red as they walked down the hallway. Rynyn still scowled, a rather disgusted look on his face, while Laurie tried to look a little more pleasant about her situation. Rynyn looked back at Subject as they entered the room, still worried about his friend.

Subject was keeping his eyes on the ground, looking scared and hopeless. He sat down gingerly in the chair, not surprised at all when cuffs were clicked into place around his ankles, securing him to the chair. The arms on the straightjacket were finally released, and Subject sank back into his chair, watching the edge of the table now. "Lady Red, I have something to tell you," He said, shifting uncomfortably, though the chairs were cusioned and cozy.

Lady Red sat down without a sound. "Yes?"

"I lost Mister Rabbit."

"Oh. I'm sorry to hear that. We can get you another, but it might be awhile..." She said, pursing her lips. "Do try to behave yourself in the time being, though. I have no wish to punish you."

Laurie glanced at Subject, then looked up at Lady Red. "M-Ma'am, do you want us to sit?" She asked quietly, also speaking for Rynyn, as he was looking around the area, trying to figure out what was going on.

"Please, do. As I mentioned before, you will be having lunch with me. I wouldn't want you to eat while standing, would I? That would be rude. Have a seat," Lady Red smiled a bit. "You should follow the lead of your friend here. He knows what he's doing. Don't you, 4-3-6? How long were you here before those nasty men took you away?"

"...Two years. Maybe three. I lost count." Subject replied glumly.

"Yes. We had made a lot of progress since then, but I'm afraid that we might have been set back in your development just a bit, my dear." Lady Red tutted unhappily.

"Okay." Laurie smiled slightly and took a seat. Rynyn didn't seem to notice that he should sit for a moment or two and when he did his face turned red and he hurried to sit down. Laurie looked over at Subject as he spoke, and she sighed lightly, frowning a little bit.

"And what about you?" Lady Red looked over at Laurie, paying Rynyn's embarrassment no mind. "Were you just observing your friend's actions, or do you know who I am and what I do? You don't seem keen on looking at me. Which is the right thing to do, of course. Anyone who's been here for any amount of time knows that I get...self conscious when people look at me too much. So, I get rid of their eyes so they can't do it anymore." Her sweet smile suddenly turned a little...dark. "Subject 4-3-6 has witnessed it before." She reached over and gave Subject a small pat on the head. He didn't move, nor did he switch his gaze. He did, however, sit up a bit more when silverware was placed and the trays were set down. Today's lunch was pork steak and mashed potatoes, with a side of green beans and a buttered biscuit to top it off. Subject dug in at once, knowing that Lady Red thought it rude for her guests not to eat.

"Well," Laurie resisted the urge to glance at Lady Red as she nodded slightly, quickly fixing her eyes down where her food would soon be placed. "I-I used to hear rummors." She said quietly, picking up her silverware as her food was laid infront of her. "I guess it's to my benefit that I did." She said lightly after swallowing a bite of mashed potatoes.
Rynyn hesitated, but ate, after hardly eating anything suring the morning.

"Rumors instill curiosity. And we all know what curiosity does to cats...Well, did you have any questions?" Lady Red asked, asking both Laurie and Rynyn. "I'm quite open to answering anything. Why don't we make it a little game? I ask you both a question, and you ask me a question. What are your real names?"

"Subject 4-6-3," He said at once.

"Not you, dear. I know you already." Lady Red chuckled a bit.

"Well, my name is Laurie Chambers." Laurie answered, after Lady Red stopped chuckling. 
"...Rynyn." The man said in a low voice. "Where's my sister?" He asked before Laurie had a chance to speak.

"I'm afraid I don't know who you're talking about," Lady Red blinked at him in mild confusion. "Do you have a surname I can match, or do you know her subject number?" She asked, pursing her lips a bit. "Now look at me, you're making me use up my questions." She tutted, waiting for Rynyn to answer.

Rynyn scowled for a moment. "Noooo," He muttered frustratedly, then suddenly brightened. "Oh wait, I did see her number in that book..." He looked up in thought for a moment. "I think it was '8-9-9.'" He said, still looking up at the ceiling since he'd heard Lady Red's warning about looking at her.

"8-9-9...oh, yes, I do believe she arrived a few days ago. Good for you." Lady Red shrugged. "Now then, my turn for a question...I do suppose you already answered that one, but do you have any close relatives, or anyone you hold dear?"

"Mister Rabbit is gone," Subject mumbled.

"4-6-3, we'll get you that rabbit back soon enough. There was a tracker in it's left ear, it's rather unfortunate that he got left behind...oh well. We'll reunite you with your companion soon enough." Lady Red shook her head, then looked back up at Laurie. "Well?"

Rynyn frowned and looked down at his plate and ate in silence while Lady Red, Subject and Laurie spoke.  
Laurie watched Subject as he talked about Mister Rabbit, then bit her lip as Lady Red turned to her again. "...My husband was, well...Kind of anyway. I guess he still is, it's just not the same anymore, with the drug and all." She sighed and shook her head, then took another bite of her lunch. 

"Yes, Uphoria is quite the wonder drug." Lady Red smiled. "Well, that's good to know. It is your turn to ask a question, though. Go on then, I'm all ears." She tilted her head a bit one way, smiling still.

Rynyn let out a sigh, and opened his mouth to speak again. After a moment of silence he shut it and then shook his head. Laurie glanced up at Rynyn, and when he didn't seem eager to ask anything else. "Well, I'd like to know what we're going to do after lunch." She said quietly. 

Lady Red smiled wider at this. "Oh, yes. After lunch, you'll be sorted into your respective cells. Who knows, maybe I'll put you both in with Subject. At least until he gets his rabbit back. I'm afraid the boy might go a bit...mental otherwise. He seems to like you, at any rate.

"Regardless, after we get you settled into your new home, you'll be put through a few preliminary tests. Does that sound okay?" She finished her meal after Subject did. He was lower in his chair than usual, and he shivered a bit at the sound of the word 'preliminary test'.

Laruie nodded slightly as she listened to Lady Red. "I-I guess so." She said, clearly sounding nervous as she saw Subject's reaction. Rynyn scowled a little more, and debated asking a question. He sighed. "Will I see my sister?" He asked, taking on a more humble tone than what was used before.

Lady Red was quiet for a moment, thinking about it. "It's certainly possible. But the last place you want to see her is at the preliminary testing. That would be very, very unfortunate."