The Complex - Chapter 3 - Part A

(To read the beginning to the original novel "The Complex" click HERE.)


Chapter 3 - Part A


Sarah's curiosity had definitely been piqued when Dominique told her about the Complex, which was to be her home. As she stood there looking at her lavender pajamas, however, she shook her head doubtfully at Dominique.



"But I don't have any clothes. I can't go out there in these!" Sarah pulled at her pajamas, wishing they would disappear.


Dominique smiled and turned to a wall next to the bed. "I took the liberty of bringing a few things over from your apartment so you could decided what you'd like to wear."


Sarah felt dumbfounded as she watched another wall slide open into a closet. In it were a number of very nice clothes, shoes and accessories in her size. She felt the material of all the clothing, hoping they would bring back a memory. But all she was left with was the same vacant void when she tried to think about anything before the last few days. To offset her gloomy mood, she chose a summery white, gauze dress and some matching sandals. After getting all ready, she stood anxiously waiting for the bookcase to slide open again. As always, her eagerness melted into momentary confusion when the bookcase didn't open... again... but the opposite wall slid open to reveal a beautiful garden path with an array of colorful flowers among lush green plants. This path would lead them all the way to the middle of the Complex. Her irritation at more unexpected events caused a reproach towards Dominique.


"Miss... uh... Dominique... does anything stay put in this place? In the future, would you please warn me about unexpected sliding walls, appearing and disappearing spare rooms, closets and what not?"


Dominique smiled with the professional air she always maintained and calmly responded to Sarah. "Certainly. I apologize for the confusion. In the future, I'll try to remember to explain to you all of our modern advances and time saving devices before they appearr or disappear. Shall we go and have a walk around the Complex? Your apartment is number "7"... that's closer to the town square, at the hub."


As they walked along the path, they passed rows of soft green and butter yellow apartments. Each had its own little bit of lawn and shrubs about it. Dominique described the design of the Complex as they walked. It's been modeled after the Ringstrasse of Vienna, only on a much smaller scale, of course."


She handed Sarah a small map of the Complex that had all the main buildings labeled, with a star next to an apartment in the second circle. That apartment was number "7"...Sarah's apartment. Dominique told her that she had lived here before so she tried to remember anything about this place, but still there was nothing. She had hoped that after she saw the Complex that would change. Finally they reached the second ring from the middle that contained her apartment. Dominique stopped walking so Sarah could take it in and look at her own apartment. It had a small grassy area out front with a walkway up to the door. On either side of the door were windows with flower boxes that contained the same colorful flowers that were seen all over the Complex.


"Does anybody ever grow vegetables here?" Sarah asked.


"There's a special garden just for that. See... here... on the map." Dominique pointed to a special area near the big round area in the middle of the map. "It's actually not very far from here if you want to go see it later. Right now, let's go inside your apartment and get you settled in."


Sarah was nervous about seeing her apartment. What if she couldn't remember living here... and as of right now, she could not. So far, this whole place was a mystery to her. She could not understand how she could have lived somewhere and not remember a thing about it. Dominique handed Sarah a brass key with a number "7" on it. As she took the key she smiled and then broke out in laughter.


"You mean to tell me I have to open this with a key? What happened to the sliding walls?"


For the first time she actually saw some emotion from Dominique. Her eyes twinkled as she tried to contain her laughter. "I'm sorry Sarah... for privacy reasons you will need to open it with a key."


Sarah turned and looked at the sidewalk again before they entered and she suddenly had a striking revelation. There were no streets here! No cars! Why didn't she notice that before? But, instead of asking Dominique, she kept it to herself for now. She would investigate that later. Now, she needed to investigate her apartment. She turned the key in the lock and a voice from inside the apartment announced a greeting.


"Hello, Sarah, welcome home." The door swung open and Sarah stepped back a bit, wondering at the voice inside.


It's your automatic computer, monitoring your door." Dominique explained. "From now on you don't have to use your key. All you have to say is..."


"Open sesame?" Sarah interjected with a wry smile.


"Actually, all it needs is the sound of your voice. It runs on a voice print program. Just like you can turn on the lights by saying: 'Lights'."


Sarah did just that and the lights sprang on in the room. She looked around the entire living room area and didn't recognize anything at all. She turned to Dominique and asked, "Do I have a bunch of sliding walls? Or do I have a real kitchen that I can cook in."


Dominique continued to smile and said, "Yes, you have a real kitchen. If you choose to cook, you may, or you can have meals delivered in. Or, you can go to our fine eatery in the center of the Complex. A lot of your neighbors like to go there for lunch or to our coffee house for a cup of coffee in the morning. It's a good place to visit."


Sarah nodded as she wandered around her apartment. She had found the bedroom and was now examining the closets and drawers. The clothes in the drawers were all her size, but she didn't recognize anything. After looking all around, she turned to Dominique and asked, "Is there a place to go shopping?"


"Everything you need is provided here."


"Yes. But can I go shopping somewhere?"


"What is it you need?"


"I want to go clothes shopping. And food shopping. and some personal things. You know... shopping!" Sarah was starting to feel that same frustration as with the sliding walls. It wasn't quite right here. But, again, she said nothing. Instead, she asked, "Could I be alone for awhile to kind of get acquainted with my apartment?"


"Certainly. I'll come back later to check on you. And feel free to go out and visit the square. I'm sure you might enjoy saying hello to your neighbors, also."


I'm sure I won't, thought Sarah, who couldn't remember any of these neighbors she was supposed to have known.


Dominique turned and left Sarah alone in the bedroom. When she was alone, Sarah sat down on the bed as tears started to roll down her cheeks. It had been a very big disappointment to not remember anything at all. Now, she just wanted to have a good cry. Then, she wanted to try and solve this puzzle.


(to be continued)


Original novel "The Complex"
by Karen Elizabeth Brown
Copyright 2009