The Centrality (6-21-17)

She woke up.

For most people, waking up was not momentous, but for Elli Alakrit, she had the sneaking suspicion that it was a pretty big deal.

A building reached into the sky in front of her.

She didn't recognize it, nor did she recognize the paper clutched in her hand. It had her name on it, and it looked like it was filled out in her handwriting, but she had no memory of writing it.

As if reacting to that thought, the paper glowed brightly, then melted into thin air.

Even though red flags were being thrown up in her mind left and right, Elli approached the building.

I'm not going to figure anything out by just standing around here, she thought.

The front door was closed, but not locked. She let herself in.



Elli found herself in a lobby. The light was harsh - or maybe her eyes were just still sensitive from waking up. The only noise she could hear was water burbling in a nearby fountain.