Chapter 8#        That night, Bluren unpacked her things and laid them carefully into the armoire. She changed into a pair of the silky pajamas that came inside, and not knowing what to do next, sat on the bed thinking about all the fortuitous events that had happened lately.    To think that her top priorities had been to become Emi's best employee, earn enough money to keep her house, and to finish Bethany's project. Of course, the ladder was still important, but her life had changed so much in the past few days, her list consisted of many more things. For instance, being prepared for the exciting day ahead. In the morning she would have to be out of the dorm, which is what 700 called the girls housing place, by seven o'clock and meet her by the elevator at seven fifteen. 700 would introduce Bluren to more people, and show her where she would begin her invention work.    The clock on the wall told nine thirty, so Bluren said her prayers and pulled the cloud-like comforter up to her chin. The room was dark. Bluren could hear dogs barking below the street. Although she didn't have to worry about those dogs breaking into her house anymore, or about the cold, or the struggle to keep a good spot in the bakery, Bluren felt hollow and lonely. It was like the first night she spent all alone in the house after Bethany had gone. It was a deep loneliness, almost a fear, but more of a sadness. She closed her eyes a shut out the world, stubborn to stay that way until she fell asleep.______________________________________________________________________        Bluren's alarm went off at six fifteen. She had also discovered her spacious bathroom last night, which had the same oak wood cabinets, stocked with supplies, a bathtub/shower, toilet, and a mirror covering an entire wall of the room. She had stood in front of that mirror for several minutes, staring at the girl reflected. She had only am old green-tinged hand mirror at home, and couldn't remember the last time she had seen herself in a full length mirror. She was small, but strong. You could see that in her shoulders. Her hair was a honey color that almost matched her tanned skin. It was tied in loose bun at the back of her head, with strands falling out. She wore a light blue shirt, with faded jeans and a stained white apron still tied on. Her expression was serious but curious, paired with large eyes that couldn't decide if they were hazel or blue.    After showering, and brushing her teeth, and praying again. She changed out of her old clothes, and into one of the white dresses in the closet. The white dress was full, fell just past her knees, and fit perfectly. She slipped into the leather work boots, which were snug and comfortable. Lastly was the purple silk blazer. Pulling her long hair into its usual knot behind her head, she headed out the door.    700 was waiting by the elevator, clipboard in hand. "You look nice!" She remarked and they stepped inside. Another round of jostling, deposited them at the entrance of another hall, but this hall wasn't as nice as the dorm rooms. It seemed to be made entirely of linoleum and stainless steel, and smelled of the antiseptic used by the nurses in the small sick building at The Beach. There were heavy metal doors with hand print pads on the walls. Different sounds came from the other side of each of the doors. Sawing noises, whirring of machinery, rushing of water, people shouting random numbers, and the clicking of a thousand buttons. Bluren wished to cover her ears, but 700 was trying to speak. "This is the experimentation facility." She shouted over the raucous "This is where you will be working for the next few weeks. I will show you to you office."    As they walked down the hall, the noise only continued. Finally, they reached the door marked 475. "It already knows your print, so you can place your hand on the pad." 700 yelled. Bluren wrenched her hand from her ear, and placed it on the scanner. The door clicked open. "Hurry, inside!" 700 exclaimed, her formality slipping. When they entered and shut the door, all the noise suddenly stopped. As if by magic. The room had white walls with purple linoleum flooring, a gargantuan workbench, a tool box that was taller than Bluren, and a - blue this time - apron, with her name and number finely embroidered on the front. It reminded her of the apron she had at the bakery.    "Alright. You're inventing supplies will be brought to your office in thirty minutes, until then feel free to explore." 700 announced "I hear the masters have left you several goodies hidden around. When your things do arrive, you are to work on them until the breaks." She smiled "If you happen to need anything, I'm only one push of the button away." She pointed to a large glowing white glass button on the wall. With that 700 headed back out into the noisy hallway.