Austin took a sigh, a heavy breath in before releasing it out again. Stryker looked embarrassed, as if bringing him here without explaining anything was a bad idea or something he regretted. The girl just looked bored, like things were too dramatic for her liking — as if she'd rather be doing something else.
But Austin didn't care. Things have been confusing for too long. He needed answers. And he wanted them now.
"Are you done yet?" sighed the girl, lazily rolling her eyes back at him.
There was a silence, as Austin looked at the girl, annoyed and slightly ticked, but he was focused not to let it show on his face. He didn't know why, but he felt like she was trying to bait him into doing something. He wouldn't let her win, though he had no idea what she was trying to accomplish.
When it came across to her that she wasn't getting a response, she looked to her brother. "You can handle this, right? I've got stuff to do." When Stryker nodded, Reya looked back at Austin, then turned to her brother. "Later," before turning to the only door in the room, opening it, and leaving without another word. It slammed shut behind her, leaving no room for Austin to find out what was on the other side of the door.
The sound of light chuckling pulled Austin attention to the boy named Stryker, who had his thumb and pointer finger on his nose, shaking his head. "That's my sister, Reya, for you. Always antagonistic with newbies. I'm Stryker, by the way; I'm the one in charge around here."
Stryker outstretched his hand for Austin to shake. Austin didn't accept it. "Austin," he mumbled in response.
He continued with "Look, we know you have questions, that you are confused and have every right to be — I only ask that you keep those feelings in-check, at least until we've answered all your questions that we can. I can't allow you to meet the others as you are now. Panic breeds more panic, and that's never good."
That last part he mumbled softly, most likely to himself, but Austin's ears picked up on it somehow.
"Others?" was what Austin responded with. "There are...there's others?"
"People we've rescued?" offered Stryker. "Yes. This place is a village full of people who we've rescued over the course of the last 11 months or so — None of us have any memory of the outside world, but all of us received the letter you spoke of. I'm going to show around, but, first, I need to know if you've gotten yourself together. No more panicking, yea?"
Austin mutely nodded his agreement, as Stryker sat on the only desk in the room, waiting for Austin's reply. "I-I'm alright."
Austin figured if he could get some answers, he would play along. He was tired of being in the dark of his own life with no answers. He promised himself, however, that, at the first sign of danger, he would bolt, answers be damned.
""Tell me. What is this place?"
"Let me show you," Stryker said, his hand outstretched. "Also, I'd take off that jacket if I were you; it might just get you killed."
Austin looked at the jacket he had on; the one with the owl crest on it. He quickly took it off, folded it and stashed it on by wall he was just laying against.
He then got to his feet and followed Stryker through the door. "Welcome! We call this place…The Meadows."